long do you halt between two sides[1]? If the Lord[2] be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.”
The people, feeling the justice of his reproach, made no answer[3]. They were ashamed and afraid. Elias then added: “I only remain a prophet of the Lord, but the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men. Let two bullocks be given us; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, but put no fire under; and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under it. Call ye on the names of your gods, and I will call on the name of my Lord; and the God that shall answer by fire, let him be the God.” All the people answered: “A very good proposal”.
Then the priests of Baal, clad in their richest garments and crowned with laurel, took an ox and slew him. They erected an altar, placed the dead ox upon it, and danced around it crying out: “Baal, hear us.” This they did from morning until noon, but no fire came to consume their sacrifice. Then Elias, mocking them, called out: “Cry with a louder voice: for he is a god, and perhaps he is talking with some one, or on a journey, or he is asleep and must be awaked.”
Then they began to cry louder[4] than ever, hacking their bodies with knives[5], as they were accustomed to do, until they were covered with blood. This they kept up till evening, but all in vain[6]. Then Elias told the people to come to him. And he erected an altar to the Lord; took twelve stones[7] and laid the wood in order upon them, then placed the ox which had been cut in pieces on the wood.
- ↑ Two sides, i. e. why do you waver to and fro between God and Baal? They wished to serve two masters, God and Baal; and for this reason Elias bade them come to a decision.
- ↑ Lord. i. e. Jehova, whom your fathers worshipped.
- ↑ No answer. Because on the one hand they could not excuse themselves, and on the other they did not wish to sever themselves from the worship of Baal and the pleasures accompanying it.
- ↑ Louder. They did not notice the scorn contained in the words of Elias, for they really believed that their god slept and travelled like a man.
- ↑ With knives. They cut themselves till the blood flowed, in the hope that this would move Baal to listen to them.
- ↑ In vain. Why ? Because Baal was the creation of their fancy. The absurdity of idolatry was now made manifest.
- ↑ Twelve stones. Why twelve? Because they represented the twelve tribes of which the chosen people consisted.
