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Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 14-15 NASB; Ch. 16-18 WEB

Associate Producer

Timothy LaFontaine

Podcast Introduction

It’s History Tuesday, and we’ll read 1 Kings 14-18. I’m calling this episode “Fire From Heaven.”

Comments on 1 Kings 17

In chapter 17 we were introduced to Elijah, who as we will come to see, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, and his appearance in 1 Kings 17 is the first mention of him. We are not given any background, no genealogy, nothing other than the fact that he was a Tishbite, who was one of the settlers of Gilead as it says here in the WEB version, or the NIV says he is from Tishbe.

What I want to talk about today is found in chapter 18. A lot of great things happened in this chapter. The main event is that Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to prove their god was real. Elijah had a lot of faith! 

This is not the sort of thing that I would encourage anyone to do, but the people of Israel were at a critical juncture. They had so turned from God that something dramatic needed to be done.

So this not-really-a-contest was set up, and all morning long the 450 prophets of Baal cried out to (let’s face it) NOTHING, to send down fire to consume the offering. 

And then at noon, Elijah begins making fun of them. Now, most translations are very restrained in the way they render verse 27. The World English Bible translation that we read today has it this way: “Cry aloud; for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”

But that isn’t entirely accurate. We get a hint of the more accurate translation in the English Standard Version: “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”

And the Complete Jewish Bible renders gets even closer: “Shout louder! After all, he’s a god, isn’t he? Maybe he’s daydreaming, or he’s on the potty, or he’s away on a trip. Maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up.”

Relieving himself. On the potty. Guess what. What he really said there is this: “Maybe he’s taking a dump.” 

Don’t let anyone tell you that God doesn’t have a sense of humor!

So Elijah had some fun with them. Gutsy guy, right? He’s facing down 450 false prophets, and he’s making fun of their gods. Gotta love that.

And then when