1 Kings 18:40 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Then Elijah said to them, 'Capture all the prophets of Baal; don't let any of them get away.' So they captured them, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon River and killed them there.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse shows Elijah executing God's judgment on the false prophets of Baal after proving that the Lord is the one true God.

📚 Historical Context

This follows the dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal to prove whose god was real. After God sent fire from heaven to consume Elijah's sacrifice while Baal remained silent, the people declared that the Lord is God. In ancient Israel, leading people into false worship was considered treason against God and carried the death penalty according to Old Testament law.

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