KJV ORIGINAL
And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The water flowed all around the altar, and Elijah even filled the trench with water.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse shows Elijah making his challenge to the false god Baal even more dramatic by soaking everything with water before asking God to send fire.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Elijah's famous contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, where he challenged them to prove whose god was real. Elijah had just poured water three times over his sacrifice and altar to make it seemingly impossible for fire to consume it. This was during a severe drought in Israel under King Ahab's reign, making the use of precious water even more significant.
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