And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and sharp tools, as was their custom, until blood poured out all over them.
The writer is describing how the prophets of Baal desperately tried to get their god's attention by shouting and harming themselves, following their religious practices.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes the frantic actions of Baal's prophets during their contest with Elijah on Mount Carmel. Self-cutting was a common practice in Canaanite religions, where worshippers believed that shedding their own blood would compel their gods to respond to their prayers. This dramatic scene shows the futility of their efforts compared to the true God's power that Elijah was about to demonstrate.
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