Prophets of Ba'al

Eliyahu had orchestrated a three-year drought that had brought the nation to its knees. This had culminated in the decisive religious contest at Mt. Carmel that had exposed the falsity of the Baal, br…

Before the showdown at Mt. Carmel there is a lengthy description of Eliyahu's meeting with Ovadya. Ovadia personifies the dilemma of the nation and foreshadows the outcome of the showdown. Just like t…

The use of three Leading Words in the narrative leading up to the climax and their absence in the narrative after the climax makes subtle points of contrast between Eliyahu and the prophets of Ba’al a…

The preparations of the prophets of Ba’al for the sacrifice are described briefly, while the description of their attempt to bring down the fire is lengthy. In contrast, Eliyahu’s preparations are des…

The failure of the prophets of Ba’al is described in two stages: Prayer and action with no response, followed by intensified prayer and action, but still with no response. This allows the nation to re…

Eliyahu encourages the prophets of Ba’al to call out louder. Some commentators believe that Eliyahu was explicitly mocking them, but it seems unlikely that they would continue and certainly they would…

The way the challenge is presented to the nation differs from the way it is presented to prophets of Ba’al, in order to facilitate each side offering their sacrifice separately. The prophets of Ba’al …

Eliyahu’s words imply that the nation had not abandoned the service of God, but did not serve Him exclusively. Rather, they attached elements of Ba'al worship to their worship of God. On the account o…