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1 Kings 18:40

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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.

And Elijah {H452} said {H559} unto them, Take {H8610} the prophets {H5030} of Baal {H1168}; let not one {H376} of them escape {H4422}. And they took {H8610} them: and Elijah {H452} brought them down {H3381} to the brook {H5158} Kishon {H7028}, and slew {H7819} them there.

Eliyahu said to them, "Seize the prophets of Ba'al! Don't let one of them escape!" They seized them; and Eliyahu brought them down to Vadi Kishon and killed them there.

Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.

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.

Commentary

1 Kings 18:40 describes the grim conclusion of the epic confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel. This verse marks a decisive moment in Israel's spiritual history, signifying the immediate consequences of God's vindication and Elijah's unwavering zeal.

Context

This verse follows the dramatic events of the Mount Carmel challenge, where Elijah, as the sole prophet of the Lord, confronted 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. After hours of their futile appeals, Elijah called upon God, and fire miraculously consumed his water-drenched sacrifice, altar, and even the dust and stones. This divine demonstration proved beyond doubt that the Lord, Yahweh, was the one true God, prompting the people to fall on their faces and declare, "The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God." (See 1 Kings 18:39). The slaying of the false prophets was not an act of personal vengeance by Elijah, but an execution of divine judgment in accordance with God's law concerning those who lead Israel astray into idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:5, 17:5).

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Judgment: The execution of the prophets of Baal underscores God's absolute intolerance for idolatry and His commitment to upholding His covenant. It was a severe but necessary act to cleanse the land of spiritual corruption that had plagued Israel for decades under kings like Ahab and Jezebel.
  • Eradication of Idolatry: This act symbolized the tearing down of false worship and the restoration of exclusive devotion to the Lord. It was a clear demonstration that the worship of Baal, a Canaanite fertility god, was an abomination to God.
  • Elijah's Zeal for God: Elijah acted with immense courage and obedience, driven by a fervent zeal for the purity of Israel's faith. He was not merely a prophet but an instrument of divine will, ensuring the consequences of such widespread apostasy were met.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: The fate of the prophets serves as a stark warning about the ultimate consequences of rejecting the true God and leading others into spiritual deception.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "slew them there" (Hebrew: vayishchatehu sham) is direct and unequivocal, indicating a complete and decisive act of execution. The "brook Kishon" was a significant geographical location in the valley of Jezreel, historically associated with other decisive battles (e.g., Judges 4:7). Its choice here may symbolize the washing away of the impurity of Baal worship from the land.

Practical Application

While modern believers live under the New Covenant of grace, this passage remains profoundly relevant. It reminds us of God's unwavering opposition to anything that replaces Him in our lives—whether it be materialism, self-worship, or false ideologies. We are called to have a similar zeal for the truth and to stand firm against spiritual deception (Ephesians 6:11). It also highlights the seriousness of spiritual leadership and the accountability of those who lead others astray. Ultimately, it points to the necessity of choosing whom we will serve, echoing the challenge Elijah presented to the people: "How long halt ye between two opinions?"

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 18:20 (5 votes)

    But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

  • Judges 4:7 (5 votes)

    And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

  • Deuteronomy 13:5 (4 votes)

    And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

  • Judges 5:21 (3 votes)

    The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

  • Zechariah 13:2 (3 votes)

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

  • Zechariah 13:3 (3 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

  • Revelation 20:10 (2 votes)

    And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.