1 Kings 18:26

Arabic Bible (GNA) Good News Arabic - 1993 (الترجمة العربية المشتركة)

فأخَذوا الثَّورَ الّذي ا ختاروهُ وهَيَّأوهُ ودَعَوا با سمِ البَعلِ مِنَ الصَّباحِ إلى الظُّهرِ وهُم يقولونَ: «أيُّها البَعلُ، ا ستَجِب»، فلا صَوتٌ، ولا مُجيـبٌ، وكانوا يَرقُصونَ حَولَ المذبَحِ الّذي بنَوهُ.

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, prophets of Baal are trying to get their god to answer them by sacrificing a bull and calling his name from morning until noon. Despite their efforts, Baal does not respond. They also jump around the altar they made, showing how desperate they were for a response.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a toy that you really want to play with, but it doesn't work. So you try everything to make it work, even jumping around it. The prophets of Baal were doing something similar, trying hard to get their pretend god to answer them, but it didn't work.

Historical Background

1 Kings was written by an unknown author during the Babylonian exile, around 560-540 BCE. The text is meant for the Israelites who are in exile, reflecting on their history and the consequences of their actions, including idol worship.

Living It Out Today

This story can remind us of the importance of faith in things that actually respond. For example, if you keep trying to fix a broken relationship by doing things that don't work, you might need to try a different approach or seek help from someone who can.

Topics

• faith
• idolatry
• worship
• prayer
• false gods
• exile

Related Verses

• 1 Kings 18:21
• Exodus 20:3
• Deuteronomy 12:28
• Psalm 115:4-8
• Acts 14:15

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the prophets of Baal not receive a response?

The prophets of Baal did not receive a response because their god, Baal, was not real and could not respond to their calls.

What does this verse tell us about idol worship?

This verse illustrates the futility of idol worship, showing that false gods cannot respond to prayers or sacrifices, unlike the true God.

How does this story relate to the broader themes of 1 Kings?

This story is part of a larger narrative in 1 Kings that highlights the consequences of turning away from the true God and towards false gods like Baal.

What can we learn from the prophets' actions?

We can learn that persistent efforts to seek answers from sources that do not exist or are ineffective will not yield results, highlighting the importance of faith in what truly works.