Discovery Box1 Kings 18:30-37 
Context18:30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 1 18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new 2 name.” 3 18:32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. 4 Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs 5 of seed. 18:33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. 18:34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, 6 he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 18:35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. 18:36 When it was time for the evening offering, 7 Elijah the prophet approached the altar 8 and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove 9 today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 18:37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God 10 and that you are winning back their allegiance.” 11
1 sn Torn down. The condition of the altar symbolizes the spiritual state of the people.
2 tn The word “new” is implied but not actually present in the Hebrew text.
3 sn Israel will be your new name. See Gen 32:28; 35:10.
4 tn Heb “and he built the stones into an altar in the name of the
5 tn A seah was a dry measure equivalent to about seven quarts.
6 tn The words “when they had done so” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
7 tn Heb “at the offering up of the offering.”
8 tn The words “the altar” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
9 tn Heb “let it be known.”
10 tn Heb “the God.”
11 tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.”
