SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:23
Dénsenos, pues, dos bueyes, y escójanse ellos uno, y córtenlo en pedazos, y pónganlo sobre leña, mas no pongan fuego debajo; y yo aparejaré el otro buey, y lo pondré sobre leña, y ningún fuego pondré debajo.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Let them therefore give us two bullocks , etc.] Who, being so many, were better able to be at the expense of them, and having the king on their party too; though perhaps no more is meant than that two bullocks should be brought thither, and presented before them: and let them choose one bullock for themselves ; which of the two they would, if they thought one was any ways preferable to the other, it was at their option to take it: and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood ; as sacrifices usually were: and put no fire under ; which was wont to be done for burnt offerings, as this was designed to be: and I will dress the other bullock ; by slaying and cutting it in pieces; and lay it on wood : as for a burnt offering: and put no fire under ; to consume it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 21-40 - Many of the people wavered in their judgment, and varied in their practice. Elijah called upon them to determine whether Jehovah or Baa was the self-existent, supreme God, the Creator, Governor, and Judge of the world, and to follow him alone. It is dangerous to halt between the service of God and the service of sin, the dominion of Christ and the dominion of our lusts. If Jesus be the only Saviour, let us cleave to him alone for every thing; if the Bible be the world of God, let u reverence and receive the whole of it, and submit our understanding to the Divine teaching it contains. Elijah proposed to bring the matter to a trial. Baal had all the outward advantages, but the event encourage all God's witnesses and advocates never to fear the face of man. The God that answers by fire, let him be God: the atonement was to be mad by sacrifice, before the judgment could be removed in mercy. The God therefore that has power to pardon sin, and to signify it by consumin the sin-offering, must needs be the God that can relieve from the calamity. God never required his worshippers to honour him in the manner of the worshippers of Baal; but the service of the devil, thoug sometimes it pleases and pampers the body, yet, in other things, reall is cruel to it, as in envy and drunkenness. God requires that we mortify our lusts and corruptions; but bodily penances and severitie are no pleasure to him. Who has required these things at your hands? few words uttered in assured faith, and with fervent affection for the glory of God, and love to the souls of men, or thirstings after the Lord's image and his favour, form the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man, which availeth much. Elijah sought not his own glory but that of God, for the good of the people. The people are all agreed convinced, and satisfied; Jehovah, he is the God. Some, we hope, ha their hearts turned, but most of them were convinced only, no converted. Blessed are they that have not seen what these saw, yet have believed, and have been wrought upon by it, more than they that saw it.
Original Hebrew
ויתנו 5414 לנו שׁנים 8147 פרים 6499 ויבחרו 977 להם 1992 הפר 6499 האחד 259 וינתחהו 5408 וישׂימו 7760 על 5921 העצים 6086 ואשׁ 784 לא 3808 ישׂימו 7760 ואני 589 אעשׂה 6213 את 853 הפר 6499 האחד 259 ונתתי 5414 על 5921 העצים 6086 ואשׁ 784 לא 3808 אשׂים׃ 7760
