It was the crisis in the history of the Ten Tribes. On that day it was to be proved, once for all, who was supreme, Baal or Jehovah. With his one attendant Elijah proceeded to the Place of Controversy, and proposed to the assembled multitudes a decisive test. Let two bullocks be chosen; let one of them be slain by the priests of Baal, and cut in pieces; let these be laid upon an altar, with no fire under; let them then call upon the name of their gods, and _the God that answered by fire let him be God_. The challenge was accepted. The altar was built; the victim slain; the pieces laid in order; and the priests of Baal commenced their incantations. _But there was no voice, neither any that answered._ Morning passed, and noon came, and still there was no reply. Meanwhile Elijah suggested to them that they should _cry aloud, for_, said he, with cutting irony, _he is a god; either he meditateth, or he is pursuing, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked_. Stung to the quick, the priests redoubled their invocations. They cried aloud, _they cut themselves, after their manner, with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them_. But prayers, cries, lacerations were each and all in vain (1 K. xviii. 1–30). The hour for the evening-sacrifice now drew near, and Elijah bade the people approach, and with twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of Jacob, repaired an ancient altar on the mountain-top, which Jezebel probably had caused to be thrown down. Round about it he next caused a trench to be dug, and having slain his victim, laid it upon the altar. Then once, twice, and yet again he caused victim and altar to be drenched with water[360], till it filled even the trench. This done, the solitary prophet poured forth his whole soul to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, praying Him that He would that day prove that He was indeed the Lord, and that he himself had done all these things at His word. His prayer was answered. The Fire of the Lord descended, and consumed the _burnt-sacrifice and the wood, and the stones and the dust, and licked up even the water that was in the trench_. The effect on the people was profound. Falling on their faces to the earth, they with one accord confessed, _Jehovah, He is the God; Jehovah, He is the God_ (1 K. xviii. 30–39).