So Abab summoned all the people of Israel and prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waiver, hobbling between to opinions? IF the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. (vv. 29-21, NLT)
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal,” You go first, for there are may of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
So they prepared one of the bulls and placed on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” They danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
About noontime Elijah began mocking them , “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, ‘for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be awakened.!
So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. They raved all afternoon until the the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response. (vv. 25-29, NLT)