The priests of Baal witness with consternation the wonderful revelation of Jehovah's power. Yet even in their 154 discomfiture and in the presence of divine glory, they refuse to repent of their evil-doing. They would still remain the prophets of Baal. Thus they showed themselves ripe for destruction. That repentant Israel may be protected from the allurements of those who have taught them to worship Baal, Elijah is directed by the Lord to destroy these false teachers. The anger of the people has already been aroused against the leaders in transgression; and when Elijah gives the command, "Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape," they are ready to obey. They seize the priests, and take them to the brook Kishon, and there, before the close of the day that marked the beginning of decided reform, the ministers of Baal are slain. Not one is permitted to live.

Baals præster betragter med bestyrtelse den vidunderlige åbenbarelse af Guds magt. Men selv nu, hvor de har lidt nederlag og er vidne til den guddommelige herlighed, nægter de at angre deres ondskab. De ville blive ved med at være Baals profeter. Derved viste de, at de var modne til tilintetgørelse. For at skåne det angergivne Israel for at blive ført vild af disse mennesker, som har lært folket at tilbede Baal, byder Herren Elias udrydde de falske lærere. Folkets vrede er allerede blevet optændt imod de mænd, som har ført an i frafaldet, og da Elias giver befalingen: "Grib Baals profeter, lad ingen af dem slippe bort!" er folket parat til at adlyde. De griber præsterne og fører dem ned til Kisjonbækken, og her dræbes Baals tjenere ved slutningen af den dag, der markerede begyndelsen til en afgørende reform. Ikke én af dem får lov at leve.