מלכים א, פרק י״ח, פסוק מ׳

Following the dramatic revelation of God's power on Mount Carmel, the momentum immediately shifts toward decisive action against the false prophets. The people, now fully aware of the true nature of the Baal prophets, cooperate completely with Elijah to eradicate the idolatry. Elijah commands the crowd to capture the false prophets, ensuring they are held tightly so that none can escape [מצודת ציון]. Once secured, the prisoners are brought down to the Kishon Brook, located near the mountain [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

At the brook, the false prophets are put to death, though there are differing perspectives on who actually carried out the execution. One approach suggests that Elijah directed the people to perform the slaughter themselves. Having just witnessed a profound miracle, the entire nation stood united behind Elijah and readily obeyed his instructions [רד״ק]. A contrasting perspective asserts that while Elijah had the people apprehend the prophets, he personally carried out the execution. This direct action stemmed from his fierce zeal for God, echoing the historical deeds of the prophet Samuel, who killed Agag, and Phinehas, who struck down Zimri out of intense devotion [רלב״ג, אברבנאל]. Ultimately, while it is possible that the people executed the prophets under Elijah's orders, the idea that Elijah acted personally out of profound religious zeal seems most fitting to the intense character of the event [רלב״ג].