1 Kings 18:1

And it came to pass after many days ,.... When two years and more were gone from the time the drought and famine began; or rather from the time of the prophets departure to the brook Cherith, which might be six months after the famine began:

that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year ; of his absence from Ahab:

saying, go show thyself unto Ahab ; whom he had not seen so long, and who had been seeking for him, but to no purpose:

and I will send rain upon the earth ; the term of three years and six months being almost expired, see James 5:17 .