1 Kings 17:2-7

Elijah Is Fed By Ravens At The Brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:2).

Having made his public declaration Elijah was then advised by YHWH to go to the east of Jordan, to one of the wadis that fed the Jordan, where he was promised that he would be fed by ‘rbm. Pointed as ‘orebim this would indicate ‘ravens/crows'. Pointed as ‘arabim it would indicate wandering Arabs. (The original text had no pointing). In a time of drought the Arabs would have dying cattle from which they could supply meat to Elijah, and for that reason they would not want to move far from water, which would explain why they hung around the Jordan at this time. However, in a similar way, scavenger birds would have more carcases available from which they could bring meat to Elijah, and this appears the more likely meaning as it illustrated the author's desire to portray the power of the God of creation in making His creatures do His will. Others, however, point out that by taking it as ‘Arabs' we have (together with the widow of Zarephath) two parallel examples of God providing for His servant through ‘foreigners', when his own people had turned against him (but had Jesus seen it in this way, surely he would have included it as an example in Luke 4:25). It makes little difference in the end. The point was that the power of YHWH would ensure that he was provided for.

Analysis.

And the word of YHWH came to him, saying, “Get yourself away from here, and turn yourself eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan” (1 Kings 17:2).

“And it shall be, that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there” (1 Kings 17:4).

So he went and did according to the word of YHWH, for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan (1 Kings 17:5).

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook (1 Kings 17:6).

And it came about after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land (1 Kings 17:7).

Note that in ‘a' Elijah was sent to the Wadi Cherith were he would have a supply of water, and in the parallel the Wadi dried up and he had to move on. In ‘b' the ravens would feed him there, and in the parallel the ravens did feed him there. Centrally in ‘c' Elijah obeyed the word of YHWH.

1 Kings 17:2

‘ And the word of YHWH came to him, saying, “Get yourself away from here, and turn yourself eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan” '

As a prophet Elijah then received the word of YHWH which told him to leave Samaria and go to the Wadi Cherith, east of Jordan (or overlooking the Jordan) to a deserted spot where he could find a hiding place where Ahab's men could not find him.