And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Ver. 1. _And Ahab told Jezebel_] As being in no small care how to satisfy this imperious whorish woman, how to stop the mouth of this hen that crowed so loud at court, and ruled all.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. Ver. 2. _So let the gods do to me, &c._] _Detexit facinus fatua et non implevit,_ as Tacitus saith of another. There was a pr... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he saw [that], he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which [belongeth] to Judah, and left his servant there. Ver. 3. _That he arose and went for his life._] But better he had stood to his task as a prophet, and answered as Chrysostom did when Eudoxia the Empress threatene... [ Continue Reading ]
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I [am] not better than my fathers. Ver. 4. But he himself went a day's journey in the wild... [ Continue Reading ]
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise [and] eat. Ver. 5. _And slept under a juniper tree._] See on 1 Kings 19:4 . _ An angel touched him._] Holding himself happy in such an office. Heb 1:14... [ Continue Reading ]
And he looked, and, behold, [there was] a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. Ver. 6. _There was a cake baken on the coals._] Heb., A cake of coals; that is, hot out of the oven. The angel was not long in bringing of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise [and] eat; because the journey [is] too great for thee. Ver. 7. _Because the journey is too great for thee._] Fill thee, therefore, that thou mayest the better hold out. Do we the like for our souls, when at the... [ Continue Reading ]
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. Ver. 8. _And he arose, and did eat and drink._] Let us do the like at the Lord's supper, where to be a holy glutton is a great virtue. _ Forty days and forty nights._... [ Continue Reading ]
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? Ver. 9. _And he came thither unto a cave._] The same, saith R. Solomon, wherein was Moses when he first saw God's backparts. Exo 34:6 Hence this ca... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, [even] I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. Ver. 10. _And he said, I have been very jea... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the ear... [ Continue Reading ]
And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. Ver. 12. _And after the fire a still small voice._] This was _scintillatio Divinitatis,_ saith Tertullian, a small sparkle of the Deity, a sweet expression of God's mind. And in this gentl... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was [so], when Elijah heard [it], that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, [there came] a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? Ver. 13. _He wrapped his face in his mantle._] As not able to behold God's sur... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, [even] I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. Ver. 14. _I have been very zealous._] S... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael [to be] king over Syria: Ver. 15. _To the wilderness of Damascus._] Where it is probable that Elijah with his own hand anointed Hazael, and afterwards Jehu and Elisha, though these u... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint [to be] king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint [to be] prophet in thy room. Ver. 16. _Of Abelmeholah._] Which was, say some, _a_ in the tribe of Manasseh, on this side of Jordan, like as Elias was of the tribe of... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, [that] him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Ver. 17. _Shall Elisha slay._] Elisha then hath his sword as well as Jehu and Hazael, though of another nature; viz., prayers, _a_ threatenings, c... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet I have left [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. Ver. 18. _Yet I have left me seven thousand._] See on 1 Kings 19:14. By this, as by a bookcase, saith one, doth the apostle prove that God had not cast off all the... [ Continue Reading ]
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who [was] plowing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. Ver. 19. _Ploughing with twelve yoke._] He was therefore a man of great wealth, likely. _Paterna ru... [ Continue Reading ]
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? Ver. 20. _Go back again._] Heb. Go return, _q.d., _ Go thou must; but see thou return speedily,... [ Continue Reading ]
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. Ver. 21. _And took a yoke of oxen._] The same likely wherewith h... [ Continue Reading ]