The third year — Either, From the time when he went to hide himself by the brook Cherith; six months before which time the famine might begin. And so this being towards the end of the third year, it makes up these three years and six months, James 5:17. Or, From the time of his going to Sarepta, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Elijah went — Wherein he shews a strong faith, and resolute obedience, and invincible courage, that he durst at God's command run into the mouth of this raging lion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Obadiah — Being valued by Ahab for his great prudence and fidelity, and therefore indulged as to the worship of the calves and Baal. But how could he and some other Israelites be said to fear the Lord, when they did not go up to Jerusalem to worship, as God had commanded? Although they seem not to b... [ Continue Reading ]
Prophets — This name is not only given to such as are endowed with an extraordinary spirit of prophecy, but to such ministers as devoted themselves to the service of God in preaching, praying, and praising God. And fed — With the hazard of his own life, and against the king's command; as wisely cons... [ Continue Reading ]
And fell — By this profound reverence, shewing his great respect and love to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy lord — Ahab: whom, though a very wicked man, he owns for Obadiah's Lord and king; thereby instructing us, that the wickedness of kings doth not exempt their subjects from obedience to their lawful commands.... [ Continue Reading ]
He said — Wherein have I offended God, and thee, that thou shouldest expose me to certain ruin.... [ Continue Reading ]
No nation — Near his own, where he could in reason think that Elijah had hid himself. It does not appear, that Ahab sought him, in order to put him to death: but rather in hopes of prevailing upon him, to pray for the removal of the drought.... [ Continue Reading ]
Carry thee — Such transportations of the prophets having doubtless been usual before this time, as they were after it. Slay me — Either as one that hath deluded him with vain hopes: or, because I did not seize upon thee, and bring thee to him. But I, &c. — He speaks not these words, in a way of boas... [ Continue Reading ]
Ahab said — Have I at last met with thee, O thou disturber of my kingdom, the author of this famine, and all our calamities?... [ Continue Reading ]
He answered — These calamities are not to be imputed to me, but thine and thy father's wickedness. He answered him boldly, because he spoke in God's name, and for his honour and service. Ye — All of you have forsaken the Lord, and thou in particular, hast followed Baalim.... [ Continue Reading ]
Send — Messengers, that this controversy may be decided, what is the cause of these heavy judgments. All Israel — By their heads, or representatives, that they may be witnesses of all our transactions. Carmel — Not that Carmel, in Judah, but another in Issachar by the midland sea, which he chose as... [ Continue Reading ]
Ahab sent — He complied with Elijah's motion; because the urgency of the present distress made him willing to try all means to remove it; from a curiosity of seeing some extraordinary events; and principally, because God inclined his heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
And said — Why do you walk so lamely and unevenly, being so unsteady in your opinions and practices, and doubting whether it is better to worship God or Baal? If the Lord — Whom you pretend to worship. Follow — Worship him, and him only, and that in such place and manner as he hath commanded you. If... [ Continue Reading ]
I only — Here present, to own the cause of God. As far the other prophets of the Lord, many of them were slain, others banished, or hid in caves.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let then, &c. — To put this controversy to a short issue.... [ Continue Reading ]
By Fire — That shall consume the sacrifice by fire sent from heaven; which the people knew the true God used to do. It was a great condescension in God, that he would permit Baal to be a competitor with him. But thus God would have every mouth to be stopped, and all flesh become silent before him. A... [ Continue Reading ]
Dress it first — And I am willing to give you the precedency. This he did, because if he had first offered, and God had answered by fire, Baal's priests would have desisted from making the trial on their part; and because the disappointment of the priests of Baal, of which he was well assured, would... [ Continue Reading ]
Dressed — Cut it in pieces, and laid the parts upon the wood. From morning — From the time of the morning sacrifice; which advantage Elijah suffered them to take. They leapt upon — Or, beside the altar: or, before it. They used some superstitious and disorderly gestures, either pretending to be acte... [ Continue Reading ]
Mocked them — Derided them and their gods, which had now proved themselves to be ridiculous and contemptible things.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cut themselves — Mingling their own blood with their sacrifices; as knowing by experience, that nothing was more acceptable to their Baal (who was indeed the devil) than human blood; and hoping thereby to move their god to help them. And this indeed was the practice of divers Heathens in the worship... [ Continue Reading ]
Prophesied — That is, prayed to, and worshipped their god.... [ Continue Reading ]
The altar — This had been built by some of their ancestors for the offering of sacrifice to the God of Israel, which was frequently done in high places. Broken down — By some of the Baalites, out of their enmity to the true God, whose temple, because they could not reach, they shewed their malignity... [ Continue Reading ]
Twelve stones — This he did, to renew the covenant between God and all the tribes, as Moses did, Exodus 24:4, to shew, that he prayed and acted in the name, and for the service of the God of all the Patriarchs, and of all the tribes of Israel, and for their good: and, to teach the people, that thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
With water — This they could quickly fetch, either from the river Kishon; or, if that was dried up, from the sea; both were at the foot of the mountain. This he did to make the miracle more glorious, and more unquestionable.... [ Continue Reading ]
The evening sacrifice — This time he chose, that he might unite his prayers with the prayers of the godly Jews at Jerusalem, who at that time assembled together to pray. Lord God of, &c. — Hereby he shews faith in God's ancient covenant, and also reminds the people, of their relation both to God and... [ Continue Reading ]
Hast turned — Let them feel so powerful a change in their hearts, that they may know it is thy work. Back again — Unto thee, from whom they have revolted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Consumed — Solomon's altar was consecrated by fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used.... [ Continue Reading ]
They fell — In acknowledgment of the true God. He is God — He alone; and Baal is a senseless idol. And they double the words, to note their abundant satisfaction and assurance of the truth of their assertion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Elijah said — He takes the opportunity, whilst the peoples hearts were warm with the fresh sense of this great miracle. The brook Kishon — That their blood might be poured into that river, and thence conveyed into the sea, and might not defile the holy land. Slew them — As these idolatrous priests w... [ Continue Reading ]
Get up — From the river, where he had been present at the slaughter of Baal's priests, to thy tent: which probably was pitched on the side of Carmel. Eat, &c. — Take comfort, and refresh thyself: for neither the king, nor any of the people could have leisure to eat, being wholly intent upon the deci... [ Continue Reading ]
The top of Carmel — Where he might pour out his prayers unto God; and whence he might look towards the sea. He had a large prospect of the sea from hence. The sailors at this day call it cape Carmel. Between his knees — That is, bowed his head so low, that it touched his knees; thus abasing himself... [ Continue Reading ]
Go — While I continue praying. Elijah desired to have timely notice of the first appearance of rain, that Ahab and the people might know that it was obtained from Jehovah by the prophet's prayers, and thereby be confirmed in the true religion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Like a man's hand — Great blessings often rise from small beginnings, and showers of plenty from a cloud of a span long. Let us therefore never despise the day of small things, but hope and wait for greater things from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
The hand, &c. — God gave him more than natural strength, whereby he was enabled to outrun Ahab's chariot, for so many miles together. He girded, &c. — That his garments, which were long, might not hinder him. Ran before Ahab — To shew how ready he was to honour and serve the king, that by this humbl... [ Continue Reading ]