1 Kings 18:1-46
JEHOVAH OR BAAL? 1. In the third year] in Luke 4:2; James 5:17 the duration of the famine is given as 3 years and 6 months.... [ Continue Reading ]
JEHOVAH OR BAAL? 1. In the third year] in Luke 4:2; James 5:17 the duration of the famine is given as 3 years and 6 months.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOVERNOR OF _his_ HOUSE] The same office as that alluded to in 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 16:9. FEARED THE LORD GREATLY] His name ('Servant of Jehovah') was a true index of his character.... [ Continue Reading ]
CUT OFF THE PROPHETS] Nothing is related of this beyond what is implied in 1 Kings 19:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT.. THEE] cp. 2 Kings 2:16 : the prophet's movements being directed toward different and higher purposes than those of ordinary men, his friends would have no clue to guide them in tracing him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Art_ THOU HE.. ISRAEL?] RV 'Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?': alluding to Elijah's prediction in 1 Kings 17:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
BAALIM] RV 'the Baalim': i.e. the Baals: see on 1 Kings 16:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
CARMEL] The only promontory on the coast of Palestine, rising at the summit to nearly 1,800 ft. above the sea. THE PROPHETS OF THE GROVES] better, 'the prophets of Asherah' (the. term here apparently denoting a deity). These prophets are not mentioned in the sequel.... [ Continue Reading ]
HALT] not in the sense of suspending judgment, but of pursuing a vacillating and irregular course, serving at one time Baal and at another time the Lord (Jehovah). The word literally means 'limping.' AND THE PEOPLE, etc.] They were reluctant to break with either form of worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
I, _even_ I ONLY] The other prophets of the Lord, if not destroyed (see 1 Kings 18:4), were at any rate silenced.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR GODS] RV 'your god': and so in 1 Kings 18:25. THE LORD] better, 'Jehovah,' and so in v.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRESS _it_ FIRST] The contrast between Jehovah's power and Baal's impotence would thus be more impressive.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAPED UPON] RV 'leaped about': lit. 'limped about': i.e. they performed an irregular and uncouth dance round the altar.... [ Continue Reading ]
TALKING] RV 'musing': i.e. lost in meditation. PURSUING] RV 'gone aside.'... [ Continue Reading ]
CUT THEMSELVES] Gashing the body was frequently practised by the votaries of heathen deities, probably for the purpose of making a 'blood covenant' between themselves and the god they worshipped. LANCETS] should be 'lances.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PROPHESIED] i.e. gave utterance to fervid and ecstatic cries: cp. 1 Samuel 10:5. THE _evening_ SACRIFICE] the same as 'the evening meat (i.e. meal) offering' of 2 Kings 16:15... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ALTAR.. DOWN] Carmel had been a 'high place' dedicated to the worship of Jehovah, but the spread of Baal worship had led to its neglect, and the altar on it had been overthrown (1 Kings 19:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE STONES] In spite of the partition of the Hebrew tribes into two kingdoms, a sense of their original unity was continually present with the prophets, and certain of them looked forward to their reunion: see Hosea 1:11; Jeremiah 3:18; Ezekiel 37:15. ISRAEL.. THY NAME] see Genesis 32:28; Genesi... [ Continue Reading ]
MEASURES] Heb. _seahs_, a seah being 3/10 of an ephah, about 2 1/2 gallons.... [ Continue Reading ]
FILL.. WITH WATER] A well still exists a little below the summit of Carmel.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU _art_ THE LORD GOD] better, 'Thou Jehovah art God'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD THAT.. FIRE] For the consumption of sacrifices by fire from heaven, cp. Leviticus 9:24; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1. In the minds of the multitude the question to be decided doubtless was not whether Jehovah or Baal was the sole god, but which of them was the more powerful god, and,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BROOK KISHON] a stream flowing into the Mediterranean at the foot of Carmel. SLEW THEM THERE] in accord with the spirit of Deuteronomy 13:6; Deuteronomy 17:2. The prophet probably was not himself their executioner, but made the people give practical evidence of the sincerity of their conversion... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST HIMSELF DOWN] in fervent prayer: cp. James 5:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN TIMES] used vaguely of a considerable number: cp. Psalms 12:6; Psalms 119:164.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE A MAN'S HAND] i.e. in size.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A GREAT RAIN] Solomon's prayer (in 1 Kings 8:35;) that if the people turned from their sin, the Lord would send rain upon the land was now granted.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HAND OF THE LORD.. ELIJAH] i.e. the prophet acted under a divine impulse: cp. 2 Kings 3:15. TO THE ENTRANCE OF JEZREEL] between 15 and 20 m. from Carmel. Ahab had a palace there (1 Kings 21:1). The contest on Mt. Carmel was of the greatest importance for the future of religion in Israel, for it... [ Continue Reading ]