There is a certain grandeur of fearlessness and ruthlessness in the message of Jezebel, which marks her character throughout, and places it in striking contrast with the vacillating impressibility of Ahab, whom she treats with natural scorn. (See 21:7.) Ahab, as before, remains passive; he has no co... [ Continue Reading ]
HE AROSE, AND WENT FOR HIS LIFE. — The sudden reaction of disappointment and despondency, strange as it seems to superficial observation, is eminently characteristic of an impulsive and vehement nature. His blow had been struck, as he thought, triumphantly. Now the power of cool unrelenting antagoni... [ Continue Reading ]
JUNIPER TREE. — A sort of broom, found abundantly in the desert. It has been noted that its roots were much prized for charcoal, the “coal” of 1 Kings 19:6. I AM NOT BETTER THAN MY FATHERS. — The exclamation is characteristic. Evidently he had hoped that he himself was “better than his fathers” as... [ Continue Reading ]
(5)AN ANGEL TOUCHED HIM. — The word may signify simply “a messenger,” human or super-human; but the context suggests a miraculous ministration of some unearthly food. It is notable that, except as ministers of God in the physical sphere (as in 2 Samuel 24:16; 2 Kings 19:35), the angels, whose appear... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LAID HIM DOWN. — There is a pathetic touch in the description of the prophet, wearied and disheartened, as caring not to eat sufficiently, and glad, after a morsel eaten, to forget himself again in sleep.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS. — Unless this time includes, as has been supposed by some, the whole journey to and from Horeb, and the sojourn there, it is far in excess of what would be recorded for a journey of some two hundred miles. It may, therefore, be thought to imply an interval of retirement... [ Continue Reading ]
A CAVE. — This is properly, “the cave” — perhaps a reference to some cave already well known, as connected with the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, or perhaps only an anticipatory reference to the cave which Elijah’s sojourn was to make famous. THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM. — The connection s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID. — The reply to the implied reproof is one of impatient self-exculpation and even remonstrance. He himself (it says) had been very jealous for the Lord; yet the Lord had not been jealous for Himself, suffering this open rebellion of the people, the slaughter of His prophets, the persecut... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD. — In the LXX., the whole of this verse, couched in the future, is made part of the “word of the Lord.” But our version is probably correct. The whole of the vision, which is left to speak for itself, without any explanation or even allusion in the subsequent message to Elijah, is best u... [ Continue Reading ]
GO, RETURN. — The charge conveys indirectly a double rebuke. His cry of disappointment, “Lord... I am not better than my fathers,” implying that he stood out beyond all others, to meet the stern requirements of the time, is met by the charge to delegate the task of vengeance for God to others; the c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHU. — Of this charge Elijah fulfilled in person but one part, in the call of Elisha: for the fulfilment of the other two parts, see 2 Kings 8:8; 2 Kings 9:1. This apparently imperfect correspondence of the event to the charge, is a strong indication of the historical character of the narrative... [ Continue Reading ]
HIM THAT ESCAPETH THE SWORD OF HAZAEL. — The vengeance wrought by Hazael and Jehu on the faithlessness of Israel speaks for itself; it is marked in bloody letters on the history (2 Kings 10). But Elisha’s mission was obviously not one of such vengeance. He had to destroy enmity, but not to slay the... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE LEFT. — It should be “I leave, or “will leave,” through all this vengeance, the seven thousand faithful; like the faithful remnant sealed in the visions of Ezekiel and St. John in the day of God’s judgment (Ezekiel 9:4; Revelation 7:3). KISSED HIM. — (See Job 31:26; Hosea 13:2.) The passage... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE YOKE OF OXEN, or (as Ewald renders it) of land, indicate some wealth in Elisha’s family, which he has to leave to follow the wandering life of Elijah. The character and mission of Elisha will appear hereafter: but the contrast between the prophets is marked in the difference of their home and... [ Continue Reading ]
LET ME, I PRAY THEE. — It is impossible not to compare this with the similar request made to our Lord (Luke 9:61) by one who declared readiness to follow Him. The comparison suggests that the answer of Elijah is one of half-ironical rebuke of what seemed hesitation — “Go back, if thou wilt; what hav... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE RETURNED. — Like Matthew in Luke 9:27, Elisha, probably after sacrifice, makes a feast of farewell to his home, and of homage to his new master. The hasty preparation is made by the use of the wooden implements for fuel, as in the sacrifice at the threshing-floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:22).... [ Continue Reading ]