INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 18 In this chapter Elijah has an order from the Lord to show himself to Ahab, who, going first, and meeting with a servant of his, Obadiah, charges him to tell his master where he was, that he might meet him, 1 Kings 18:1, and, upon meeting him, desires that all Israel, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER MANY DAYS,.... When two years and more were gone from the time the drought and famine began; or rather from the time of the prophets departure to the brook Cherith, which might be six months after the famine began: THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ELIJAH IN THE THIRD YEAR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH WENT TO SHOW HIMSELF UNTO AHAB,.... Which showed his cheerful and ready obedience to the will of God, and his great courage and magnanimity, to face a king enraged against him, and that sought his life: AND THERE WAS A SORE FAMINE IN SAMARIA; the metropolis of the kingdom, where Ahab kep... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AHAB CALLED OBADIAH, WHICH WAS THE GOVERNOR OF HIS HOUSE,.... Perhaps his steward: the Jews m take him to be Obadiah the prophet, who wrote the small prophecy that goes by his name: (NOW OBADIAH FEARED THE LORD GREATLY:) who, though he did not go up to Jerusalem to worship, which ceremonial ser... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT WAS SO, WHEN JEZEBEL CUT OFF THE PROPHETS OF THE LORD,.... Or slew them, as the Targum; put them to death some way or another; such as were brought up in the schools of the prophets, trained up in religious exercises, and instructed others therein: THAT OBADIAH TOOK ONE HUNDRED PROPHETS, AND... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AHAB SAID UNTO OBADIAH, GO INTO THE LAND, UNTO ALL FOUNTAINS OF WATER, AND UNTO ALL BROOKS,.... To observe in what condition they were, and the places adjoining to them, the meadows and valleys: PERADVENTURE WE MAY FIND GRASS TO SAVE THE HORSES AND MULES ALIVE; particularly those which belonged... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY DIVIDED THE LAND BETWEEN THEM, TO PASS THROUGH IT,.... And one took one part, and the other the other part: AHAB WENT ONE WAY BY HIMSELF, AND OBADIAH WENT ANOTHER WAY BY HIMSELF; Ahab not caring to trust any but Obadiah, who he knew was a faithful man, lest they should be bribed by those th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS OBADIAH WAS IN THE WAY,.... In his district, making his observations: BEHOLD, ELIJAH MET HIM: where is not said; but he was, no doubt, upon the road from Zarephath to Samaria: AND HE KNEW HIM that is, Obadiah knew Elijah, having seen him at Ahab's court before he absconded: AND FELL ON HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ANSWERED HIM, I AM,.... He did not desire to be concealed, his orders were to show and make himself known to Ahab, and Obadiah was one of his domestic servants: GO TELL THY LORD, BEHOLD, ELIJAH IS HERE; in such a place, ready to face him at any time. Elijah, by calling Ahab the lord of Obadi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, WHAT HAVE I SINNED,.... Or in what have I offended God or his prophet, that revenge should be taken on me in this way: THAT THOU WOULDEST DELIVER THY SERVANT INTO THE HAND OF AHAB TO SLAY ME? for that he supposed would be the consequence of it, as he argues and more plainly expresses h... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE LORD THY GOD LIVETH,.... Which is the form of an oath he thought fit to make, to ascertain the truth of what he was about to say: THERE IS NO NATION OR KINGDOM, WHITHER MY LORD HATH NOT SENT TO SEEK THEE; which is either an hyperbolical expression, signifying he had sought for him in many pl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW THOU SAYEST, GO TELL THY LORD, BEHOLD, ELIJAH IS HERE. Which, if I should not be able to make good, would be of fatal consequence to me; and that it is plain he feared, by what he next says.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, AS SOON AS I AM GONE FROM THEE, THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL CARRY THEE WHITHER I KNOW NOT,.... This he supposed might possibly, and very probably, be the case, since small raptures might have been already, and known to Obadiah, as there were afterwards, see 2 Kings 2... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS IT NOT TOLD MY LORD WHAT I DID WHEN JEZEBEL SLEW THE PROPHETS OF THE LORD? HOW I HID ONE HUNDRED MEN OF THE LORD'S PROPHETS BY FIFTY IN A CAVE, AND FED THEM WITH BREAD AND WATER?] 1 Kings 18:4, this he said not in a way of ostentation, but to show that it would be very ungenerous and ungrateful... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW THOU SAYEST, GO TELL MY LORD, BEHOLD, ELIJAH [IS HERE]: AND HE SHALL SLAY ME. That is, should he carry such a message to him, and Elijah should be removed elsewhere, and not to be found.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH SAID, AS THE LORD OF HOSTS LIVETH, BEFORE WHOM I STAND,.... In whose presence he was, and whose prophet and minister he was; he takes this oath, to assure Obadiah that he would certainly be upon the spot, or to be found, and not expose him to any danger: I WILL SURELY SHOW MYSELF UNTO HI... [ Continue Reading ]
SO OBADIAH WENT TO MEET AHAB, AND TOLD HIM,.... That Elijah was in such a place, and had desired him to inform him of it, and was ready to appear before him that day wherever he pleased; for upon the prophet's oath Obadiah was entirely satisfied, and was in no fear of delivering the message: AND AH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS WHEN AHAB SAW ELIJAH,.... As soon as he came up to him, and knew who he was; Abarbinel thinks, because his hair was grown so long that Ahab did not know him certainly, and therefore put the following question: THAT AHAB SAID UNTO HIM, ART THOU HE THAT TROUBLETH ISRAEL? by opposi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ANSWERED,.... That is, Elijah, with great boldness and undaunted courage, not fearing the face of the king, being sent to show himself to him in the name of the King of kings: I HAVE NOT TROUBLED ISRAEL, BUT THOU AND THY FATHER'S HOUSE; they, by their sins, were the cause of all the troubles... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE SEND, AND GATHER TO ME ALL ISRAEL UNTO MOUNT CARMEL..... No doubt but more discourse passed between Ahab and Elijah, though not recorded, before he made this motion to him; it is very probable, that after some dispute between them, who was the true God, and about idolatry, as the cause... [ Continue Reading ]
SO AHAB SENT UNTO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... By messengers, requiring their attendance at Mount Carmel at such a time, at least their chief and principal men: AND GATHERED THE PROPHETS TOGETHER UNTO MOUNT CARMEL; the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, but not the four hundred prophets of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH CAME UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE,.... Assembled at Mount Carmel: AND SAID, HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? sometimes inclining to the one, and sometimes to the other: as a lame man in walking, his body moves sometimes to one side, and sometimes to another; or "leap ye upon two branches" r... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID ELIJAH UNTO THE PEOPLE, I, EVEN I ONLY REMAIN A PROPHET OF THE LORD,.... At least as he thought, all the rest being slain, as he supposed; however there were none present but himself: BUT BAAL'S PROPHETS ARE FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY MEN; which were very great odds he had to contend with.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM THEREFORE GIVE US TWO BULLOCKS,.... Who, being so many, were better able to be at the expense of them, and having the king on their party too; though perhaps no more is meant than that two bullocks should be brought thither, and presented before them: AND LET THEM CHOOSE ONE BULLOCK FOR TH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CALL YE ON THE NAME OF YOUR GODS,.... The Baalim, the many lords and gods they served: AND I WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD; the one true Jehovah and God of Israel, whom I serve: AND THE GOD THAT ANSWERETH BY FIRE; by causing fire to come down upon the sacrifice, and consume it: LET HIM BE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH SAID UNTO THE PROPHETS OF BAAL,.... Who agreed to this proposal, though not expressed; or they signified it by their silence. Ben Gersom thinks they agreed to it, because that, according to their belief, Baal was Mars, and in the sign of Aries, one of the fiery planets, and therefore fanc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TOOK THE BULLOCK WHICH WAS GIVEN THEM,.... By such of them as made the choice: AND THEY DRESSED IT; slew it, and cut it in pieces, and laid it on the wood, but put no fire under it: AND CALLED ON THE NAME OF BAAL, FROM MORNING EVEN UNTIL NOON, SAYING, O BAAL, HEAR US; and send fire down o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AT NOON,.... When they had been from the time of the morning sacrifice until now invoking their deity to no purpose: THAT ELIJAH MOCKED THEM; he jeered and bantered them: AND SAID, CRY ALOUD; your god does not hear you; perhaps, if you raise your voice higher, he may; FOR HE I... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CRIED ALOUD,.... Trying to make him hear, if possible: AND CUT THEMSELVES AFTER THEIR MANNER WITH KNIVES AND LANCETS, TILL THE BLOOD GUSHED OUT UPON THEM; so the priests of Heathen deities used to slash themselves on their shoulders, arms, and thighs, in their devotions to them, as many wr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS WHEN MIDDAY WAS PAST,.... And nothing done, no fire descended: AND THEY PROPHESIED UNTIL THE TIME OF THE OFFERING OF THE EVENING SACRIFICE; continued praying to Baal, and singing his praises, but all to no purpose; or they behaved like madmen, as the Targum; thus they went on un... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH SAID UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, COME NEAR UNTO ME,.... And observe what I do, and what will be done at my request: AND ALL THE PEOPLE CAME NEAR UNTO HIM; left the prophets of Baal to themselves, and took no more notice of them, but attended to what the prophet should say and do: AND HE REPAIR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH TOOK TWELVE STONES, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE TRIBES OF THE SONS OF JACOB,.... Which he might very easily come at from the mountain: UNTO WHOM THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME, SAYING, ISRAEL SHALL BE THY NAME, which signifies one that has power with God, as Jacob had, when the word came t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITH THE STONES HE BUILT AN ALTAR IN THE SAME OF THE LORD,.... Whom the twelve tribes had formerly worshipped; and though now divided in their civil state, yet ought to be united in the worship of God: AND HE MADE A TRENCH ABOUT THE ALTAR, AS GREAT AS WOULD CONTAIN TWO MEASURES OF SEED; or two... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE PUT THE WOOD IN ORDER, AND CUT THE BULLOCK IN PIECES, AND LAID HIM ON THE WOOD,.... Just in such manner as sacrifices usually were: AND SAID, FILL FOUR BARRELS WITH WATER; either from the brook Kishon, or, if that was dried up, from the sea; for both were near this mountain, and so to be had... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, DO IT THE SECOND TIME, AND THEY DID IT THE SECOND TIME,.... That is, poured four barrels of water more upon the wood: AND HE SAID, DO IT THE THIRD TIME, AND THEY DID IT THE THIRD TIME; so that there were in all twelve barrels of water poured on the wood, agreeably to the number of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WATER RAN ROUND ABOUT THE ALTAR,.... There being such a large effusion of it on it; AND HE FILLED THE TRENCH ALSO WITH WATER; which surrounded the altar, so that it seemed impracticable that any fire should kindle upon it; and this gave full proof and demonstration there could be no collusi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, AT THE TIME OF THE OFFERING OF THE EVENING SACRIFICE,.... Which the people of God at Jerusalem were now attending to: THAT ELIJAH THE PROPHET CAME NEAR; to the altar he had built, and on which he had laid the sacrifice: AND SAID; in prayer to God: LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC,... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR ME, O LORD, HEAR ME;.... Which repetition is made to express his importunity, and the vehement earnest desire of his soul to be heard in such a case, which so much concerned the glory of God; the Targum is, "receive my prayer, O Lord, concerning the fire, receive my prayer concerning the rain;... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE FIRE OF THE LORD FELL,.... An extraordinary fire from God out of heaven, as the effects of it show: AND CONSUMED THE BURNT SACRIFICE; as it had done in former instances, Leviticus 9:24, and besides this, which is still more extraordinary, AND THE WOOD, AND THE STONES, AND THE DUST; of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE SAW IT, THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES,.... In reverence of God, astonished at the miracle wrought, ashamed of themselves and their sins, particularly their idolatry, that they should turn their backs on the true God, and follow idols: AND THEY SAID, THE LORD, HE IS THE GOD, THE L... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH SAID UNTO THEM, TAKE THE PROPHETS OF BAAL,.... The four hundred and fifty that were upon the spot; for the number of the people of Israel, now gathered together, were equal to it; nor was it in Ahab's power to hinder it, and he might himself be so far surprised and convicted as not in the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH SAID UNTO AHAB, GET THEE UP,.... From the brook and valley where the execution of the prophets had been made; either up to his chariot, or to the tent or pavilion erected on the side of the mount, where the whole scene of things was transacted; EAT AND DRINK; which he had no leisure for... [ Continue Reading ]
SO AHAB WENT UP TO EAT AND TO DRINK,.... Up to his chariot, as some think, or rather to some place higher than that in which he now was: AND ELIJAH WENT UP TO THE TOP OF CARMEL; higher still, where he both might be alone, and have the opportunity of observing the clouds gathering, and the rain comi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID TO HIS SERVANT,.... Whom some take to be the son of the widow of Sarepta, but he must be too young to be employed in such service as this was: GO UP NOW; still higher on Mount Carmel; than where he was, even to the highest point of it: LOOK TOWARDS THE SEA: or the west, as the Targum, the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THE SEVENTH TIME THAT HE SAID, BEHOLD THERE ARISETH A LITTLE CLOUD OUT OF THE SEA, LIKE A MAN'S HAND,.... Either about the size or in the form of it; rain water comes out of the sea, and, being strained through the clouds and air, becomes fresh: AND HE SAID, GO UP: the meanin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE MEAN WHILE,.... That the servant was gone with the message to Ahab, and Ahab was getting ready his chariot: THAT THE HEAVEN WAS BLACK WITH CLOUDS AND WIND, AND THERE WAS A GREAT RAIN; which all sprung from the cloud like a man's hand; and so we are told k, that sometimes... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS ON ELIJAH,.... Giving him more than common strength of body, as well as courage and fortitude of mind; so the Targum, the spirit of strength from the Lord was with him: AND HE GIRDED UP HIS LOINS; gathered up his long loose garment, and girt it about him, that he might... [ Continue Reading ]