And it came to pass [after] many days, that the word of the LORD came
to Elijah in the (a) third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab;
and I will send rain upon the earth.
(a) After that he departed from the river Cherith.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ahab called Obadiah, which [was] the governor of [his] house. (Now
Obadiah (b) feared the LORD greatly:
(b) God had begun to work his fear in his heart, but had not yet
brought him to the knowledge which is also required of the godly: that
is, to profess his Name openly.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah (c) met him: and he knew
him, and fell on his face, and said, [Art] thou that my lord Elijah?
(c) God often pities the wicked for the sake of the godly, and causes
Elijah to meet with Obadiah, that the blessing might be known to be
granted for the sake... [ 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; and [so] when
I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I
thy servant (d) fear the LORD from my youth.
(d) I am not of the wicked persecutors that... [ Continue Reading ]
And Elijah said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I
will surely shew (e) myself unto him to day.
(e) By my presence I will declare that you have told him the truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but (f) thou, and thy
father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD,
and thou hast followed Baalim.
(f) The true ministers of God should not only not permit falsehoods,
but should boldly reprove the wicked slanderers without respe... [ Continue Reading ]
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long (g) halt ye
between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal,
[then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
(g) Be consistent in religion and do not be indifferent, whether you
follow God or Baal, or whether you... [ Continue Reading ]
And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of
the LORD: and the God that answereth (h) by fire, let him be God. And
all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
(h) By sending down fire from heaven to burn the sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it],
and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O
Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And
they (i) leaped upon the altar which was made.
(i) As men possessed by some strange spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry
aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or
he is in a journey, [or] peradventure he sleepeth, and must be (l)
awaked.
(l) He mocks their beastly madness, who think that by any instance or
suit, the dead a... [ Continue Reading ]
And the water ran round about the altar; and he (m) filled the trench
also with water.
(m) By this he declared the excellent power of God, who contrary to
nature could make the fire burn even in the water, so that they should
have no opportunity to doubt that he is the only God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art]
the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back (n) again.
(n) Though God permits his to run in blindness and error for a time,
yet eventually he calls them home to him by some notorious sign and
work.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not (o) one
of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to
the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
(o) He commanded them that as they were truly persuaded to confess the
only God: so they should serve him with all their p... [ Continue Reading ]
And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went
up, and looked, and said, [There is] nothing. And he said, Go again
(p) seven times.
(p) As God's spirit moved him to pray, so was he strengthened by the
same that he did not faint, but continued still till he had obtained.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins,
and ran (q) before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
(q) He was so strengthened by God's spirit that he ran faster than the
chariot was able to run.... [ Continue Reading ]