1In the extremity of the famine Elijah is sent to meet Ahab. 3Ahab and Obadiah go different ways in search of pasture for the cattle. 7Elijah meeteth Obadiah, and sendeth him to call Ahab. 18Ahab, after receiving a reproof, by Elijah's direction gathereth together all the prophets of Baal. 21Elijah proposeth to decide by a sign from heaven between the Lord and Baal. 25Baal's prophets invoke him in vain. 30Elijah praying is answered by fire from heaven: the people own the Lord to be God: Baal's prophets are slain. 41Elijah giveth Ahab notice of rain, which he obtaineth by prayer, and runneth before Ahab to Jezreel.
1AND it came to pass after 1many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah 2in the third year, saying, Go, 3shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
1 Namely, three years and six months, Luke 4:25; James 5:17.
2 Namely, after he was lodged at the house of the widow of Sarepta. See on verse 7 of the previous chapter.
3 To promise him rain from Me, and to charge him to gather Baal’s priests together upon mount Carmel. See verse 19 and the sequel.
2And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine 4in Samaria.
4 Do not only understand this of the city of Samaria, but of the entire kingdom of Israel.
3And Ahab called 5Obadiah, which was 6the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
5 Hebr. Obadjahu, who is distinguished from others who had this name, 1 Chron. 27:19; 2 Chron. 34:12, and from the prophet Obadiah, Obadiah verse 1, unless he was the same, as some perceive he was.
6 Hebr. who was over his house, that is, his steward. See 1 Kings 4:6; 16:9.
4For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them 7by fifty in a cave, and fed them 8with bread and water.)
7 Hebr. fifty men in one cave; namely, and fifty in another, that is, by, with, or every time fifty together.
8 That is, with food and drink. See 1 Kings 13 on verse 8.
5And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find 9grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we 10lose not all the beasts.
9 The Hebrew word signifies all kinds of herb, which serves for food to animals, growing in uncultivated places, and mowed down with the scythe, and counted among the hay. Compare Job 8:12; 40:15; Psalm 104:14; 129:6; 147:8.
10 Namely, by leaving them through neglect and carelessness with no provision of fodder.
6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7¶And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met 11him: and he knew him, and 12fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
11 Hebr. in his encounter.
12 Namely, to show him civil respect, according to the custom of the country. See Gen. 18 on verse 2.
8And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9And he said, 13What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
13 Intimating that Elijah, in commanding him what is mentioned in the previous verse, seemed to bear no good will unto him, as if he had offended him; for, he could not well perform that command without greatly endangering his life before Ahab; the reason hereof he shows in verse 12.
10As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: 14and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath 15of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
14 Add herewith the punishment which is concealed in the oath of the Hebrews, as: God do this or that unto me, etc. See Gen. 14 on verse 23.
15 Ahab had not only sent forth men in search after Elijah in his own country, but likewise desired different neighboring kingdoms, and nations, in good relations with him, to do the like within their jurisdiction, of whom, when they reported afterwards that they could not find him, he desired to confirm the truth of their assertion by oath.
11And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the 16Spirit of the LORD shall carry 17thee whither I know not; and so when I come and 18tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay 19me: but I thy 20servant fear the LORD from my youth.
16 Understand this of the Holy Spirit, Who could do this by His Divine power, or by means according to His good pleasure.
17 That this could be done, and sometimes has been done, may be gathered from 2 Kings 2:16; Acts 8:39.
18 Namely, that thou art present here and ready to speak with him.
19 Namely, as one who has deceived and mocked him with lies.
20 That is, I, who am inclined and ready to do thee service; also in the following verse. Compare the annotation at 1 Kings 1 on verse 51.
13Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’S prophets 21by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
21 Hebr. one fifty one fifty men, that is, fifty in one cave, and fifty in another; or every time fifty in one cave. See Gen. 7 on verse 2.
14And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
15And Elijah said, As 22the LORD of hosts liveth, 23before whom I stand, 24I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
22 Understand here by hosts all creatures, heavenly and earthly, visible and invisible, reasonable and unreasonable, living and lifeless. The reason for which they are called hosts or armies, see Gen. 2 on verse 1. God is the sovereign Lord of all these; not only because He created them all and still preserves them, so that they properly belong only to Him, but also because He so governs them, that they stand continually in great number and multitudes ready for His service, to execute His most holy will. This Name is often attributed to God in Scripture; as 1 Sam. 1:3; 4:4; 2 Sam. 5:10; Psalm 24:10; Isa. 1:9, etc.
23 Also 1 Kings 17:1. See Deut. 10 on verse 8.
24 That is, so true it is, that I will appear today before Ahab, as it is true that the Lord lives.
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and 25told him: and Ahab 26went to meet Elijah.
25 Namely, that Elijah was come, and was desirous to appear before him.
26 Not to entertain him with friendly and courteous behavior, but with scornful and reviling terms, and to accuse him to be the cause of the long continuing drought.
17¶And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Arta thou he that 27troubleth Israel?
a Amos 7:10.
27 The Hebrew word signifies properly, to bring about by words and deeds, trouble, vexation, unrest, conjoined with care, and unsettledness of heart. Compare Gen. 34:30; Joshua 7:25; Judges 11:35; Prov. 15:27. For this Elijah is accused by Ahab, not only because he was utterly against idolatry, but also because he thought him to be the cause of the drought, and of the famine, wherewith the land had now been plagued for a long time.
18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed 28Baalim.
28 See 1 Kings 16 on verse 31.
1929Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount 30Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets 31of the groves four hundred, which eat 32at Jezebel’s table.
29 Namely, that thou mayest be rid of this drought. For, the promise is contained in that command, that God would deliver the land from that drought, if he did obey this command.
30 Located in the tribe of Issachar by the Mediterranean Sea, Joshua 19:26; Jer. 46:18. This mountain was exceeding high, Amos 9:3, well grown or planted with trees, vineyards, and sweet-smelling herbs; in brief, exceeding fruitful, Isa. 35:2. Upon this mountain did the prophet Elisha also keep his abode, 2 Kings 4:25, and it is to be distinguished from mount Carmel, situated in the tribe of Judah, in the wilderness of Maon, where Nabal dwelt, 1 Sam. 25:2.
31 Namely, the idolatrous grove; of which see 1 Kings 16:33. Of such groves see Exod. 34:13; Deut. 7:5 with the annotation. Other, grove-god, or, tree-god.
32 Or, from Jezebel’s table.
20So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye 33between two opinions? if the LORDbbe 34God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
33 Other, leaping upon two boughs; for, the Hebrew word signifies also a bough, as Isa. 17:6, but it is taken for thoughts, Job 4:13; 20:2. He accuses them of two things: I. that they wanted to serve God and Baal together; II. that they were not fully resolved unto which of the twain to cleave alone, seeing they ought to have known that there is but one God.
b Joshua 24:15.
34 That is, the only and true God, to Whom alone religious honor is due.
22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I 35only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are 36four hundred and fifty men.
35 Namely, who openly maintains and defends the truth of the doctrine and the purity of religion in Israel, the rest of the prophets being either dead, or murdered, or driven away, and hid in caves.
36 It is perceived that among these are not comprised any of the four hundred prophets of the idolatrous grove, who Elijah had likewise caused to be summoned into this assembly, verse 19, but that Jezebel kept them back, and commanded them not to appear, which may be gathered from that which is related 1 Kings 22:6. See the annotation there.
23Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and 37lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
37 Hebr. properly, give.
24And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth 38by fire, let him be 39God. And all the people answered and said, 40It is well spoken.
38 Understand by sending fire from heaven, thereby to kindle and consume the sacrifice, to evidence who is the true God, which is the true doctrine, and the true worship of God.
39 As on verse 21.
40 Hebr. The word is good.
25And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dresscit first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
c remove an animal’s inward parts in preparation for eating*
26And they took the bullock 41which was given them, and they dresseddit, 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 42they leaped 43upon the altar which was made.
41 That is, which Elijah had just before permitted them to choose. See verse 23.
d remove an animal’s inward parts in preparation for eating*
42 Understand this of the altar that Elijah had made, which out of mere malice they sought to overturn with their skipping and leaping against it, feigning themselves to be impelled hereunto by the zeal of a prophetical spirit. See verses 29 and 30.
43 Or, on, over.
27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either 44he is talking, or he is 45pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventuree he sleepeth, 46and must be awaked.
44 That is, because he has somewhat to think and meditate upon with his senses: or, because he is busy in speaking with somebody. For, the Hebrew word signifies, as well speaking somewhat with the mouth, as thinking somewhat with the heart.
45 Other, has a pursuit; namely, whereby he is sought by others, or he even seeks and pursues others, as men or beasts.
e perhaps*
46 Namely, if you cry loud enough.
28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their 47manner with knives and lancets, 48till the blood gushed out upon them.
47 Wherein they did imitate the vain heathen, Deut. 14:1, as those who out of a show of holiness whip themselves, till they shed their own blood, as followers of both.
48 Other, until they were all poured over with blood.
29And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they 49prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening 50sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
49 That is, behaved themselves in external countenance and gestures as if they had been in a trance by the spirit of prophecy. See 1 Sam. 18:10.
50 Which was done in Jerusalem about the latter part of the day; or as the Scripture speaks between the two evenings. See Exod. 29:41; Acts 3:1. There was also daily a meat offering offered in the morning, Exod. 29:39; 2 Kings 3:20.
30And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the 51altar of the LORD that was broken down.
51 Which he had previously made, and Baal’s prophets had broken with their leaping. See verse 26.
31And 52Elijah tookf twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israelg shall be thy name:
52 He wanted to show by this act that the twelve tribes, notwithstanding their separation in matters of state, yet ought to be knit and united together in religion, to perform with one accord due and the same service and honour to God, according to His Word, by avoiding all manner of idolatry and vain superstition.
f Joshua 4:5, 20.
g Gen. 32:28; 2 Kings 17:34.
32And with the stones 53he built an altar 54in the name of the LORD: and he made a 55trench about the altar, 56as great as would contain two 57measures of seed.
53 This has been an extraordinary work, proceeding from a special and peculiar command of God, and therefore to be excluded from the common rule, Lev. 17:3; Deut. 12:13, 14.
54 That is, by charge and command from God, and for His honor. See verse 36.
55 Or, water-course.
56 Hebr. according to the house of two measures of seed; that is, according to the wideness. Some perceive that the trench was as wide as a sack into which they put two measures of seed, or into which could go two measures of seed. Others understand this of the wideness not of the trench, but of the space, that was between the trench and the altar, comprehending so much area, as might be sown with two measures of seed.
57 See of this measure, Gen. 18 on verse 6.
33And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four 58barrels 59with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
58 Other, pitchers. Or, pails.
59 The prophet makes use this water and that in great abundance, to take away all suspicion, and to make the miracle, that would be done, to appear the more public.
34And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the 60trench also with water.
60 Of which is spoken verse 32.
36And it came to pass 61at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet 62came near, and said, LORD Godh63of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done 64all these things at thy word.
61 See on verse 29.
62 Namely, to the altar.
h Exod. 3:6; Mat. 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:32.
63 This Name of God was to put the Israelites in mind, that they and the Jews had not only the same descent after the flesh, which should stir them up to unity, but likewise ought to continue and persevere in the fellowship of the holy doctrine and the worship of God, received from God by means of these fathers. Compare the annotation at Gen. 26 on verse 24.
64 Understand not only of what was already done by him, but also of what yet afterward would be done.
3765Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart 66back again.
65 That is, answer me, and make it appear by a visible sign, that Thou hast heard me, causing fire to fall from heaven to consume my sacrifice, as I gave this sign to the people according to Thy command, verse 24.
66 From the idolatry, in which they lie drowned. For, one of the purposes of his prayer was that those who would be converted from among the people, would ascribe the glory of their conversion unto God.
3867Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
67 See similar examples, Lev. 9:24; Judges 6:21; 2 Chron. 7:1.
39And when all the people saw it, 68they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the 69God; the LORD, he is the God.
68 Unto a sign that they acknowledged God to be the true God, and accordingly called upon Him. See Gen. 24 on verse 26.
69 See on verse 24.
40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook 70Kishon, and 71slew them there.
70 See of this brook, Judges 4 on verse 7.
71 Or, cut their throats; that is, he killed them with the sword, 1 Kings 19:1. This was also comprised in the command of God, of which Elijah makes mention in verse 36. For, he did nothing herein by his own accord, but by the word and command of God, and by the conduct of His Spirit; so that this act is altogether particular, and may not be misused by imitation. See a similar act in Samuel, 1 Sam. 15:33.
41¶And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is 72a sound of abundance of rain.
72 Hebr. a voice of noise, or, abundance of rain. Or, a sound of a noise of rain.
42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; 73and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
73 With this outward appearance of his body, making fervent prayer unto God, and beseeching Him for rain; although he was fully assured by the promise of God that rain would come.
43And said to his servant, Go up now, look 74toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
74 Hebr. the way of the sea.
44And 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. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain 75stop thee not.
75 Or, shut thee not in; that is, surprise and hinder thee as such that thou canst not get home.
45And it came to pass 76in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there 77was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to 78Jezreel.
76 Hebr. hitherto and hitherto; that is, in the interim, and while Ahab made himself ready to go home; or, that is, here and there, or everywhere the heaven grew black.
77 Hebr. was or became.
78 A city situated in the border of the tribes of Manasseh, and Issachar, Joshua 19:18, and to be distinguished from another city of this name situated in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:56.
46And 79the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he 80girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab 81to the entrance of Jezreel.
79 That is, the Lord gave him extraordinary strength, that with running he would exceed Ahab’s chariot, and come to Jezreel before him.
80 Namely, to go quicker, because they wore long garments. So 2 Kings 4:29; 9:1.
81 Hebr. till thou comest to Jezreel.