Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Kings 18

Introduction

1  In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah.
9  Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah.
17  Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets.
41  Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel.
Verse 1

And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
A. M. 3098. B.C. 906. after many days
Luke 4:25, James 5:17, Revelation 11:2,6
in the third year
This form of expression, both in Hebrew and Latin, means "after the third year," i.e., some time between the third and fourth year.
17:1,7,15, Luke 4:25, James 5:17
Go
2,15-40
I will send rain
Leviticus 26:4, Deuteronomy 28:12, Psalms 65:9-13, Isaiah 5:6, Jeremiah 10:13, 14:22, Joel 2:23, Amos 4:7
Verse 2

And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
went to shew
Psalms 27:1, 51:4, Proverbs 28:1, Isaiah 51:12, Hebrews 13:5,6
a sore
Leviticus 26:26, Deuteronomy 28:23,24, 2 Kings 6:25, Jeremiah 14:2-6,18, Joel 1:15-20
Verse 3

And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
Obadiah
Heb. Obadiahu. the governor of his house. Heb. over his house.
Genesis 24:2,10, 39:4,5,9, 41:40
feared the Lord
12, Genesis 22:12, 42:18, 2 Kings 4:1, Nehemiah 5:15, 7:2, Proverbs 14:26, Malachi 3:16, Matthew 10:28, Acts 10:2,35
Verse 4

For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
Jezebel
Heb. Izabel. cut off the prophets.
Nehemiah 9:26, Matthew 21:35, Revelation 17:4-6
in a cave
Hebrews 11:38
fed them
13, 2 Kings 6:22,23, Matthew 10:40-42, 25:35,40
bread and water
13:8,9,16
Verse 5

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
grass
Psalms 104:14, Jeremiah 14:5,6, Joel 1:18, 2:22, Habakkuk 3:17, Romans 8:20-22
we lose not all the beasts
Heb. we cut not off ourselves from the beasts.
Verse 6

So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
Ahab went
Jeremiah 14:3
Verse 7

And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
was in the way
11:29
he knew
2 Kings 1:6-8, Matthew 3:4, 11:8
fell on
Genesis 18:2, 50:18, 1 Samuel 20:41, 2 Samuel 19:18, Isaiah 60:14
my lord Elijah
Genesis 18:12, 44:16,20,33, Numbers 12:11
Verse 8

And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
thy lord
3, Romans 13:7, 1 Peter 2:17,18
Verse 9

And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
What have I sinned
12, 17:18, Exodus 5:21
Verse 10

As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
the Lord
15, 1:29, 2:24, 17:1,12, 1 Samuel 29:6
whither my lord
Psalms 10:2, Jeremiah 26:20-23
they found thee not
17:5,9, Psalms 12:7,8, 31:20, 91:1, Jeremiah 36:26, John 8:59
Verse 11

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
Go, tell they lord
8,14
Verse 12

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 fear the LORD from my youth.
the Spirit of the Lord
2 Kings 2:11,16, Ezekiel 3:12-14, 8:3, 11:24, 37:1, 40:1,2, Matthew 4:1, Acts 8:39, 2 Corinthians 12:2,3
he shall slay me
1 Samuel 22:11-19, Daniel 2:5-13, Matthew 2:16, Acts 12:19
from my youth
1 Samuel 2:18,26, 3:19,20, 2 Chronicles 34:3, Psalms 71:17,18, Proverbs 8:13, Ecclesiastes 7:18, Isaiah 50:10, Luke 1:15, 2 Timothy 3:15
Verse 13

Was 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 by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
what I did
4, Genesis 20:4,5, Psalms 18:21-24, Acts 20:34, 1 Thessalonians 2:9,10
I hid an hundred
Matthew 10:41,42
fed them
Matthew 25:35
Verse 14

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
and he shall slay me
Matthew 10:28
Verse 15

And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
As the Lord
10, Hebrews 6:16,17
of hosts liveth
Genesis 2:1, Deuteronomy 4:19, Job 25:3, Psalms 24:8-10, 103:21, 148:2,3, Isaiah 6:3, Jeremiah 8:2, Luke 2:13,14
before whom I
17:1, Deuteronomy 1:38, Luke 1:19
I will surely
Isaiah 51:7,8
Verse 17

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
he that troubleth Israel
21:20, Joshua 7:25, Jeremiah 26:8,9, 38:4, Amos 7:10, Acts 16:20, 17:6, 24:5
Verse 18

And 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 Baalim.
I have not
Ezekiel 3:8, Matthew 14:4, Acts 24:13,20
in that ye have
9:9, 2 Chronicles 15:2, Proverbs 11:19, 13:21, Isaiah 3:11, Jeremiah 2:13,19, Revelation 2:8,9
Verse 19

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
mount Carmel
Mount Carmel is situated north of Dora and south of Ptolemais or Acre, from which it is distant, according to Josephus, 120 stadia, or, according to Thevenot, 10 miles; one of its principal points advancing considerably into the Mediterranean, and forming an elevated promontory. It is described as a flattened cone, about 2,000 feet (some say 1,500) in height, very rocky, its sides steep and rugged, and the soil neither deep nor rich. Capt. Mangles says its is now quite barren, though at the north-eastern foot of it there are some pretty olive-grounds.
42,43, Joshua 19:26, 1 Samuel 15:12, 2 Kings 2:25, Jeremiah 46:18, Amos 1:2, 9:3
the prophets of Baal
22:6, 2 Peter 2:1, Revelation 19:20
prophets of the groves
15:13, 16:33, 2 Kings 13:6; Though {ashairah} certainly denotes in some place a grove, yet it is equally certain, that in others, as here, it must signify an idol; and it is thought by learned men to be the same as Ashtoreth, or Astarte the Syrian Venus.
eat at Jezebel's table
19:1,2, 2 Kings 9:22, Revelation 2:20
Verse 20

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
gathered
22:9
Verse 21

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long 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.
How long
Deuteronomy 4:35, 2 Kings 17:41, Zephaniah 1:5, Matthew 6:24, Luke 6:13, Romans 6:16-22, 1 Corinthians 10:21,22, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, Revelation 3:15,16
opinions
or, thoughts. if the Lord.
39, Exodus 5:1,2, Joshua 24:15,23,24, 1 Samuel 7:3, 1 Chronicles 17:26, 2 Chronicles 33:13, Psalms 100:3
answered
Genesis 24:50, 44:16, Job 40:4,5, Matthew 22:12,34,36, Romans 3:19, 6:21
Verse 22

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
I only
19:10,14, 20:13,32,35,38, 22:6-8, Romans 11:3
Baal's prophets
19,20, Matthew 7:13-15, 2 Timothy 4:3,4, 2 Peter 2:1-3
Verse 24

And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
answereth by fire
38, Leviticus 9:24, Judges 6:21, 1 Chronicles 21:26, 2 Chronicles 7:1,3
and said
2 Samuel 14:19
It is well spoken
Heb. the word is good.
Isaiah 39:8
Verse 26

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 leaped upon the altar which was made.
from morning
Matthew 6:7
hear
or, answer. no voice.
24, Psalms 115:4-8, 135:15-20, Isaiah 37:38, 44:17, 45:20, Jeremiah 10:5, Daniel 5:23, Habakkuk 2:18, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 10:19,20, 12:2
answered
or, heard. leaped upon the altar. or, leaped up and down at the altar.
Zephaniah 1:9
Verse 27

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 awaked.
Elijah
22:15, 2 Chronicles 25:8, Ecclesiastes 11:9, Isaiah 8:9,10, 44:15-17, Ezekiel 20:39, Amos 4:4,5, Matthew 26:45, Mark 7:9, 14:41
aloud
Heb. with a great voice. for he is a god.
Isaiah 41:23
either
Such were the absurd and degrading notions which the heathens entertained of their gods. "Vishnoo sleeps four months in the year; and to each of the gods some particular business is assigned. Vayoo manages the winds; Vuroonu the waters, etc. According to a number of fables in the pooranus, the gods are often out on journeys or expeditions." Ward's Views of the Hindoos, vol. ii. p. 324.
he is talking
or, he meditateth. is pursuing. Heb. hath a pursuit. must be awaked.
Psalms 44:23, 78:65,66, 121:4, Isaiah 51:9, Mark 4:38,39
Verse 28

And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
cut themselves
Leviticus 19:28, Deuteronomy 14:1, Micah 6:7, Mark 5:5, 9:22
the blood gushed out upon them
Heb. they poured out blood upon them.
Verse 29

And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
prophesied
22:10,12, 1 Samuel 18:10, Jeremiah 28:6-9, Acts 16:16,17, 1 Corinthians 11:4,5
offering
Heb. ascending. See on ver.
voice
26, Galatians 4:8, 2 Timothy 3:8,9
that regarded
Heb. attention.
Verse 30

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
he repaired
19:10,14, 2 Chronicles 33:16, Romans 11:3
the altar of the Lord
This altar of Jehovah was probably built in the time of the judges; and it was even known among the heathen by the name of the altar of Carmel. Both Tacitus and Suetonius mention an altar on mount Carmel, which Vespasian went to consult: there was no temple nor statue, but simply an altar, venerable for its antiquity.
Verse 31

And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
twelve stones
Exodus 24:4, Joshua 4:3,4,20, Ezra 6:17, Jeremiah 31:1, Ezekiel 37:16-22, 47:13, Ephesians 2:20, 4:4-6, Revelation 7:4-8, 21:12
saying
Genesis 32:28, 33:20, 35:10, 2 Kings 17:34, Isaiah 48:1
Verse 32

And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
And with
Exodus 20:24,25, Judges 6:26, 21:4, 1 Samuel 7:9,17
in the name
1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17
Verse 33

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
he put
Genesis 22:9, Leviticus 1:6-8
Fill four
Daniel 3:19,25, John 11:39,40, 19:33,34
pour it
Judges 6:20
Verse 34

And 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.
Do it the second
2 Corinthians 4:2, 8:21
Verse 35

And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
ran
Heb. went. the trench.
32,38
Verse 36

And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of 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 all these things at thy word.
at the time
29, Exodus 29:39-41, Ezra 9:4,5, Psalms 141:2, Daniel 8:13, 9:21, 12:11, Acts 3:1, Acts 10:30
Lord God
21, Genesis 26:24, 31:53, 32:9, 46:3, Exodus 3:6,15,16, 1 Chronicles 29:18, 2 Chronicles 20:6,7, Ephesians 1:17, 3:14
let it
8:43, 1 Samuel 17:46,47, 2 Kings 1:3,6, 5:15, 19:19, Psalms 67:1,2, 83:18, Ezekiel 36:23, 39:7
and that I have
22:28, Numbers 16:28-30, John 11:42
Verse 37

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 again.
Hear me
24,29,36, Genesis 32:24,26,28, 2 Chronicles 14:11, 32:19,20, Isaiah 37:17-20, Daniel 9:17-19, Luke 11:8, James 5:16,17
thou hast turned
Jeremiah 31:18,19, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Malachi 4:5,6, Luke 1:16,17
Verse 38

Then 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.
Then the
Genesis 15:17, Leviticus 9:24, Judges 6:21, 1 Chronicles 21:26, 2 Chronicles 7:1
fire
24, Leviticus 10:2, 2 Kings 1:12, Job 1:16, Isaiah 31:9
Verse 39

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
they fell
Judges 13:20, 1 Chronicles 21:16, 2 Chronicles 7:3
The Lord
21,24, John 5:35, Acts 2:37, 4:16
Verse 40

And 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 Kishon, and slew them there.
Take
or, Apprehend.
2 Kings 10:25
Kishon
Judges 5:21
slew them there
Deuteronomy 13:5, 18:20, Jeremiah 48:10, Zechariah 13:2,3, Revelation 19:20, 20:10
Verse 41

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
Get
Ecclesiastes 9:7, Acts 27:34
a sound, etc
or, a sound of a noise of rain. See on ver.
1, 17:1
Verse 42

So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
Elijah
19, Matthew 14:23, Luke 6:12, Acts 10:9
he cast himself
Genesis 24:52, Joshua 7:6, 2 Samuel 12:16, Daniel 9:3, Mark 14:35, James 5:16-18
put his face
19:13, Ezra 9:6, Psalms 89:7, Isaiah 6:2, 38:2, Daniel 9:7
Verse 43

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 seven times.
Go up
Psalms 5:3, Luke 18:1
Go again
Genesis 32:26, Habakkuk 2:3, Luke 18:7, Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 10:36,37
Verse 44

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. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
a little cloud
Kekaph ish, "like the hollow of a man's hand;" in the form of a hand bent, the concave side downmost. Mr. Bruce mentions a similar cloud in Abyssinia, as attending the inundation of the Nile. "Every morning, about nine, a small cloud, not above four feet broad, appears in the east, whirling violently round, as if upon an axis; but arrived near the zenith, it first abates its motion, then loses its form, and extends itself greatly, and seems to call up vapours from all opposite quarters. These clouds having attained nearly the same height, rush against each other with great violence, and put me always in mind of Elijah foretelling rain on Mount Carmel."
Job 8:7, Zechariah 4:10
Prepare
Heb. Tie, or Bind.
1 Samuel 6:7,10, Micah 1:13
Verse 45

And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
there was
39,40, Numbers 25:8, 2 Samuel 21:14
Ahab
21:1,23, Joshua 19:18, 2 Samuel 2:9, 2 Kings 9:16
Verse 46

And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
the hand
2 Kings 3:15, Isaiah 8:11, Ezekiel 1:3, 3:14
he girded
2 Kings 4:29, 9:1, Job 38:3, Jeremiah 1:17, Ephesians 6:14, 1 Peter 1:13
ran before
Matthew 22:21, 1 Peter 2:17
to the entrance of
Heb. till thou come to.

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