1 Kings 17:1--21:29
Elijah <0452> [A.M. 3094. B.C. 910. Elijah. Heb. Elijahu.]
[Elias. As the Lord God.]
serve <06440 05975> [before whom.]
dew ... rain <04306 02919> [dew nor rain.]
Hide ...... Valley <05641 05158> [hide thyself.]
<06680> [I have commanded.]
did as .... told <06213 01697> [did according.]
Many learned men have raised doubts on those parts of the Inspired Word, which may, by the perverseness of their argument and the ingenuity of their surmise, be made to appear inconsistent with fact. In this case, they are not satisfied with being expressly told by God that the ravens supplied Elijah with food, while the brook gave him drink, but apparently to mystify a manifest miracle, they suggest whether these ravens might not be merchantmen, or the inhabitants of a neighbouring town. Let any unprejudiced reader and lover of the Bible take the whole history of Elijah, and he will find that his life was almost a daily illustration of the power of God in his miraculous interpositions. Instance the supply of provision in the unwasting barrel of meal and cruse of oil, after the prophet had removed to Zarephath: the power communicated to him to raise the widow's son from death: the wonderful interposition of the Lord to prove the folly of Baal's worshippers, in sending down fire from heaven to consume Elijah's sacrifice and lick up the water, although the sacrifice had been saturated therewith, and the altar surrounded by a deep trench to prevent its running away. The prayer for rain is another instance: the sojourn in Horeb forty days and forty nights, after having eaten of the cake: the destruction of Ahaziah's messengers twice: the smiting of the waters at Jordan: the fall of the mantle on Elisha: and finally, in the closing scene of life, he was taken to glory without tasting the pains of death, the sting was taken away.
ravens <06158> [the ravens.]
After ... while <03117 07093> [A.M. 3095. B.C. 909. after a while. Heb. at the end of days. the brook.]
<01697> [the word.]
Zarephath <06886> [Zarephath.]
[Sarepta. which belongeth.]
widow <0802 0490> [widow woman.]
give .... cup <03947 04592> [Fetch me.]
<03212> [as she was going.]
piece <06595> [a morsel.]
Lord <03068> [As the Lord.]
handful <04393> [but an handful.]
eaten ..... die <0398 04191> [that we may eat it.]
afraid Go <03372 0935> [Fear not.]
do ................... make <08033 06213> [make me thereof.]
first <07223> [first.]
says <0559> [thus saith.]
jar ... flour <03537 07058> [The barrel of meal.]
makes <05414> [sendeth. Heb. giveth.]
did .... told <06213 01697> [did according.]
family <03117> [many days. or, a full year.]
jar <03537> [the barrel.]
just <01697> [according.]
through Elijah <03027 0452> [by Elijah. Heb. by the hand of Elijah.]
son .... woman <0802 01121> [A.M. 3096. B.C. 908. the son of the woman.]
breathe <05397> [that there was.]
prophet <0376> [What have I.]
prophet <0376> [O thou man.]
come <0935> [art thou come.]
upper room <05944> [into a loft.]
called <07121> [he cried.]
by killing <07489> [hast thou also.]
stretched out .... boy ................. boy's <04058 03206> [stretched himself. Heb. measured himself.]
Lord ... Lord ... God <03068 0430> [O Lord my God.]
him <07130> [into him. Heb. into his inward parts. and he revived.]
See ... son ... alive <07200 01121 02416> [See, thy son liveth.]
<02088> [Now by this.]
<01697> [the word.]
Some time ......... famine <03117 07227> [A.M. 3098. B.C. 906. after many days.]
third year <07992 08141> [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.
<03212> [Go.]
I .... rain <04306 05414> [I will send rain.]
appearance <03212 07200> [went to shew.]
severe <02389> [a sore.]
Obadiah ....... Obadiah <05662> [Obadiah. Heb. Obadiahu. the governor of his house. Heb. over his house.]
loyal follower .... Lord <03373 03068> [feared the Lord.]
Jezebel <0348> [Jezebel. Heb. Izabel. cut off the prophets.]
two caves <04631> [in a cave.]
brought ... food <03557 03899> [fed them.]
food ... water <04325 03899> [bread and water.]
grazing areas <02682> [grass.]
kill ..... animals <0929 03772> [we lose not all the beasts. Heb. we cut not off ourselves from the beasts.]
Ahab went ...... went <01980 0256> [Ahab went.]
traveling along <01870> [was in the way.]
recognized <05234> [he knew.]
fell facedown <05307 06440> [fell on.]
Elijah ..................... master Elijah <0452 0113> [my lord Elijah.]
master <0113> [thy lord.]
committed <02398> [What have I sinned.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
master <0834 0113> [whither my lord.]
find <04672> [they found thee not.]
say .... say <03212 0559> [Go, tell they lord.]
Lord's spirit .............................................. Lord <03068 07307> [the Spirit of the Lord.]
kill .......... servant <02026 05650> [he shall slay me.]
youth <05271> [from my youth.]
did <06213> [what I did.]
hid one hundred <03967 02244> [I hid an hundred.]
brought ... food <03557 03899> [fed them.]
kill <02026> [and he shall slay me.]
Lord <03068> [As the Lord.]
who rules over all lives <06635 02416> [of hosts liveth.]
serve ....... before <06440 05975> [before whom I.]
appearance <07200> [I will surely.]
disaster ... Israel <03478 05916> [he that troubleth Israel.]
disaster <05916> [I have not.]
have ... abandoning <05800> [in that ye have.]
Mount Carmel <03760 02022> [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.
prophets ... Baal .... prophets <01168 05030> [the prophets of Baal.]
prophets ...... prophets ... Asherah <0842 05030> [prophets of the groves.]
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.
Jezebel supports <0348 07979 0398> [eat at Jezebel's table.]
assemble <06908> [gathered.]
<05921> [How long.]
indecision <05587> [opinions. or, thoughts. if the Lord.]
But <06030> [answered.]
left <03498> [I only.]
prophet ............ prophets ... Baal <05030 01168> [Baal's prophets.]
responds ... fire ... demonstrate <0784 06030> [answereth by fire.]
responded <0559> [and said.]
This ..... fair <02896 01697> [It is well spoken. Heb. the word is good.]
morning <01242> [from morning.]
answer .......... answer <06030> [hear. or, answer. no voice.]
answer .......... answer <06030> [answered. or, heard. leaped upon the altar. or, leaped up and down at the altar.]
Elijah <0452> [Elijah.]
louder <01419> [aloud. Heb. with a great voice. for he is a god.]
deep in thought <07879> [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.
deep in thought <07879> [he is talking. or, he meditateth. is pursuing. Heb. hath a pursuit. must be awaked.]
prescribed ... mutilated <01413 04941> [cut themselves.]
covered ... blood <08210 01818> [the blood gushed out upon them. Heb. they poured out blood upon them.]
<05012> [prophesied.]
<05927> [offering. Heb. ascending. See on ver.]
sound <06963> [voice.]
response <07182> [that regarded. Heb. attention.]
repaired <07495> [he repaired.]
altar .... Lord <04196 03068> [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.
stones <08147 068> [twelve stones.]
said <0559> [saying.]
stones <068> [And with.]
for <08034> [in the name.]
arranged <06186> [he put.]
again ...... again <08138> [Do it the second.]
<03212> [ran. Heb. went. the trench.]
evening <05927> [at the time.]
Lord God ............ God <03068 0430> [Lord God.]
prove <03045> [let it.]
done <06213> [and that I have.]
Answer .... Lord answer ..... people ....... Lord <06030 03068 05971> [Hear me.]
<05437> [thou hast turned.]
fire <0784> [Then the.]
fire <0784> [fire.]
threw <05307> [they fell.]
Lord ....... Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
Seize ............... seized <08610> [Take. or, Apprehend.]
Kishon <07028> [Kishon.]
executed <07819> [slew them there.]
up <05927> [Get.]
sound <06963> [a sound, etc. or, a sound of a noise of rain. See on ver.]
Elijah <0452> [Elijah.]
bent <01457> [he cast himself.]
put ... face <06440 07760> [put his face.]
up .............. up <05927> [Go up.]
<07725> [Go again.]
small cloud <06996 05645> [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."
Hitch up <0631> [Prepare. Heb. Tie, or Bind.]
<01419> [there was.]
Ahab <0256> [Ahab.]
<03027> [the hand.]
tucked <08151> [he girded.]
ran ahead <06440 07323> [ran before.]
Jezreel <0935 03157> [to the entrance of. Heb. till thou come to.]
Ahab <0256> [Ahab.]
killed <02026> [how he had slain.]
gods <0430> [So let.]
I .... take <07760> [if I.]
tomorrow <04279> [to-morrow.]
got <06965> [he arose.]
Beer Sheba <0884> [Beer-sheba.]
sat <03427> [sat down.]
asked <07592> [he requested.]
life .......... life <05315> [for himself. Heb. for his life. better.]
stretched <07901> [as he lay.]
messenger <04397> [an angel.]
cake <05692> [cake.]
by his head <04763> [head. Heb. bolster.]
messenger <04397> [the angel.]
journey <01870> [because the journey.]
strength <03581> [in the strength.]
forty days ... forty <0705 03117> [forty days.]
Horeb <02722> [Horeb.]
cave <04631> [unto a cave.]
Elijah <0452> [What doest thou.]
absolutely loyal <07065> [very jealous.]
torn down <02040> [thrown down.]
left <03498> [I only.]
want ..... life <05315 01245> [they seek my life.]
stand .... mountain ........................ mountain <02022 05975> [stand upon the mount.]
Lord .... Lord ..... pass .......... Lord ........... Lord ................ Lord <03068 05674> [the Lord passed.]
very <01419> [and a great.]
Lord .... Lord .......... wind ..... Lord ........... Lord ...... wind .... windstorm ........ Lord <03068 07307> [but the Lord was not in the wind.]
earthquake ......... earthquake <07494> [an earthquake.]
fire ......... fire .... fire <0784> [a fire.]
soft <01827> [a still.]
covered ... face <06440 03874> [he wrapped his face.]
This he did to signify his reverence; for covering the face was a token of respect among the Asiatics, as uncovering the head is among Europeans. See on ch.
Elijah .................................. Elijah <0452> [What doest.]
absolutely loyal <07065> [I have been.]
abandoned <05800> [forsaken.]
Desert ... Damascus <01834 04057> [wilderness of Damascus.]
The wilderness of Damascus seems to have been that part of Arabia Deserta which lay on the south-east of that city, and east of the Trachonites, or the Djebel Haouran and El Ledja; at which the prophet could arrive without meeting Jezebel or any of his enemies.
anoint <04886> [anoint.]
Hazael <02371> [Hazael.]
Jehu <03058> [Jehu.]
Elisha <0477> [Elisha.]
[Eliseus. Abel-meholah.]
escapes .......... escapes <04422> [him that escapeth.]
Hazael's sword .......... sword <02719 02371> [the sword of Hazael.]
Jehu ........ sword ......... Jehu's sword <02719 03058> [the sword of Jehu.]
kill ........ Elisha ... kill <04191 0477> [Elisha slay.]
left <07604> [Yet I have left. or, Yet I will leave.]
knees <01290> [the knees.]
<06310> [every mouth.]
Idolaters often kissed their hand in honour of their idols; and hence the origin of adoration from {ad,} to and {os, oris,} the mouth. Cicero mentions a statue of Hercules, the chin and lips of which were considerably worn by the kissing of his worshippers.
Elisha <0477> [Elisha.]
twelve ......... twelfth <08147> [he with.]
robe <0155> [his mantle.]
left <05800> [he left.]
kiss <05401> [Let me, I pray.]
back <07725 03212> [Go back again. Heb. Go, return.]
cooked ... meat <01320 01310> [boiled their flesh.]
gave ... people <05414 05971> [gave unto.]
assistant <08334> [ministered.]
Ben Hadad <01130> [A.M. 3103. B.C. 901. Ben-hadad.]
thirty-two <08147 07970> [Thirty and two.]
horses <05483> [and horses.]
besieged <06696> [besieged.]
[I am thine.]
search <02664> [and they shall search.]
valuables <04261> [pleasant. Heb. desirable.]
leaders <02205> [all the elders.]
Notice <03045> [Mark.]
looking ... trouble <07451 01245> [seeketh mischief.]
resist <04513> [denied him not. Heb. kept not back from him.]
gods <0430> [The gods.]
dirt <06083> [if the dust.]
<07272> [follow me. Heb. are at my feet.]
gear <02296> [Let not him, etc.]
This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. Jonathan renders it: "Let not him who girds himself, and goes down to battle, boast as one who has conquered and returned from it."
boast <01984> [harness.]
The word harness is an obsolete word for armour, derived from the French {harnois;} see Ex 13:18.
reply <01697> [message. Heb. word. drinking.]
quarters <05521> [pavilions. or, tents.]
That persons of regal dignity regaled themselves in this manner, we may learn from Dr. Chandler, who, when he went to visit the Aga of Suki, after his return from hawking, found him vexed and tired; and "a couch was prepared from him beneath a shed made against a cottage, and covered with green boughs to keep off the sun. He entered as we were standing by, and fell down on it to sleep, without taking any notice of us."
ready ... attack So .... ready ... attack <07760> [Set yourselves in array. And they set, etc. or, Place the engines. And they placed engines.]
visited <05066> [came. Heb. approached. Hast thou.]
know <03045> [and thou shalt.]
servants <05288> [young men. or, servants.]
launch <0631> [order. Heb. bind, or tie.]
232 <03967 08147> [two hundred.]
7,000 <0505 07651> [seven thousand.]
Ben Hadad <01130> [Ben-hadad.]
thirty-two <07970> [the thirty.]
The Syrians, the besiegers, had their directions from a drunken king, who gave orders over his cups, while he was drinking at noon. Drunkenness is a sin which is most detestable in all, but more so in a king than in a private individual, inasmuch as the greater weight a man's situation carries, whether from accumulated riches, family connections, hereditary authority, or invested command, so is the influence which his vices must have on those around him. Perhaps it may be said, from past experience, that drunkenness, which is a most heinous sin in the sight of God, may be charged on those who indulge only now and then in that which may eventually lead them into drunkenness; for they shut their eyes against the most palpable facts, and rather than give up the paltry gratification of a debauch, involve thousands by their example to positive harm. Benhadad's drunkenness was the forerunner of his fall. Belshazzar also, we read, drank wine with his princes, his wives, and his concubines, and praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone: and in the same hour came forth the finger of a man's hand and wrote his doom on the plaster of the wall. Those who fancy themselves perfectly secure, and above the possibility of falling, are commonly nearest their destruction: there is always an Ahab read to take advantage of and improve the self-imposed imbecility.
struck <05221> [they slew.]
Syrians ........... Syria <0758> [the Syrians.]
escaped <04422> [escaped.]
Then <03318> [went out.]
prophet <05030> [the prophet.]
fortify <02388> [strengthen.]
spring <08666> [at the return.]
God .... god <0430> [Their gods.]
It was the general belief in the heathen world, that each district had its tutelary and protecting deity, who could do nothing out of his own province.
Dismiss ... kings <05493 04428> [Take the.]
lost <05307> [thou hast lost. Heb. was fallen. and surely.]
Aphek <0663> [Aphek.]
Supposed to be the Aphek near the river Adonis, between Heliopolis and Biblos, and probably the same place that Paul Lucas mentions in his Voyage to the Levant. It was swallowed up by an earthquake, and formed a lake about nine miles in circumference, in which he says there were several houses still to be seen entire, under the water.
[Aphik.]
fight Israel <04421 03478> [to fight against Israel. Heb. to the war with Israel.]
supplies <03557> [were all present. or, were victualled.]
two <08147> [like two.]
visited <05066> [there came.]
Syrians <0758> [Because.]
I will <05414> [therefore will.]
know <03045> [ye shall know.]
seven days On .... day ............... day <07651 03117> [seven days.]
100,000 <03967 0505> [an hundred thousand.]
remaining <03498> [the rest.]
wall <02346> [a wall.]
ran .................. ran <05127> [fled.]
inner room <02315> [into an inner chamber. or, from chamber to chamber. Heb. into a chamber within a chamber.]
advisers <05650> [his servants.]
kings ....... kind ................... king <04428 02617> [merciful kings.]
put <07760> [let us, I pray thee.]
Six of the citizens of Calais are reported to have acted nearly in the same manner, when they surrendered their city to Edward the Third, king of England, in 1346. See the whole story circumstantially related by Sir John Froissart, (who lived in that time,) with that simplicity and detail that give it every appearance of truth.
put sackcloth <08242 07760> [put sackcloth.]
spare <02421> [peradventure.]
servant <05650> [Thy servant.]
brother <0251> [he is my brother.]
<0582> [the men.]
pulled ... up <05927> [and he caused.]
cities <05892> [The cities.]
set up ......... did ............ treaty .......... made ... treaty <07760 03772 01285> [So he made a covenant.]
One of the conditions of this covenant, we learn, was, that Ahab should have "streets (chutzoth) in Damascus;" a proposal better relished by Ahab then understood by the generality of commentators. This, however, is well illustrated by Mr. Harmer, from William of Tyre, the great historian of the Crusades; from whom it appears that it was customary to give those nations which were engaged in them, churches, streets, and great jurisdiction therein, in those places which they assisted to conquer. The Genoese and Venetians had each a street in Acon, or Acre, in which they had their own jurisdiction, with liberty to have an oven, mill, baths, weights, and measures, etc.
members <01121> [of the sons.]
<01697> [in the word.]
Wound ..... man .... wound him <05221 0376> [Smite me.]
man .... Wound ..... man wounded ... severely <05221 0376> [Smite me.]
Wound ...... wounded ... severely <05221> [so that, etc. Heb. smiting and wounding.]
disguised <02664> [disguised.]
servant <05650> [Thy servant.]
life <05315> [thy life.]
<08254> [or else.]
<08254> [pay. Heb. weigh.]
<0369> [he was gone. Heb. he was not. So shall thy judgment be.]
removed ... bandage <05493 0666> [the ashes away.]
released <07971> [Because.]
life <05315> [thy life shall go.]
<03212> [went.]
After <0310> [A.M. 3105. B.C. 899. after.]
Jezreel <03157> [Jezreel.]
Give .... vineyard ..................... give ...... vineyard ........... pay <05414 03754> [Give me.]
The request of Ahab, at first view, appears fair and honourable. But, as he most evidentially wished Naboth to alienate it finally, which was expressly forbidden and provided against in the law of God, (Le 25:14-28,) it was high iniquity in Ahab to tempt him to do it, and to covet it showed the depravity of his soul.
vegetable garden <03419 01588> [a garden of herbs.]
better ......... prefer <05869 02896> [seem good to thee. Heb. be good in thine eyes.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
sell <05414> [I should give.]
bitter <05620> [heavy.]
sell <05414> [I will not.]
lay down <07901> [And he laid him.]
Jezebel <0348> [Jezebel.]
attitude <07307> [Why is thy spirit.]
answered ...... talking <01696> [Because.]
Sell ............. give .............. sell <05414> [I will not give.]
<06213> [Dost thou now.]
will .... vineyard <05414 03754> [I will give thee.]
wrote <03789> [she wrote.]
leaders <02205> [the elders.]
nobles <02715> [the nobles.]
Observe ..... fasting <07121 06685> [Proclaim a fast.]
front .... people <07218 05971> [on high among. Heb. in the top of.]
villains <01121 01100> [sons of Belial.]
cursed <01288> [Thou didst blaspheme.]
Some, with Parkhurst, would render the original, {bairachta elohim wamailech,} "Thou hast blessed the gods and Molech;" a sense, however, which seems extremely forced, and is not acknowledged by any of the ancient versions, though the LXX. and Vulgate render {bairachta} by [eulogese,] {benedixit,} "blessed." It is no unusual thing for a word to have opposite senses.
Jezebel <06213 0348> [did as Jezebel.]
villains ......... villains <0582 01100> [the men of Belial.]
cursed God <0430 01288> [blaspheme God.]
king <04428> [the king.]
dragged <03318> [they carried him.]
Naboth .... stoned <05022 05619> [Naboth is stoned.]
Get <06965> [Arise.]
Ahab ....... he got up <06965 0256> [Ahab rose up.]
Samaria <08111> [which is in Samaria.]
committed murder <07523> [Hast thou killed.]
spot <04725> [In the place.]
This punishment, on Ahab's humiliation and repentance, was transferred from him to his son Jehoram, (ver. 29,) in whom it was literally accomplished: see the parallel texts.
found .... enemy ...... found <04672 0341> [Hast thou found me.]
committed <04376> [thou hast sold.]
doing <06213> [to work.]
bring <0935> [Behold.]
male <08366> [him that pisseth.]
weak <06113> [him that is shut up.]
make ... dynasty <05414 01004> [make thine.]
Israel sin <02398 03478> [made Israel to sin.]
Jezebel ..... Jezebel <0348> [Jezebel.]
Dogs <03611> [the dogs.]
Shocking as this must appear to minds that have been humanized by the kindly influence of Christianity, we still find similar instances in the accounts of modern travellers. Mr. Bruce says, that when at Gondar, "the bodies of those killed by the sword were hewn to pieces and scattered about the streets, being denied burial. I was miserable, and almost driven to despair, at seeing my hunting dogs, twice let loose by the carelessness of my servants, bringing into the court-yard the heads and arms of slaughtered men, and which I could no way prevent, but by the destruction of the dogs themselves."
<02426> [wall. or, ditch.]
ones ... die <04191> [that dieth.]
Ahab <0256> [But there.]
firmly committed ... doing <04376 06213> [sell himself.]
Jezebel <0348> [whom Jezebel.]
urged <05496> [stirred up. or, incited.]
was ... wicked ... worshiped ... disgusting <08581 03966> [very abominably.]
<06213> [according to.]
tore <07167> [he rent.]
sackcloth ..... slept ... sackcloth <08242 07901> [lay in sackcloth.]
walked ... dejected <0328 01980> [went softly.]
Have ... noticed ... Ahab <07200 0256> [Seest thou.]
Ahab <0256> [Ahab.]
bring <0935> [I will not.]
disaster on .... during ... lifetime <07451 03117> [the evil in.]
on .... during ... lifetime ........ son <03117 01121> [in his son's days.]
