1-8 In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah 9-16 Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah 17-40 Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets 41-46 Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel

A.M. 3098 B.C. 906
after many days Lu 4:25 Jas 5:17 Re 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. 1Ki 17:1,7,15 Lu 4:25 Jas 5:17

Go 1Ki 18:2,15

I will send rain Le 26:4 De 28:12 Ps 65:9-13 Isa 5:6 Jer 10:13 14:22 Joe 2:23 Am 4:7

2 And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

went to shew Ps 27:1 51:4 Pr 28:1 Isa 51:12 Heb 13:5,6

a sore Le 26:26 De 28:23,24 2Ki 6:25 Jer 14:2-6,18 Joe 1:15-20

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 Ge 24:2,10 39:4,5,9 41:40

feared the Lord 1Ki 18:12 Ge 22:12 42:18 2Ki 4:1 Ne 5:15 7:2 Pr 14:26 Mal 3:16 Mt 10:28 Ac 10:2,35

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 Ne 9:26 Mt 21:35 Re 17:4-6

in a cave Heb 11:38

fed them 1Ki 18:13 2Ki 6:22,23 Mt 10:40-42 25:35,40

bread and water 1Ki 13:8,9,16

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 Ps 104:14 Jer 14:5,6 Joe 1:18 2:22 Hab 3:17 Ro 8:20-22

we lose not all the beasts [heb] we cut not off ourselves from the beasts.

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 Jer 14:3

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 1Ki 11:29

he knew 2Ki 1:6-8 Mt 3:4 11:8

fell on Ge 18:2 50:18 1Sa 20:41 2Sa 19:18 Isa 60:14

my lord Elijah Ge 18:12 44:16,20,33 Nu 12:11

8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

thy lord 1Ki 18:3 Ro 13:7 1Pe 2:17,18

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 1Ki 18:12 17:18 Ex 5:21

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 1Ki 18:15 1:29 2:24 17:1,12 1Sa 29:6

whither my lord Ps 10:2 Jer 26:20-23

they found thee not 1Ki 17:5,9 Ps 12:7,8 31:20 91:1 Jer 36:26 Joh 8:59

11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

Go, tell they lord 1Ki 18:8,14

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 2Ki 2:11,16 Eze 3:12-14 8:3 11:24 37:1 40:1,2 Mt 4:1 Ac 8:39 2Co 12:2,3

he shall slay me 1Sa 22:11-19 Da 2:5-13 Mt 2:16 Ac 12:19

from my youth 1Sa 2:18,26 3:19,20 2Ch 34:3 Ps 71:17,18 Pr 8:13 Ec 7:18 Isa 50:10 Lu 1:15 2Ti 3:15

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 1Ki 18:4 Ge 20:4,5 Ps 18:21-24 Ac 20:34 1Th 2:9,10

I hid an hundred Mt 10:41,42

fed them Mt 25:35

14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

and he shall slay me Mt 10:28

15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to day.

As the Lord 1Ki 18:10 Heb 6:16,17

of hosts liveth Ge 2:1 De 4:19 Job 25:3 Ps 24:8-10 103:21 148:2,3 Isa 6:3 Jer 8:2 Lu 2:13,14

before whom I 1Ki 17:1 De 1:38 Lu 1:19

I will surely Isa 51:7,8

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

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 1Ki 21:20 Jos 7:25 Jer 26:8,9 38:4 Am 7:10 Ac 16:20 17:6 24:5

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 Eze 3:8 Mt 14:4 Ac 24:13,20

in that ye have 1Ki 9:9 2Ch 15:2 Pr 11:19 13:21 Isa 3:11 Jer 2:13,19 Re 2:8,9

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 point advancing considerably into the Mediterranean, and forming an elevated promontory. It is described as a flattened cone, about 2000 feet (some say 1500) 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. 1Ki 18:42,43 Jos 19:26 1Sa 15:12 2Ki 2:25 Jer 46:18 Am 1:2 9:3

the prophets of Baal 1Ki 22:6 2Pe 2:1 Re 19:20

prophets of the groves 1Ki 15:13 16:33 2Ki 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 1Ki 19:1,2 2Ki 9:22 Re 2:20

20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

gathered 1Ki 22:9

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 De 4:35 2Ki 17:41 Zep 1:5 Mt 6:24 Lu 6:13 Ro 6:16-22 1Co 10:21,22 2Co 6:14-16 Re 3:15,16

opinions. or, thoughts
if the Lord 1Ki 18:39 Ex 5:1,2 Jos 24:15,23,24 1Sa 7:3 1Ch 17:26 2Ch 33:13 Ps 100:3

answered Ge 24:50 44:16 Job 40:4,5 Mt 22:12,34,36 Ro 3:19 6:21

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 1Ki 19:10,14 20:13,32,35,38 22:6-8 Ro 11:3

Baal's prophets 1Ki 18:19,20 Mt 7:13-15 2Ti 4:3,4 2Pe 2:1-3

23 Let 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 lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

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 1Ki 18:38 Le 9:24 Jud 6:21 1Ch 21:26 2Ch 7:1,3

and said 2Sa 14:19

It is well spoken [heb] the word is good Isa 39:8

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

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 Mt 6:7

hear. or, answer
no voice 1Ki 18:24 Ps 115:4-8 135:15-20 Isa 37:38 44:17 45:20 Jer 10:5 Da 5:23 Hab 2:18 1Co 8:4 10:19,20 12:2

answered. or, heard
leaped upon the altar. or, leaped up and down at the altar Zep 1:9

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 1Ki 22:15 2Ch 25:8 Ec 11:9 Isa 8:9,10 44:15-17 Eze 20:39 Am 4:4,5 Mt 26:45 Mr 7:9 14:41

aloud [heb] with a great voice
for he is a god Isa 41:23

either Such were the absurd and degrading notions which the heathens entertained of their gods. `Vishnoo sleeps four months of 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 mediatateth.
is pursuing. [heb] hath a pursuit
must be awaked Ps 44:23 78:65,66 121:4 Isa 51:9 Mr 4:38,39

28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

cut themselves Le 19:28 De 14:1 Mic 6:7 Mr 5:5 9:22

the blood gushed out upon them. [heb] they poured out blood upon them.

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 1Ki 22:10,12 1Sa 18:10 Jer 28:6-9 Ac 16:16,17 1Co 11:4,5

offering [heb] ascending 1Ki 18:36

voice 1Ki 18:26 Ga 4:8 2Ti 3:8,9

that regarded [heb] attention

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 1Ki 19:10,14 2Ch 33:16 Ro 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.

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 Ex 24:4 Jos 4:3,4 Ezr 6:17 Jer 31:1 Eze 37:16-22 47:13 Eph 2:20 4:4-8 Re 7:4-8 21:12

saying Ge 32:28 33:20 35:10 2Ki 17:34 Isa 48:1

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 Ex 20:24,25 Jud 6:26 21:4 1Sa 7:9,17

in the name 1Co 10:31 Col 3:17

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 Ge 22:9 Le 1:6-8

fill four Da 3:19,25 Joh 11:39,40 19:33,34

pour it Jud 6:20

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 2Co 4:2 8:21

35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

ran [heb] went
the trench 1Ki 18:32,38

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 1Ki 18:29 Ex 29:39-41 Ezr 9:4,5 Ps 141:2 Da 8:13 9:21 12:11 Ac 3:1 10:30

Lord God 1Ki 18:21 Ge 26:24 31:53 32:9 46:3 Ex 3:6,15,16 1Ch 29:18 1Ch 29:18 2Ch 20:6,7 Eph 1:17 3:14

let it 1Ki 8:43 1Sa 17:46,47 2Ki 1:3,6 5:15 19:19 Ps 67:1,2 83:18 Eze 36:23 39:7

and that I have 1Ki 22:28 Nu 16:28-30 Joh 11:42

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 1Ki 18:24,29,36 Ge 32:24,26,28 2Ch 14:11 32:19,20 Isa 37:17-20 Da 9:17-19 Lu 11:8 Jas 5:16,17

thou hast turned Jer 31:18,19 Eze 36:25-27 Mal 4:5,6 Lu 1:16,17

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 Ge 15:17 Le 9:24 Jud 6:21 1Ch 21:26 2Ch 7:1

fire 1Ki 18:24 Le 10:2 2Ki 1:12 Job 1:16 Isa 31:9

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 Jud 13:20 1Ch 21:16 2Ch 7:3

The Lord 1Ki 18:21,24 Joh 5:35 Ac 2:37 4:16

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 2Ki 10:25

Kishon Jud 5:21

slew them there De 13:5 18:20 Jer 48:10 Zec 13:2,3 Re 19:20 20:10

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

Get Ec 9:7 Ac 27:34

a sound, etc. or, a sound of noise of rain 1Ki 18:1 17:1

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 1Ki 18:19 Mt 14:23 Lu 6:12 Ac 10:9

he cast himself Ge 24:52 Jos 7:6 2Sa 12:16 Da 9:3 Mr 14:35 Jas 5:16-18

put his face 1Ki 19:13 Ezr 9:6 Ps 89:7 Isa 6:2 38:2 Da 9:7

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 Ps 5:3 Lu 18:1

Go again Ge 32:26 Hab 2:3 Lu 18:7 Eph 6:18 Heb 10:36,37

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, 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 Zec 4:10

Prepare [heb] Tie, or Bind 1Sa 6:7,10 Mic 1:13

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 1Ki 18:39,40 Nu 25:8 2Sa 21:14

Ahab 3 1ki 21:1,23 jos 19:18 2sa 2:9 2ki 9:16

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 2Ki 3:15 Isa 8:11 Eze 1:3 3:14

he girded 2Ki 4:29 9:1 Job 38:3 Jer 1:17 Eph 6:14 1Pe 1:13

ran before Mt 22:21 1Pe 2:17

to the entrance of [heb] till thou come to