1 Kings 18:1

CHAPTER XVIII

Elijah is commanded by the Lord to show himself to Ahab, 1, 2.

Ahab, and Obadiah his steward, search the land to find

provender for the cattle, 3-6.

Obadiah meets Elijah, who commands him to inform Ahab that he

is ready to present himself before him, 7-15.

Elijah and Ahab meet, 16-18.

Elijah proposes that the four hundred and fifty priests of Baal

should be gathered together at Mount Carmel; that they should

offer a sacrifice to their god, and he to Jehovah; and the God

who should send down fire to consume the sacrifice should be

acknowledged as the true God, 19-24.

The proposal is accepted, and the priests of Baal call in vain

upon their god through the whole day, 25-29.

Elijah offers his sacrifice, prays to Gods and fire comes down

from heaven and consumes it; whereupon the people acknowledge

Jehovah to be the true God, and slay all the prophets of Baal,

30-40.

Elijah promises Ahab that there shall be immediate rain; it

comes accordingly, and Ahab and Elijah come to Jezreel, 41-46.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII

Verse 1 Kings 18:1. After many days - in the third year] We learn from our Lord, Luke 4:25, that the drought which brought on the famine in Israel lasted three years and six months. St. James, James 5:17, gives it the same duration. Probably Elijah spent six months at the brook Cherith, and three years with the widow at Sarepta.

I will send rain upon the earth.] The word האדמה haadamah should be translated the ground or the land, as it is probable that this drought did not extend beyond the land of Judea.