CHAPTER XIX _Ahab tells Jezebel what Elijah had done; she is enraged, and_ _threatens to take away his life_, 1, 2. _He leaves Jezreel, and comes to Beer-sheba, and thence to the_ _wilderness, where he is fed and encouraged by an angel_, 3-9. _His complaint and the vision by which God instructs... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:2. _SO LET THE GODS DO_] If I do not slay thee, let the gods slay me with the most ignominious death.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:3. _HE AROSE, AND WENT FOR HIS LIFE_] He saw it was best to give place to this storm, and go to a place of safety. He probably thought that the miracle at Carmel would have been the means of effecting the conversion of the whole court and of the country, but, finding himself mistake... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:4. _A DAY'S JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS_] Probably in his way to Mount Horeb. See 1 Kings 19:8. _JUNIPER TREE_] A tree that afforded him a shade from the scorching sun. _IT IS ENOUGH_] I have lived long enough! I can do no more good among this people; let me now end my days.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:5. _AS HE LAY AND SLEPT_] Excessive anguish of mind frequently induces sleep, as well as great fatigue of body. _AN ANGEL TOUCHED HIM_] He needed refreshment, and God sent an angel to bring him what was necessary.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:6. _A CAKE BAKEN ON THE COALS_] All this seems to have been _supernaturally_ provided.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:7. _THE JOURNEY IS TOO GREAT FOR THEE._] From Beer-sheba to Horeb was about _one hundred and fifty_ miles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:8. _FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS_] So he fasted just the same time as Moses did at Horeb, and as Christ did in the wilderness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:9. _HE CAME THITHER UNTO A CAVE_] Conjectured by some to be the same cave in which God put Moses that he might give him a glimpse of his glory. See Exodus 33:22. _WHAT DOEST THOU HERE, ELIJAH?_] Is this a reproach for having fled from the face of Jezebel, through what some call _un... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:10. _I HAVE BEEN VERY JEALOUS FOR THE LORD_] The picture which he draws here of apostate Israel is very affecting:- 1. _THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THY COVENANT_] They have now cleaved to and worshipped other gods. 2. _THROWN DOWN THINE ALTARS_] Endeavoured, as much as they possibly could,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:11. _STAND UPON THE MOUNT BEFORE THE LORD._] God was now treating Elijah nearly in the same way that he treated Moses; and it is not unlikely that Elijah was now standing on the same place where Moses stood, when God revealed himself to him in the giving of the law. See Exodus 19:9;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:13. _WRAPPED HIS FACE IN HIS MANTLE_] This he did to signify his _respect_; so Moses hid his face, for he dared not to look upon God Exodus 3:6. _Covering the face_ was a token of respect among the Asiatics, as _uncovering the head_ is among the Europeans.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:15. _TO THE WILDERNESS OF DAMASCUS_] He does not desire him to take a road by which he might be likely to meet Jezebel, or any other of his enemies. _ANOINT HAZAEL_] For what reason the Lord was about to make all these _revolutions_, we are told in 1 Kings 19:17. God was about to b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:16. _ELISHA - SHALT THOU ANOINT_ TO BE _PROPHET IN THY ROOM._] Jarchi gives a strange turn to these words: "Thy prophecy (or execution of the prophetic office) does not please me, because thou art the constant accuser of my children." With all their abominations, this rabbin would h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:17. _SHALL ELISHA SLAY._] We do not find that Elisha either used the sword, or commissioned it to be used, though he delivered solemn prophecies against this disobedient people: and this is probably the sense in which this should be understood, as Elisha was prophet before Hazael wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:18. _SEVEN THOUSAND IN ISRAEL_] That is, _many_ thousands; for _seven_ is a number of perfection, as we have often seen: so, _The_ _barren has borne seven _- has had a _numerous_ off-spring; _Gold seven_ _times purified_-purified till _all the dross is perfectly separated_ from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:19. _TWELVE YOKE OF OXEN_] Elisha must have had a considerable estate, when he kept _twelve_ yoke of oxen to till the ground. If, therefore, he obeyed the prophetic call, he did it to considerable secular loss. _HE WITH THE TWELFTH_] Every owner of an inheritance among the Hebrews,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:20. _LET ME - KISS MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER_] Elisha fully understood that he was called by this ceremony to the prophetic office: and it is evident that he conferred not with flesh and blood, but resolved, immediately resolved, to obey; only he wished to bid farewell to his relative... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 19:21. _HE RETURNED BACK_] He went home to his house; probably he yet lived with his parents, for it appears he was a single man: and _he slew a yoke of the oxen _- he made a feast for his household, having boiled the flesh of the oxen with his agricultural implements, probably in toke... [ Continue Reading ]