1 Kings 19:3

Contextual Overview

¹ And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and as well how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. ¹ When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. ¹ And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. ¹ King Ahab told Jezebel every thing Elijah had done and how Elijah had killed all the prophets with a sword. ¹ Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. ¹ And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. ¹ Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. ¹Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword. ¹ Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ¹ Forsothe Achab telde to Jezabel alle thingis whiche Elie hadde do, and how he hadde slayn by swerd alle the prophetis of Baal.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he arose: Genesis 12:12, Genesis 12:13, Exodus 2:15, 1 Samuel 27:1, Isaiah 51:12, Isaiah 51:13, Matthew 26:56, Matthew 26:70-74, 2 Corinthians 12:7

Beersheba: 1 Kings 4:25, Genesis 21:31, Amos 7:12, Amos 7:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:17 - Escape Genesis 21:14 - Beersheba Genesis 42:1 - saw 1 Samuel 21:10 - fled 1 Kings 19:4 - he requested 2 Kings 4:12 - servant 2 Kings 23:8 - Beersheba Proverbs 28:12 - but Proverbs 29:25 - fear Jeremiah 20:9 - I will Jeremiah 37:12 - went Jonah 1:3 - to flee Acts 13:5 - their Hebrews 11:34 - escaped

Cross-References

Genesis 19:6
Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him,

Genesis 19:6
And Lot went out the door to them, and shut the door after him.

Genesis 19:6
Lot went outside to them, closing the door behind him.

Genesis 19:6
Lot went outside to them, shutting the door behind him.

Genesis 19:6
And Lot went out at the door to them, and shut the door after him,

Genesis 19:6
Lot went out to them to the door, and shut the door after him.

Genesis 19:6
But Lot went out of the doorway to the men, and shut the door after him,

Genesis 19:6
And Loth yede out to hem `bihynde the bak, and closide the dore,

Genesis 19:6
And Lot goeth out unto them, to the opening, and the door hath shut behind him,

Genesis 19:6
Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when he saw that,.... That her design and resolution were to take away his life; the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions read, "and he was afraid"; or frightened; he that had such courage as not to be afraid to meet Ahab, and contend with four hundred and fifty priests of Baal, and in the face of all Israel, who at first were not inclined to take his part, is now terrified at the threats of a single woman; which shows that the spirit and courage he had before were of the Lord, and not of himself; and that those who have the greatest zeal and courage for religion, for God, and his worship, his truths and ordinances, if left to themselves, become weak and timorous; and whether this is the true reading, or not, it was certainly his case by what follows:

he arose and went for his life; fled to save his life, at a time when he was much wanted to encourage and increase the reformation from idolatry, and to preserve the people from relapsing who were converted; and through the miracles that had been wrought by him, and for him, he had great reason to trust in the Lord: or "he went unto", or "according to his own soul" m; according to his own mind and will, not taking counsel of God, or any direction from him; and so Abarbinel interprets it:

and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah; to the tribe of Judah; for though it was in the inheritance of Simeon, yet that was within the tribe of Judah, Joshua 19:1, or to the kingdom of Judah, over which Jehoshaphat reigned, and so might think himself safe, being out of the dominions of Ahab, and reach of Jezebel; but yet he did not think so, his fears ran so high that he imagined she would send some after him to search for him, and slay him privately, or make interest with Jehoshaphat to deliver him up, there being friendship between him and Ahab; for though this place was eighty four miles from Jezreel, as Bunting n computes it, he left it:

and left his servant there; he took him not with him, either lest he should betray him, or rather out of compassion to him, that he might not share in the miseries of life that were like to come upon him.

m אל נפשו κατα την ψυχην αυτου, Sept. "secundum animam suam", Vatablus, Pagninus. n Travels, ut supra. (p. 204.)

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The rapid movement of the original is very striking. “And he saw (or, “feared,” as some read), and he rose, and he went, etc.” The fear and flight of Elijah are very remarkable. Jezebel’s threat alone, had not, in all probability, produced the extraordinary change but, partly, physical reaction from the over-excitement of the preceding day; and, partly, internal disquietude and doubt as to the wisdom of the course which he had adopted.

Beer-sheba is about 95 miles from Jezreel, on the very borders of the desert et-Tih. Elijah cannot possibly have reached it until the close of the second day. It seems implied that he traveled both night and day, and did not rest until he arrived thus far on his way. It was one of the towns assigned to the tribe of Simeon Joshua 19:2. The Simeonites were, however, by this time absorbed into Judah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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 mistaken, he is greatly discouraged.

To Beer-sheba — This being at the most southern extremity of the promised land, and under the jurisdiction of the king of Judah, he might suppose himself in a place of safety.

Left his servant there. — Being alone, he would be the more unlikely to be discovered; besides, he did not wish to risk the life of his servant.