Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 18

Verse 1

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

third year: i.e. the third or last full year toward the end of the three and a half years.

Verse 2

famine. One of the thirteen famines mentioned in Scripture. See note on Genesis 12:10 .

Verse 3

governor of = governor over. Now. Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6 .

Verse 4

Jezebel. The first record of using the civil power against the true religion (and by a woman). See note on Judges 4:21 .

fifty in a cave = fifty men.

Verse 5

Go into = Septuagint and Syriac read "Go and let us pass through".

Verse 9

What. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

wouldest deliver = art giving.

Verse 10

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 12

Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 13

men. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 15

before, &c. See note on 1 Kings 17:1 .

Verse 17

troubleth. Compare Joshua 7:25 with Joshua 6:18 , and 1 Chronicles 2:7 ,

Israel. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for Israelitish people.

Verse 19

Carmel. Eighteen miles from Jezreel; sixteen miles from the sea. The Kishon below, but now dry. At the foot a perennial spring, with a roofed reservoir, eight feet deep. Carmel is still called "Mar-Elias".

groves = the' Asherah. See note on Exodus 34:13 .

Verse 20

children = sons.

Verse 21

How long. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

halt = leap. Compare 1 Kings 18:26 .

Verse 22

the People. Some codices read "all the people".

Verse 24

gods = god, as in 1 Kings 18:25 . So Revised Version.

by fire. This was Jehovah's way of showing His acceptance of the offering. See note on Genesis 4:4 .

Verse 26

leaped upon = leaped over. Compare 1 Kings 18:21 .

was made = had been made.

Verse 27

Cry aloud, &c. Figure of speech Eironeia. App-6 .

pursuing. Occurs only here.

Verse 28

lancets = lances. Done by Dervishes to the present day.

Verse 29

evening sacrifice. The usual meal offering. There was also a morning meal offering as well (Numbers 28:8 ). Compare 2 Kings 16:15 .

Verse 30

repaired. Carmel had been a local altar for lay (individual) offerings, but had been broken down. Compare 1 Kings 19:10 . These lay altars had no horns.

broken down: i.e. purposely.

Verse 31

Jacob. Some codices, with one early printed edition, and Septuagint, read "Israel", in harmony with 1 Kings 18:36 .

Israel. See note on Genesis 32:28 .

Verse 33

water. See note on 1 Kings 18:19 .

the wood. Septuagint adds "and they did so".

Verse 36

Israel , not Jacob. See note on Genesis 32:28 .

Verse 38

Then the fire of the LORD fell. Aram, and Septuagint read "Then fire from Jehovah fell". See note on Genesis 4:4 . "Fire of Jehovah" occurs only here and Numbers 11:1 , Numbers 11:3 .

burnt sacrifice. See App-43 .

Verse 40

Take = seize, lay hold of.

one = a man. Hebrew. 'Ish. App-14 .

Kishon. Compare Judges 4:13 ; Judges 5:21 .

slew. Hebrew idiom, caused them to be slain.

Verse 42

cast himself down. A rare word. Only here and 2 Kings 4:34 , 2 Kings 4:35 . = Kneeling, and then placing forehead on the ground.

Verse 43

servant = young man.

Verse 45

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 46

hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for power put forth.

girded. Girdles worn by all. Taken off when resting. Put on when preparing for work or journeying. See Exodus 12:11 . 2 Kings 4:29 ; 2 Kings 9:1 .Luke 12:37 ; Luke 17:8 . Acts 12:8 .

ran. For over twenty miles Elijah acted as the royal "runner" across the great plain of Esdraelon. Possibly none at hand in the king's hasty departure.