1 Kings 18

Elia is sent untoAchabverse1 &c. he meeteth Obadjah chargeth him to certify the king of his coming 8 speaketh to Achab 17 and then to the congregation and to the prophets of Baal 21 these stand ashamed 26 the Lord discovereth himself by a token to Elias offering 30 the prophets of Baal are slain 40 rain is obtained by Elias prayer 41.

1. And it came to pass after many days [to wit three years and six months Luke 4:25 and James 5.17that the word of the Lord came unto Elia in the third year[to wit after he was lodged at the widow Sarepts house see on verse 7 of the former chapter saying go thy ways shew thyself unto Achab [to promise him rain from me and to charge him to gather Baal priest together upon mount camel see below verse 19and the sequel]for I will give rain upon the earth.

2. And Elia went to shew himself unto Achab and the famine was strong in Samaria [understand this not only of the city of Samaria but of all kingdom of Israel.]

3. And Achab had called Abadja who is to be distinguished from others that had this name 1 Chronicles 27:19 and 2 Chronicles 34:12 and from the prophet Abadja Obadea verse1 unless he were the same as some conceive he was] the steward [Heb. who was over his house that is his steward see above chapter 4.6 and 16.9] and Abadja feared the Lord greatly.

4. For it came to pass when Izebel destroyed the prophets of the lord that Abadja took an hundred prophets and his them by fifty men in one cave [Heb. hid them fifty men in one cave to wit and fifty in another that is by with every time fifty together and sustained them with bread and water [that is with meat and drink see above chapter 13 on verse 8.]

5. And Achab had said unto Abadja pass throughout the land unto all fountains of water and unto all river peradventure they shall find grass[the Hebrew word signifieth all kind of herb that serveth for food to beast growing in unmanured places and mowed down with these they and made up with the hay compare Job 8.12and 40.10 Psalms 104:14 and 129.6 and 147.8] that we may serve the horses and mules alive and destroy nothing of the beast [viz. by leaving them through neglect and carelessness unprovided of fodder.]

6. And they divided the land among themselves to pass it through Achab went one way by himself and Obaja went one way by himself.

7. Now when Obadja was upon the way he met Elia [Heb. was in his meeting] and knew him so he fell on his face [viz. to shew him civil respect according to the custom of the country see Genesis 18 on verse 2] and said art thou my lord Elia.

8. He said I am go tell thy lord behold Elia is here.

9. But he said what have I sinned that thou deliverest thy servant into the hand of Achab to slay me?[intimating that Elias joining that which is mentioned in the former verse seemeth to hear no good will unto him as if he had offended him for he could not well perform that command without greatly endangering his life before Achab the reason hereof he sheweth below verse 12.]

10. As true as the Lord liveth if there a people or kingdom wither my Lord hath not sent to seek thee [add with all the judgement which in the oath of the Hebrew hath concealed as god this or that unto me &c. see Genesis 14 on verse 23]and when they said he is not here then they took an oath of that kingdom and of that people that they had not found thee [Achab had not only sent forth men in search after Elia his own country but likewise desired his own neighbours kingdoms and nations in amity with him to do the like with their jurisdiction of whom when they reported afterwards that they could not find him they desired to confirm the truth of their assertion by oath.]

11. And now thou sayest go tell thy Lord behold Elia is here.

12. And it may come to pass when it should be gone from thee that the spirit of the Lord may take thee away wither I know not [that this might be done and sometimes hath been done may be gathered from 2Kings 2.16 Acts 8:39 understand this of the holy ghost who could do this by his divine power or by means according to his good pleasure]and I should come to tell that unto Achab [viz. that thou present here and ready to speak with him and he should not find thee and he should put him to death [viz. as one that hath causened and abused him with lies] now I thy servant [that is I that I am bent and ready to do thy service so in the following verse compare above chapter 1 the annotate on verse 51 verse] fear the lord from my mouth.

13. Was it told my Lord what I did when Israel slew the prophet of the Lord ? that I hid an hundred men of the Lords prophet every time fifty men in one cave [Heb. one fifty one fifty men that is fifty in one cave and fifty in another or every time fifty in one cave see genesis 7 on verse 2] and sustained them with bread and water.

14. And now sayeth thou go tell thy Lord behold Elia is here and he will kill me.

15. And Elia said as true as the Lord of hosts [understand here by all host all creatures heavenly and earthly visible and unvisible reasonable and unreasonable living and liveless the reason for which they are called hosts or armies see Genesis 2 on verse 1God is sovereign lord of all these not only because he created them all and still preserveth them so that they properly belong to them but also because he so governeth them that they stand in great number and multitude ready prest for his service to execute his most holy will and this name viz. Lord of hosts is often attributed to God in scripture as 1samuel 1.3 &4.4 2 Samuel 5:10 Psalms 24:10 Isaiah 1:9&c.]liveth before whose face I stand [so above chapter 17.1see Deuteronomy 10 on verse 8] I will shew myself unto him today[that is so true it is that I will today appear before Achab as it is true that the Lord liveth.]

16. Then Abadja went to meet Achab and told him [viz. that Elia was come and was desirous to appear before him]Achab went to meet Elia[not to entertain him with friendly and courteous behaviour but with scornful and revealing terms and accuse him to be the cause of the long continuing drought.]

17. And it came to pass when Achab saw Elia that Achab said unto him art thou that trouble of Israel?[the Hebrew word rendered trouble here signifieth properly by words and deeds to raise trouble vexation disquietness conjoined with care and unsettledness of heart and mind compare Genesis 34:30 Joshua 7:25 Judges 11:35 Proverbs 15.27for this is Elia accused by Elia not only he was accused by Achab not only because he was utterly against idolatry but also because he thought him to be the cause of drought and of the famine wherewith the land had now been for a long time plagued.]

18. Then he said he I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy fathers house in that ye have forsaken the commandments of ten Lord and hath followed Baalim [see above chapter 16 on verse 31.]

19. Now then send [to the end that thou mayst be rid of this drought for in that command this promise is contained that God would deliver the land from the Judgment if he did obey this command]gather unto me all Israel upon mount Camel ]lying in the tribe of Issachar by the midland of the sea Joshua 19.26Jeremiah 46.18 this mount was exceeding high Amos 9:3 well grown or planted with trees vineyards and sweet smelling herbs in brief exceeding fruitful Isaiah 35.2upon the mount did prophet Elizeus also keep his abode 2Kings 4.25and it is to be distinguished from mount carmel lying in the tribe of Judah in the wilderness of moan where Nabal dwelt 1Samuel 25.2 ]and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal of the groove[to wit the idolatrous grove see above chapter 16.33 of such grove see exodus 34.13 and Deuteronomy 7.5with the annotate others grove gods or tree god]which eat of Izebels table [or at her table.]

20. So Achab sent among all children of Israel and gathered the prophets together upon mount carmel.

21. Then Elia drew unto all people and said how long halt ye open two thoughts? [others leaping upon two boughs for the Hebrew word signifieth also a bough as Isaiah 17:6 but its taken for thoughts John 4:13 and 20.2]if the lord be God [that is only and true God to whom alone religious honour is due]follow him and if it be Baal follow him [he accuseth them of two things first that they serve God and Baal together secondly that they were not fully resolved which of the twain to cleave unto alone seeing they ought to have alone that there is but one God see Joshua 21:15]but the people answered him not a word.

22. Then said Elia unto people I am only left a prophet of the Lord [viz. who maintain and defend the truth of doctrine the purity of religion in Israel the rest of the prophets being either dead or murdered or driven away or hid in caves]and the prophet of Baal are four hundred and fifty men [its conceived that among these its not comprised any of the four hundred prophets of the idolatrous grove which Elias likewise caused to be summoned into the assembly above verse 19but that Izebel kept back and commanded them not to appear which is which may be gathered from that which is related below chapter 22 of the annotate there.]

23. Let them give us two bullocks for themselves and divide him into pieces and lay him on the wood and put no fire to it and I will dress the other bullock and lay [Heb. properly give.]him on the wood and put no fire to it.

24. After that call ye on the name of your God and I will call on the name of God and the god shall answer by fire [understand by sending fire from heaven to kindle and consume the sacrifice to evidence which is the true God and the true doctrine and the true worship of God]he shall be God[as above on verse 21]and all the people answered and said that word [or that thing is good.

25. And Elia said unto the prophets of Baal chose ye for yourself and dress him for yourself one bullock and dress ye him first for ye are many and call ye on the name of your God and put no fire to it.

26. And they took the bullock which he had given unto them[that is which Elias immediately before had permitted them to chose see above verse 23] and dressed him and called noon the name of Baal from morning till noon saying O Baal answer us but there was no voice nor answer and they leaped against [or upon over] the altar which they had made[understand this of the altar which Elia had made which out of meer malice they sought to overturn with their skipping and leaping against it feigning themselves to be acted hereunto by the zeal of the prophetical spirit see below verse 29 and 30.]

27. And it came to pass at noon that Elia mocked them and said cry with a loud voice for he is a God and he is a study [that is because he had somewhat to think and meditate upon with this senses or because he is busied with speaking somewhat with the mouth as thinking somewhat with their heart]or because he hath somewhat to do[others hath a pursuit that is whereby he issued to be others or himself sueth and persueth others as man and beasts [or because he hath a journey peradventure he sleepeth and will awaken [to wit if ye cry loud enough.]

28. And they cried with a loud voice and they cut themselves with knives and with lancers after their manner until they poured out blood upon themselves [others until they were poured all over with blood wherein they did imitate the vain heathen Deuteronomy 14.1as those who out of a shew holiness whip themselves till they shed their own blood as followers of both.]

29. Now it came to pass when noon was past that they prophesied [that is so behaved themselves in countenance and gesture as if by the spirit of the prophecies they had been in trance see 1Samuel 18.10] until the meat offering was to be offered [which was done in Jerusalem about the latter part of the day or as the scripture speaketh between the two eating’s see exodus 29.41 Acts 3:1 so there was also daily a meat offering offered in the morning Exodus 29:39 2Kings 3.10]but there was no voice nor any answer nor any breed taking.

30. Then said Elia unto all people draw near unto me and all people drew near unto him and he healed the altar of the Lord that was broken down [viz. which he had formerly made and Baal’s prophets had broken with their leaping see above verse 26.]

31. And Elia took twelve stones [he would shew by this act that the twelve tribes not withstanding their rent in matters of state yet ought to be nit and united together in religion to perform with one accord due and the same service and honour to God according to his word by avoiding all manner of idolatry and vain superstition]according to the number of tribes of children of Jacob unto whom the word of the Lord came saying Israel shall be thy name [see Joshua 4:5,20 Genesis 32:28&2 Kings 17:34.]

32. And with those stones he built the altar this was an extraordinary work proceeding from a special and peculiar command of God and their fore to be expected from the common rule Leviticus 17:3 Deuteronomy 12 verse 13,14] in the name of the Lord [that is by the charge and command from God and from his honour see below verse 36]after that he made a trench [or water course]about the altar according to the wideness of the two measures [see of this measure Genesis 18 on verse 6] of seed that is according to the wideness or capacity some conceive that the trench was as wide as a sack which two measures of seed or into which two measured of seed could enter others understand of the wideness of the trench but of the space that was between the trench and the altar comprehending so much place as might be sown into two measures of seed.]

33. And he put the wood in order and divided the bullock in pieces and laid him on the wood.

34. And he said fill four pitchers [or pails]with water[the prophet would use this water and that in great abundance to take away all suspicion and to make the miracle that should be done to appear the plainer]and pour it upon the burnt offering and upon the wood and he said do it the second time and they did it the second time moreover he said do it the third time and they did it the third time.

35. So that the water ran round about the altar besides he filled also the trench [of which is spoken above verse 32] with water.

36. Now it came to pass when they offered meat offering[see above on verse 29]that Elia the prophet drew water [viz. to the altar]and said Lord God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Israel [this name of God was to put the Israelites in mind that they and the Jews had not only the same descent after the flesh which should stir them up of unity but likewise ought to persevere in the fellowship of the holy doctrine and worship of God received by means of these holy fathers from God compare Genesis 26 on the annotate on verse 24see also Exodus 3.6Matthew 22.32 Mark12.26Luke 20.37 Acts 7:33]Let it God in Israel and that i am thy servant and that I have done all these things [understand not only that which was done by him but also which that yet afterwards should be done]according to thy word.

37. Answer me O Lord answer me [that is hear me and make it appear by a visible token that thou hast heard me causing fire to fall from heaven to consume my sacrifice as I gave this token to the people according to thy command above verse 24]that this people may know that thou O LORD art thou God and that thou hast turned their heart about [viz. from the idolatry wherein they lie drowned for one of the end of his prayers was that those from among the people should be converted should ascribe the convection of their glory unto God.]

38. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed that burnt offering [see the like examples Leviticus 9:24 Judges 6:21 2 Chronicles 7:1]and that wood and those stones and that dust yea licked up that water which was on the trench.

39. Now when all the people saw that now they fell on their faces [in token that they knew God to be a true a true God and accordingly called upon him as in the following words is manifested see Genesis 24on verse 6]and said the Lord is God the Lord is God [see above on verse 24.]

40. And Elia said unto them lay hold on the prophets of Baal none of them escape and they lay hold of them and Elia brought them down to the brook Kison [see of this book Judges 4:7]and slew them [cut their throats that is killed them with the sword below chapter 19.1 this was also comprised in the command of God of which Elia maketh mention above verse 36for he did nothing herein by his own proper motion but by the word and command of God to him and by the conduct of his spirit so as that this act is altogether as particular and may not be abused by imitation see the like act in Samuel 1Samuel 15.33]there.

41. After that Elia said unto Achab go up eat and drink for there is a sound of an over flowing rain[Heb. a voice of noise or abundance of rain.]

42. So Achab went up to eat and to drink but Elia went up to the top of carmel and spread himself abroad towards the earth after that he put his face between his knees [with his behaviour of his body making servants prayer unto God and beseeching him for rain although he was fully assured by the promise of God that rain would come.]

43. And he said unto his lad go up now and look towards the sea [Heb. the way of the sea]then he went up and looked out and said there is nothing then said he go again seven times.

44. And it came to past the seventh time that he said behold there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea like a mans hand and he said go up say unto Achab make ready and come down that the rain stop thee not [or shout thee not in that is so surprise and hinder thee thou canst not get home.]

45. And it came to pass in the mean while that the heavens grew black with the clouds and wind [Heb. hither to hither to &c. that is in the interim and while Achab made himself ready to go home or that is here and there or every where the heaven grew black] and there came [Heb. was or grew]a great rain rode away and went to Jezel [a city lying in the border of the tribes of Manasseh and Issachar Joshua 19.18and to be distinguished from the city of this name lying in the tribe of Judah Joshua 15:18.]

46. And the hand of the Lord was on Elia and he girded up his loins [vi. to go the readier because they wore long garments so 2Kings 4.29&9.1]and they ran before the face of Achab till where they came to Jizrel [Heb. till thou &c. that is the Lord gave him an extraordinary strength that with running he would outgo Achab charets and come to Jezrel before him.]