1 Kings 19

Elia fleeth from Izebel verse 1 &c. is fed and sustained by an angel 5 fasting forty days and forty nights he cometh to the mount Horeb 8 where complaining to God is his distress is strengthened by him by means of a revelation 9 he receiveth command from God to anoint Hazael and Jebu to be kings and Elisa to be prophet 15 whereunto God also added comfort 17 Elisa is called.

1. And Achab told Izebel all that Elia had done and all that he had slain [understand the whole translation which he had, had with the prophets of Baal to shew that the Lord was teh only true God and to punish those prophets with deathin his name.]to wit all the prophets with the swords [that is the four hundred and fifty man which are called prophets above chapter 18.19and 22 and not the four hundred prophets of the idolatrous grove see the annotations above chapter 18 on verse 22 and compare below chapter 22.6.]

2. Then Izebel sent a message unto Elia to say let the Gods do so to me and let them add so thereunto [see of this phrase Ruth 1 on verse 17] assuredly I will tomorrow about this time make thy soul [that is life and so in the sequel see Genesis 19 on verse 17]as the soul of one of them.

3. When he saw that he gat him up and went for his life [Heb. soul others according to the soul that is according to his mind or opinion] and came to Barseba [see of this city Genesis 21:31] which is in Judah[Heb. which is of Judah that is which lieth among the tribe of Judah properly pertaining to Simeon]and left his lad there.

4. but he himself went into the wilderness a days journey and came and sat under a juniper tree[others bramble bush see likewise of this bush John 30.4 & Psalms 120:4] and prayed that his soul might die [that is that his person or that he himself might die[that is that his person or himself might so Numbers 23:10 Judges 16:30 compare Genesis 12the annotate on verse 5others prayed for himself or by himself or in his mind that he might die]and said it is enough [to wit lived and suffered Heb. much which word is so taken Deuteronomy 2:3 & 3.26] Lord now take away my soul [that is let me live no longer separating my soul from this body that it may dwell with thee so Jonah 4:3 compare Genesis 35 the annotate on verse 18] for I am no better than my father [understand to live longer than they have lived.]

5. And he laid himself down and slept under Juniper tree and behold an angel touched him and said unto him arise eat.

6. And he looked down and behold there was a cake baked on the coal [Heb. a cake of coals that is a cake baked or roasted on coals]and a bottle with water at his head end so he did eat and drink and laid himself again[Heb. and he turned again and led himself down that is he laid himself down again see Numbers 1 on verse 4.]

7. And the angel of the Lord came to him again the second time arise eat for the way will be too much for thee [or the journey will be too great for thee to wit to go it by thy own strength of that meat forty days and forty nights [understand by the strength that God had given or put into the meat to furnish Elia by means thereof with necessary strength for that long and tedious journey] unto Horeb the mount of God[see Numbers 10 on verse 33.]

8. No text on verse.

9. And he came thither into a cave and overnighter there and behold the word of the Lord came unto him and said unto him what doest thou here Elia?[Heb. what is there here Elia?]

10. And he said I have been very zealous for the Lord [Heb. being zealous if have been zealous &c. understand by this zeal; an holy commission of the heart which a man hath when he perceiveth that the Lord’s name doctrine commandments and worship are rejected and persecuted and on the contrary idolatry and wickedness followed and maintained see the like examples Numbers 25:11 2Kings 10.16 Psalms 69:10 Job.2.17] the God of host [see above chapter 18 on verse 15 below verse 14] for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant and broken down thine altars [understand by these the outward ceremonial worship instituted by God by the ministry of Moseh or here by may be understood such altars [understand by these the outward ceremonial worship instituted by God by the ministry of Moseh or here by may be understood such altars as had been extraordinarily built by some of the prophets through Gods instinct and inspiration]and slain thy prophet with the sword and I only am left and they seek my soul[that is life see Genesis 19 on verse 17] to take that away.

11. And he [namely the Lord] and said go forth and stand upon this mount before the face of the lord behold the Lord passed by and a great strong wind renting mountain and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord [the Lord appeared thus unto Elia to assure him of his present to instruct him concerning his divide properties and attributes and to strengthen him in his ministry that having vanquished and overcome the fear of man he might steadfastly persevere and go in his calling] but the Lord was not in the wind an earth quake the Lord was not also in the earth quake.

12. And after the earth quake a fire and the Lord was not also in the fire [The Lord indeed is everywhere but not every manner of way he was not in the wind neither in the earth quake nor in the fire in respect of his divine speaking to Elia but only in respect of his discovery of certain divine attributes]and after the fire a low noise of soft calm [to wit wherein there was not noise of a strong wind or violent earth quake or kindled fire.]

13. And it came to pass when Elia heard that he wrapped his face [Viz. through reverence and fear Exodus 36 thus and compare Genesis 16 the annotate on verse 13] in his manile [or upper garment see Jonah 3 on verse 6] and went forth and stood in the entering of the cave and behold a voice came unto him which said what doest thou here Elia ?[Heb. what is thee here &c.]

14. And he said I have been very zealous [Heb. being zealous I have been zealous so above verse 10] for the Lord the God of hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant broken down thine altars and slay thy prophets with the sword and I am only am left and seek my soul to take that away.

15. And the Lord said unto him go return unto thy ways to the wilderness of Damascus [see of this city Genesis 14 on verse 15] and enter into it and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria [how and when this was done we find not indeed Elisa foretold him that he should be king see 2Kings chapter 8 verse 12&c.]

16. Moreover thou shalt anoint Jebu ten son of Nimsi to be king over Israel [this Elisa put in practice by one of the disciples of the prophets 2Kings 9.1,2&c.]and thou shalt anoint Elisa the son of Saaphat of Abelmehola[see of this city Judges 7 on verse 2] to be prophet in thy room [that is to perform the aforesaid things or others that as a prophet in my name.]

17. And it shall come to pass that him that escapeth the soul of Hazael [to wit in the war against king Joram 2Kings 8.12,13,28 and 10.3,2 &13.3]shall Jebu slay[see hereof 2Kings 9.14&c.] and him that escapeth the sword of Jebu shall Elisa slay[to wit prophecies threatening curses &c. see an example 2Kings 2.24.]

18. I have also caused seven thousand [that is very man see Leviticus 26 on verse 8] to be left in Israel [others I will cause seven thousand to be left in Israel all the knees that have not bowed themselves before Baal and all or every mouth that hath not kissed him [that is shewn no reverence no subjection whereof kissing was an outward token see Genesis 41 on verse 40 which the idolators to this day shew to their images and feigned duties see of the unlawful religious kissing Job 31:27 Hosiah 13.2.]

19. So he departed from thence and found Elisa the son of Sephat the same ploughed with twelve yoke of oxen [this word is here inserted out of the following 21 verse]before him and he was with the twelfth and Elia went over to him and cast him mantle see 2kings 1.8 Zachariah 13.4.]

20. And he left the oxen and ran after Elia [compare Matthew 4:20,22] and said let me I pray kiss my father and mother [that is suffer me in ten civil way to take my leave on them see Genesis 29 on verse 11] then I will follow thee [Heb. go after thee] and he said unto him go return back for what have I done to thee?[that is consider what I did just now to thee for it was not done in vain that I cast my mantle upon thee and that God hath put an inclination into thee to obey thy call compare Matthew 8:22 Luke 9:62.]

21. So he returned back from after him and took a yoke of oxen and slew them and boiled their flesh with the furniture of the oxen [understand the wood of the plough the yoak the harrow the shovel and other tools wherewith he had don e in husbandry of which he made a fire to boil the flesh wherewith]which he gave unto the people and they did eat [by this he signified that he had left his former calling of tilling the ground taking as it were by this feast his leave to his friend and kindred] then he arose and followed after Elia and ministered unto him.