1 Kings 18

1 Kings 18:1

J1.ND it came to pass, after many days. See upon ver. 15. of the foregoing chapter.’ Grotius expounds it, after six months, upon St. Luke iv. 25. That the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying.] Our Saviour saith, and so doth St. James, that the drought continued three years and six months, (Luke iv. 25. James v. 17.) which doth not disagree with these words, which are thus to be explained. At the beginning of the drought, it is likely, Ahab imputed the want of rain to natural causes, and so did not seek to slay Elijah: but after six months neither the former nor the latter rain falling in their season, he began to be enraged at him as the cause of the drought: which forced Elijah, at God’s command, to save his life by flight. And from that time the three years here mentioned are to be computed; before the word of the Lord came to him: he being one year at the brook Cherith, and two years at Sarepta; in the end of which year God took pity upon the country, having fulfilled the words of Elijah, (xvii. 1.) I sec no ground for Abarbiners observation, that the famine continued three years, to shew that it was a punishment inflicted for the sins of three families: Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and his son Nadab; Baasha, and his son Elah; Omri, and his son Ahab. -The observation of Grotius is far better upon St. Luke iv. 25. (See there.) Go, and shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.] He would not destroy the earth because it was inhabited by wicked men (as Abarbinel speaks), and yet would have them know that Elijah’s prayers procured mercy for them.

1 Kings 18:2

And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab: and there was a sore famine in Samaria. Which made it the more dangerous for him to appear in Ahab’s presence; lest being so sorely afflicted, he should, in his rage, causo him to be killed before he could deliver his message to him.

1 Kings 18:3

And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. Some, both Jews and Christians, think this was Obadiah the prophet; for which I can find no ground but what is Said in 2 Chron. xvii. 7. that Obadiah was one of the princes whom Jchoshaphat sent to instruct the people. And Ezra, from the next words, infers he was not a prophet. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.] Wag a truly religious man, and worshipped the Lord alone with great affection to his service; which one would have expected should have made Ahab discard him, if not persecute him. / byMicr 3M A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. xvnr. But, I suppose, he was so very useful a servant to him, in the management of the affairs of his family (which he ordered with singular prudence and fidelity), that he connived at his not worshipping Baal, nor the calves; especially since he did not (wo may well think) go xip to Jerusalem to worship; with which defect God was pleased to dispense, as Ahab did with his religion.

1 Kings 18:4

For it was so, whenJezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord. There were schools of the prophets, it is likely, still remaining in Israel unto her time; but sho endeavoured to destroy them, and thoso who were bred up in them; that there might be none to instruct the people in the true religion. For such, I suppose, are here meant; not those that were endued with the extraordinary gift of prophecy: for Elijah saith, ver. 22. that he only was left a prophet of the Lord; though that may signify no more, but that he knew of nobody beside. That Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave.] Which was an act of great piety and zeal, whereby he hazarded his own life. And fed them with bread and water).] Sent them meat and drink privately every day.

1 Kings 18:5

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into all the land, unto all fountains of water, and itnto all brooks; peradventure me may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.] Many were dead for want of grass, which he hoped they might find growing in such moist places, enough to preserve the rest.

1 Kings 18:6

And they divided the land between them, to pass through it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. Ahab would make this search himself, lest it should not be done faithfully by others, who might be persuaded by prayers and entreaties, or the presents of those who had any grass, not to discover it. Only he trusted Obadiah.

1 Kings 18:7

And as Obadiah went in the way, behold, ElijaJi met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou my lord Elijah?. He shewed by the profound reverence he made to him, how much he honoured him.

1 Kings 18:8

And he answered, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. The prophet also approved the honour Obadiah did his master, whom he owned for his lord, though he was a very wicked man. (See ver. 10.) For kings, by their office, are sacred persons: and therefore are to be had in great veneration (though bad men) even by the high-priest, and by the prophets, who did not approach them, as the Jews observe, without due reverence. And it is a famous saying of R. Jedaiah, €< Do not dwell in a city, where no reverence or fear is paid to the king/'

1 Kings 18:9

And he said. What have I sinned, that thou woiddest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?. For that he concluded would be the effect of such a message delivered by him to Ahab, as he shows in the following discourse.

1 Kings 18:10

-45 the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom whither my lord hath?iot sent to seek thee. That is, to all the countries thereabout, witli whom he was in.league. For it is a very foolish conceit of some of the Jews (which the best of them disown), that Ahab was as great an emperor as Nebuchadnezzar, or Ahasuerus, who rulcd.over all nations. »• And when they said, He i$ not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.] These words incline me to think, that he sought aim only throughput all his own dominions; through every tribe, which is called a nation; and every government, which is called a kingdom. For how could he take an oath of any but his own subjects? It may be said, indeed, that there might be such compacts between him and the Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, and other neighbouring nations, that they should harbour none of his rebellious subjects: and that if he required it, they should swear they knew of none in their country. But such a treaty is so unusual, that I see no reason to suppose it.

1 Kings 18:11

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

1 Kings 18:12

And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that theSpirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not. Snatch thee away from hence, as sometimes the prophets were suddenly transported by an invisible power to places far distant from that where they were at present, (2 Kings ii. 16. Ezek. iii. 12. 14. Acts viii. 39, 40.) And, in all likelihood, there’ had been instances of it before this time; which made Obadiah fear it might fall out so in this case. And so tvhen I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me.] Because he did not seize and secure Elijah when he was in his power; but let him escape. But I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.] Therefore he hoped the prophet would take care to preserve him, because he was not like the rest of the court.

1 Kings 18:13

Was it not told my lord what I did, tvhen Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed tltem with bread and water?] Sometimes a virtuous man may speak the truth of himself; though it be in his own praise.

1 Kings 18:14

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. When it would expose him to manifest danger of losing his life.

1 Kings 18:15

And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth. He who commands all creatures in heaven and earth. Before whom I stand.] Whom I serve, as one of his ministers. I will surely shew myself unto him to-day.] He feared not • to shew himself to Ahab; for a greater king than he, the Lord of all things, he knew would preserve him.

1 Kings 18:16

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. The solemn oath of Elijah made Obadiah readily obey him; and assured him Ahab should not be disappointed, but certainly find him.

1 Kings 18:17

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou lie that troubleth Israel?. He troubles a country, who confounds all things in it, and puts them out of order. In such a condition Israel now was, by a grievous famine; which made them not know which way to turn themselves. And this he ascribed to Elijah. •

1 Kings 18:18

And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; bat thou and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken tjie commandments of the Lord. They trouble a nation who break the laws of God; not they that defend them. And thou hast followed Baalim.] There were more Baals than one worshipped by the heathen, as I observed before: and it is very probable, that Ahab worshipped all the host of heaven, as well as the sun. (Sec svi. 30, 31.) Digitized byJMicrosoft® CHAP. XVIII.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS.

1 Kings 18:19

Now therefore send, and gather all Israel unto Mount CarmeL. That he might prove, in the face of all the people, that it was not he who troubled them. And the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred.] By the prophets of the groves (as we translate it), Mr.Selden understands the prophets of Astarte, the great goddess. of the Zidonians;.which he proves by comparing many places of Scripture together, (L. de Diis Syris, Syntag. ii. cap. 3.) Maimonides hath a peculiar notion, that the prophets of Baal, and. of the groves, were such as had drunk in the opinion of the ancient Zabii; who made images to receive the influences of the stars; golden ones for the sun, and silver ones for the moon, &c. which gave to men the gift of prophecy, and shewed what was good for them. The same they said of trees; which were some under the influence of one star, some under the influence of another; and were planted in their names, and worshipped after several manners, and infused special virtues into the trees, and made men prophets. This he avers he found expressly in their books. (More Nevochim, par. iii. cap. 29.) IVho eat at Jezebel’s table.’] So high an esteem they had of these prophets, that she kept a table on purpose for them, to do them honour with the people.

1 Kings 18:20

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto Momit CarmeL. I suppose the Israelites sent the great men of their several tribes to represent them; and the prophets readily assembled at the king’s command; who did not distrust their power, and was promised rain, I suppose, by Elijah, if he did as he desired.

1 Kings 18:21

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions?. Like lame men, who tread not firmly, but dubiously; not knowing which to choose, the Lord or Baal; and therefore joining both together. If the Lord be God, follow him: if Baal be God, follow him.] As much as to say, There cannot be more gods than one. That is the first article of your faith; " Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one LoTd," (Deut. vi. 4.) If the LoTd be he, then stick to him: if Baal, then reject the other. This is most rational: for both, of them.cannot be God. And the people answered him not a word.] Either not knowing 1 what, to resolve, or being ashamed.

1 Kings 18:22

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, i remain a prophet of the Lord; but the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men. He was the only prophet that appeared in behalf of the Lord, and yet feared not to congest with a great multitude who came to defend Baal.

1 Kings 18:23

Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under.],He propounded a plain way to decide this controversy, and settle the people’s minds in their belief. To whom he first propounded ft, that they might approve of it, if they thought it a sure way to discover the truth.

1 Kings 18:24

And call ye on the nome of your gods, and J will call on the name of the Lord; and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. That is, he that sendeth fire to consume the sacrifice, which is presented to him, h And the people answered and. said, It i$ well spoken.] They looked upon this as a reasonable proposition; because they knew that sacrifices had been approved by God, in this manner; and they were very desirous to make the experiment, and be satisfied, by this means, who was the true God, Thus Moses’s sacrifice was approved, (Lev, ix., 24.) and Gideon’s, (Judg. vi. 21.) and David’s, (1 Chron. xxi. 20.) and. Solomon’s, when he consecrated the temples, (2 Chron. vii. 1, 3.) By this means, in all these cases, God had shewn that he accepted the sacrifices, and that the persons who ofiered them were his servants. - 1

1 Kings 18:25

And Elijah said unto the prophets of BaaL. Having the people’s approbation, he turned to Baal’s prophets, and desired them to agree to this trial. Clioose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first.] No doubt they produced both the bullocks, as he propounded at the first; (ver. 22.) and if there was any advantage in choosing one, and dressing it before the other, he desired they might have it. r. For ye are many.] And he’ being a single person, was willing to give them the precedence. And call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.] It may be translated, call on the name of your god, viz. Baal. Or else, it may relate to their Baalim, which were many, as they themselves were: and desire them all to try their power, by putting no fire under the sacrifice; but expecting it to come down from heaven..

1 Kings 18:26

And they took thejbullock which was given them. The choice of which was left to them. And dressed it.] Flayed it, and cut it in pieces,* and laid it upon the wood. Which they durst not refuse to do, because the people thought it a reasonable motion which Elijah made; and they had utterly lost their credit with the people, if they had not accepted it. And perhaps they did not distrust the power of Baal; which Ralbag thinks was Mars, a fiery planet; but rather the sun, which far exceeds all the other heavenly bodies in heat. Which they thought might possibly exert its power, upon this great occasion, and burn up their sacrifice. At least they might hope that Elijah might not be able to bring fire down from heaven, because he sacrificed in a high place, not at the temple: which was contrary to the law of God, who therefore would not hear him; and. then they should stand upon equal ground with him, though they obtained ho fire to consume their sacrifice. And called upon the name of Baal from morning even untilnoon.’] When the sun w T as in its greatest strength. Saying, O Baal, hear us! But there was no voice, nor any that ansivered.] Not the least flash of fire., And they leaped upon the altar which was made.] Or, they danced about it, after the manner of the ancient Salii. Or, as Bochartus interprets it, “Quasi furore prophetico extra serapti, incompositis motibushuc illuc ferebantur;” They ran about hither and thither, as men in an ecstacy with a prophetical fury, which put tJiem into uncouth and disorderly motions. For it appears they acted like prophets from ver. 29. who sometimes acted as men beside themselves. (Hierozoicon, par, i, lib, ii. cap. 50.). Abarbinel thinks this leaping or dancing was a rite used in the worship of the sun: which puts all things in motion. •

1 Kings 18:27

And it came to pass at noon. When the morn ing sacrifice was ended, 3M2 Microsoft® A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. XVIII. TItat Elijah mocked them.] He did not think it Unlawful, or unseemly to jeer them, and their god; that bo might awaken them out of their stupidity, and Expose them to all tho by-standers as corrupters of religion, and deceivers of the people. And said, Cry aloud; for he is a godJ] He bado them raise thfeir voices; for they believed he was a god, but might be something deaf, or a great way off from them, and so could not hear what they said, unless they cried louder. Either he is talking.] Busy about dispatches: either in sending ambassadors, or giving audience. Or he is pursuing.] Some notion (as the Hebrews understand It); being in a deep study, or deliberating about some weighty business. It is commonly understood, He is huritr ing, or pursuing enemies. Or he is in a journey.] Not at home; but travelling to £ome other place; whither they must send after him. Or peradventure he sleepeth.] As they used to do in those hot countries after dinner. Andmust be awaked.] With loud noises.

1 Kings 18:28

And they cried aloud, and cut themselves, after their manner, with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out ttpon them. They did more than Elijah bade them: hoping to move him with their own blood, in which, perhaps, they thought he more delighted, than in the blood of beasts, or in their cries. For tnany nations offered human sacrifices to their gods: and th&r priests, when they were possessed with a sacred fury, were wont to’ slash themselves till their blood gushed out. Thtfs ainong the Romans the priests did in the worship of Bellona: in which " Sacerdotes non alieno, sed stfo cruore sacrificant/’&c. TJie priests sacrificed not xvith (mother’s blood, but tvith their own. (See Lactantius, in his Divin. Institut. lib. i. cap. 21.) For cutting their shoulders, and running their drawn swords through both hands, they run about like mad men. And so Apuleius saith, they that carried about the Syrian goddess, after many other things, took out their knives or swords and cut themselves. (See lib. viii. Metamorph.p. 172, 173. and Pricasus’and Rigaltius upon that place.) But pur Mr. Mede hath a peculiar notion, which is, that Baalim being tho deified souls of dead men, therefore the prophets of Baal cut themselves in his worship; because this was a funeral rite or ceremony, (Lev. xix.28. x^i. 5. Deut. xiv. 1.) and therefore retained in the service of such gods, in token that they were but deified men. (See upon xvi. 31.)

1 Kings 18:29

And it came to pass, when mid-day was past, and they prophesied to the time of the offering the evening sacrifice. When all was done, they fell into a fury, and raved, as if they were possessed with an invisible power; singing hymns and praises to Baal. For that is sometimes jneant by prophesying; (1 Chron. xxv. 2, 3.) or, it may be simply meant, they still continued praying to Baal; (vdr. 2G.) for that was part of a prophet’s office.. That there ivas neither voice, nor any to ansiuer, nor any that regarded.] No more tokens of regard to their praises than to their prayers; nor any, the least intimation, that Baal was a’god, that minded what they said or did. >

1 Kings 18:30

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near nnto me. And they came near xinto him. They had stood hitherto by the prophets of Baal, to attend themin their sacrifice. Now Elijah calls them to him, that they might be witnesses of what he could do. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken ddum.] I suppose Carmel had been one of the most eminent high places in the whole kingdom: where the people, as they had been long accustomed, offered sacrifices to God in ancient times. But the worshippers of Baal had broken down the altar, and set up one of their own. For there were two sorts of high places, I have before noted, some for the worship of the true God, which continued in Judah> even under religious princes: others for the Worship of idols; which good kings took away when they let the other remain. On the contrary, Ahab broke down the altars of God in the high places, and allowed none but those for Baal.

1 Kings 18:31

And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. That he might shew he worshipped the God of the patriarchs, and no other: and that all the people, though divided in civil government, ought to be united in the same religion, and have but one altar for them; being the sons of one man, who was very dear “to God, as it here follows. Unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name.] He purged his family from all idolatry; and then God appeared to him, and talked with him, and called him by a new name; importing the power he had with God, (Gen. xxxv. 2—4. 10.13. 15.)

1 Kings 18:32

Arid with the stones he built an altar in the name of’fhb Lord. Which he might do, being a prophet; for such persons were free from the lesser laws, that they might preserve the greater.;, And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.] That is, a large trench; for tivo measures are thought to be the third part of an cphah.

1 Kings 18:33

-And lie put the wood in order, and cut the bullock. in pieces, and laid him on the wood^. To be a whole burhfr-offering. And said, Fill four barrels with water.] Which they might have out of the brook at the foot of the mount, (ver. 40.) or but of the sea, which was not far off. And pour it on the burnt-sacrifice, and on the wood.] From hence some gather the altar was hollow, into which thisAvater run. Ver. S4. And he said, Do it the second time: and they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time: and they did it the third time.] That is, they did it till all was full of water, as it follows in the next verse.

1 Kings 18:35

And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. This seems to prove the altar was hollow, and that there was a trench also round about it: both which were as-full of water as they could hold, to make the miracle more conspicuous and convincing. For what more contrary than fire’and water?

1 Kings 18:36

Audit came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. When the people of God were offering their solemn prayers to God at the temple in Jerusalem. This is a noted time for great things that were then done. (See upon Lev. ix. 24.). That Elijah the prophet came?iear.] To the altar. And said, Lord God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that lam thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.] He desires him to demonstrate at once by this miracle, that he was the only truo God, and that Elijah was Microsoft® CHAP. XVIIJ.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS. his prophet, and that he had done nothing (in bringing, for instance, a long famine upon them) but by his command. Such miracles were proper, either where a new religion was to be set up, or the old one restored, after a. general depravation.

1 Kings 18:37

Hear me, O Lord, hear me. He was the more earnest and fervent in his prayer, as Abarbinel thinks, because he had undertaken to make this experiment of God’s power, without any particular command from God of his own accord; nothing doubting but he would appear to vindicate his own honour; though he offered sacrifice in a high place, which was against the law. That this people mqy know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned tJieir hearts back again] God turns men’s hearts, though they be not turned; because he not only doth that which evidently tends to convert them, and is sufficient to do it; but for the present also so affects them that they are converted: though they will not take care to continue in that pious bent, but start back again from him.

1 Kings 18:38

And the fire of the Lordfettj and consumed the burnt-sacrificej and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. It is called the fire of the Lord, because it was sent from him out of heaven to testify that he was the only God (as the people could not but acknowledge), and it was of such unusual force, that it consumed not only the flesh of the bullock, and the wood, but the very stones, and the dust, and $11 the water that had been poured out there in great quantity.

1 Kings 18:39

And when all thepeqple saw it, they fell on their faces. Worshipping the Lorcl of heaven and earth. And said, The Lord is God; the Lord Jie is God.] This repeated acknowledgment shews how.deeply they were affected at present, with the demonstration God had given, that he only was to be worshipped. Which extorted this public confession irom Ihera: but they sopn forgat their own convictions, and continued in their idolatry.

1 Kings 18:40

And Elijah said unto them, Take th# prophets of Baal; let none of themescape. The prophets of the groves, I suppose, were not there: Jezebel, on whom they attended, (ver. 19.) not suffering them to appear. It is likely they were Zidonians, which she brought along with her from her own country, when Ahab married her, and were peculiarly under her command. And they took them; and Elijah brought them dovyi to the brook Ki$hon,and sleiv them there.] As perverters of the law, and teachers of idolatry; upon whom the people, in that fit of zeal wherein they now were, readily executed the sentence Elijah pronounced against them. And Ahab could make no opposition; being himself also, it is likely, astonished at the stupendous miracle.

1 Kings 18:41

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink. They had fasted and prayed all the daytill the even sacrifice was over, that they might have rain; or, that God would decide the controversy in question. For there is a sound of abundance of rain,] He bade him be solicitous no longer; for plenty of rain was coming,

1 Kings 18:42

And Ahab went up to eat and drink. From the river that was at the bottom of tho mount, he went up. to a place on the side of it, where a tent was pitched for him, that he might refresh himself, now that the sacrifice was finished; and by Elijah’s prayer he obtained rain, which he assured him he heard coming. By these two verses it is apparent, that Ahab himself was present to see how this contest between his prophets and Elijah, that is, between Baal and God, would end. And in all probability was as much convinced as the people, that the Lord was the only God. * And Elijah went up to the top of Carniel.] The prophet went a great deal. higher, where he could seethe Mediterranean Sea; and would neither cat nor drink, till he actually saw the rain gathering. Andhe cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees.] He fell upon his knees, and bowed his “head to the very ground; so that it touched his knees: in token of great humility, and most earnest desire, that God would remember his people, and send them rain.

1 Kings 18:43

And he said to his servant. Who, some of the Jews say, was the widow of Sarepta’s son. But he was too young to wait upon him. Go up now, and look towards the sea, And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing, Andhe said, Go again seven times,] It is not easy to give an account of these phrases, so often here used, lie went up. First Ahab went up, and then Elijah, and now he sends his servant, and at last he bade his servant (ver. 44.) go up to Ahab, It is most likely there were several risings in this mountain, some higher than other* Elijah went to the top of them; but there was another higher, to which he bade his servant go up. Or Elijah, perhaps, was near the top; and he sent his servant to the very top of all.: and. then bade him go down from thpnee, and go.up to that part of the mount, where Ahab >vas eatiijg a<nd drinking.

1 Kings 18:44

And it came to pass, that, at the seventh time, there arose a little cloud out of the sea, like a mans hand. Jlndjie said, Go up, and say to Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.] For he saw such abundance, of rain,comjpg, as would cause. floods, and render the way, for the present, unpassable, if he did not make haste home.

1 Kings 18:45

And it came to pass, in the meanwhile, that the heavens were thick with clouds and wind, and there xvds.a great rain. While the servant went to Ahab, and his chariot was making ready, that little cloud spread itself, and in a great thickness covered the face of the sky. And Ahab rode, and went to JezreeL] He did not go to Samaria; for Jezreel, I suppose, was nearer: and there he had a palace, (xxi. 1.) • Ver. 4C. And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab.] They wore loose and long garments in this country; and therefore girded them up when they had occasion to run, that they might not hinder them. And God now gave Elijah more than human strength, so that (though he was an old man, xix. 4.) he was made able to run as fast as Ahab’s chariot drove, like one of his footmen. In which he shewed his readiness to do the king all the honour imaginable, and that he was far from being his enemy, but only desired he would become a worshipper of the true. God, which was, he could not but see, the Lord God of Israel. Unto the entrance of JezreeL] He thought it not prudent, - it is likely, to venture into the city, lest Jezebel should seize him, but stopped at the gate of the city, or of the palace, and retired to some private place.