The fire of the Lord fell - This cannot have been a flash of lightning. It was altogether, in its nature as well as in its opportuneness, miraculous. Compare the marginal references for the conduct of the people. read more
The Lord, he is the God - The people thus pronounced the matter to be clearly and certainly decided. Baal was overthrown; he was proved to be no god at all. The Lord Yahweh, He, and He alone, is God. Him would they henceforth acknowledge, and no other. read more
1 Kings 18:38. The fire of the Lord fell And not only, as at other times, (see the margin,) consumed the sacrifice and the wood, in token of God’s acceptance of the offering, but licked up all the water that was in the trench, exhaling and drawing it up as a vapour, to descend (with other water, to be raised from the adjoining sea) in the intended rain, which was to be the fruit of this sacrifice and prayer, more than the product of natural causes. And this was not all. To complete the... read more
1 Kings 18:39. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces In acknowledgment and adoration of the true God; and all, as one man, cried out, Jehovah, he is the God He alone; and Baal is a senseless idol. And they repeated the words to signify their abundant satisfaction, and assurance of the truth of their assertion. And some, we may hope, had their hearts so turned back as to be determined that he should be their God, and that they would serve him only, Joshua 24:24. But it is... read more
Elijah and the prophets of Baal (18:1-46)After three years unbroken drought, God told Elijah that the time had come to make Ahab and Israel decide clearly whether they would follow him or Baal (18:1-2). Ahab was concerned about the effect of the drought on Israel’s trade and defence (for he was in danger of losing his valuable transport animals), but he was not so concerned about the religious condition of the country. He still tried to serve both God and Baal. While his queen attacked God’s... read more
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 . read more
The vindication of Yahweh 18:17-40Ahab had a problem of perception similar to Obadiah’s (1 Kings 18:17; cf. 1 Kings 18:7). The real source of Israel’s troubles was Ahab and Omri’s disregard of the Mosaic Covenant and their preference for idolatry (Deuteronomy 6:5)."This was a crime against the state worthy of death (like that of Achan, Joshua 6:18; Joshua 7:25; and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14:24-29)." [Note: Wiseman, p. 168.] Probably hundreds, if not thousands of people, gathered since Elijah... read more
Jehovah or Baal?1. In the third year] in Luke 4:2-5; James 5:17 the duration of the famine is given as 3 years and 6 months. 3. The governor of his house] The same office as that alluded to in 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 16:9. Feared the Lord greatly] His name (’Servant of Jehovah’) was a true index of his character. 4. Cut off the prophets] Nothing is related of this beyond what is implied in 1 Kings 19:10. 12. The Spirit.. thee] cp. 2 Kings 2:16: the prophet’s movements being directed toward... read more
(39) They fell on their faces.—Exactly as in Leviticus 9:24, at the inauguration of the sacrifices of the new Tabernacle by the fire from heaven, with the characteristic addition of the cry, “Jehovah; He, and He only, is God.” read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:39
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces [As in Le 1 Kings 9:24 ; 2 Chronicles 7:3 ; cf. Numbers 22:31 ; Joshua 5:14 ; Revelation 11:16 . They recognized in the fire, that is to say, the token of the Divine Presence]: and they said, The Lord [ Jehovah . The connexion of this verse with the three verses preceding is obscured by our translation], he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. [The echo of verse 24. The Hebrew words are the same. Stanley remarks that... read more