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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 17:16

This is the first recorded miracle of its kind - a supernatural and inexplicable multiplication of food (compare 2 Kings 4:42-44; Matthew 14:15-21; Matthew 15:32-38). The sacred record does not explain these miracles; but if the explanations sometimes suggested - that there was a transformation of previously existing matter into meal, oil, fish, and bread - be the true one, the marvel of the thing would not be much greater than that astonishing natural chemistry by which, in the growth of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 17:16

1 Kings 17:16. The barrel of meal wasted not, &c. But as much as they took out for their daily use, was immediately supplied by the almighty power of God. “Never did corn or olive so increase in growing,” says Bishop Hall, “as these did in using.” They multiplied, observe, not in the hoarding, but in the spending. For there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth. When God blesseth a little, it will go a great way, even beyond expectation; as on the contrary, though there be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:1-24

16:29-22:53 MINISTRY OF ELIJAHJezebel’s Baalism in Israel (16:29-17:24)In a new political alliance, Ahab, the new king of Israel, married Jezebel, daughter of the king-priest of Phoenicia. Ahab not only accepted his wife’s Baalism, but also gave it official status in Israel by building a Baal temple in the capital (29-33). The Baalism imported by Jezebel was of a kind far more evil and far more dangerous to Israel’s religion than the common Canaanite Baalism practised at the high places.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 17:8-24

God’s revelation of His power 17:8-24God had a very unusual ministry for Elijah to perform in which he would stand alone against hundreds of opponents (1 Kings 18:16-40). This section reveals how the Lord prepared him for it.The site of Zarephath was between Tyre and Sidon in Phoenicia, the stronghold of the cult that Ahab had imported into Israel (cf. 1 Kings 16:31). Widows were poor in the ancient Near East and would have been the first to run out of food in a drought. [Note: See Richard D.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 17:1-24

Elijah and the Widow of ZarephathThe prophet Elijah, who occupies so large a space in the succeeding history, is, like his successor Elisha, conspicuous among the prophetic figures of the OT. as a worker of miracles; and to him belongs the further distinction of having been removed from earth without dying. His prophecies differed from those of most later prophets in having in view only certain critical occasions of contemporary history, and in having no reference to the remote future or the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Kings 17:1-24

1 Kings 17:1 This miracle of the drought is one of the few which have received the countersign and imprimatur of our Blessed Lord. The statement that 'The heaven was shut up three years and six months' 'in the days of Elias' (St. Luke 4:25 ) does not rest on the unsupported authority of the compiler of the books of Kings, or the unknown writer from whom he derived it. We are told that this history is largely fabulous, but this part of the 'fable' at any rate has been accepted by Him who is 'the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 17:1-24

IV. THE PROPHET ELIJAH AND KING AHAB 1. Elijah’s Prediction and Miracles CHAPTER 17 1. Elijah’s message to Ahab (1 Kings 17:1 ) 2. At the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:2-7 ) 3. With the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16 ) 4. The widow’s son restored to life (1 Kings 17:17-24 ) Upon this scene of complete departure of God, when Ahab and his heathen wife worshipped Baal and all the vileness connected with that cult flourished in Israel, there appeared suddenly one of the greatest of... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 17:1-24

ELIJAH PROPHESIES A DROUGHT (vs.1-7) Ahab was suddenly confronted by a prophet who had never been mentioned before, Elijah the Tishbite, the first prophet of God spoken of as arising from among the ten tribes. He came from Gilead and in God's name announced that for some years there would be neither dew nor rain in Israel until Elijah gave the word. James 5:17 tells us that Elijah had prayed earnestly that it might not rain. Why? Because of the gross evil of Ahab that infected all Israel.... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:1-24

ELIJAH AND AHAB ELIJAH IN HIDING (1 Kings 17:1-24 ) Nothing is known of Elijah’s previous history, not even why he is called the Tishbite (1 Kings 17:1 ) except, as suggested in the Septuagint translation, that the town of Tishbeh is meant, which was in the Gilead region east of the Jordan. A comparison of Deuteronomy 11:16-17 shows that the judgment he announces (1 Kings 17:1 ) was threatened by Jehovah for such iniquity as that now prevailing; but of course the divine impulse must have... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Kings 17:1-24

Elijah 1 Kings 17:0 Elijah means "Jehovah is my God." There is often much in a name. It is a history, sometimes, the summing up of generations; it is sometimes an inspiration, recalling memories that stir the soul to high daring. In Christ we are called to a new name. Have you yet received it? Behold, what manner of love hath the Father bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. "Tishbite." There are two places called Tishbi, one in Gilead and the other in Galilee. Elijah... read more

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