And the water ran round about the altar ,.... There being such a large effusion of it on it; and he filled the trench also with water ; which surrounded the altar, so that it seemed impracticable that any fire should kindle upon it; and this gave full proof and demonstration there could be no collusion in this matter. read more
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice ,.... Which the people of God at Jerusalem were now attending to: that Elijah the prophet came near ; to the altar he had built, and on which he had laid the sacrifice: and said ; in prayer to God: Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; the covenant God of the ancestors of his people, though they had now so fully departed from him: let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel ; and that there... read more
Hear me, O Lord, hear me ;.... Which repetition is made to express his importunity, and the vehement earnest desire of his soul to be heard in such a case, which so much concerned the glory of God; the Targum is, "receive my prayer, O Lord, concerning the fire, receive my prayer concerning the rain;' as if the one respected the sending down the fire on the sacrifice, and the other sending rain on the earth; and which sense is followed by other Jewish writers: that this people may know... read more
Then the fire of the Lord fell ,.... An extraordinary fire from God out of heaven, as the effects of it show: and consumed the burnt sacrifice ; as it had done in former instances, Leviticus 9:24 , and besides this, which is still more extraordinary, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust ; of the altar, thereby signifying that even such were not to be used any more: and licked up the water that was in the trench ; around the altar, see 1 Kings 18:32 . read more
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces ,.... In reverence of God, astonished at the miracle wrought, ashamed of themselves and their sins, particularly their idolatry, that they should turn their backs on the true God, and follow idols: and they said, the Lord, he is the God, the Lord, he is the God ; which acknowledgment of God, as the true God, in opposition to Baal, is repeated, to show their firm belief and strong assurance of it. read more
And Elijah said unto them, take the prophets of Baal ,.... The four hundred and fifty that were upon the spot; for the number of the people of Israel, now gathered together, were equal to it; nor was it in Ahab's power to hinder it, and he might himself be so far surprised and convicted as not in the least to object to it: let not one of them escape : that there might be none of them left to seduce the people any more: and they took them ; laid hold on them, everyone of them: and... read more
For ye are many - And therefore shall have the preference, and the advantage of being first in your application to the deity. read more
From morning even until noon - It seems that the priests of Baal employed the whole day in their desperate rites. The time is divided into two periods: From morning until noon; this was employed in preparing and offering the sacrifice, and in earnest supplication for the celestial fire. Still there was no answer, and at noon Elijah began to mock and ridicule them, and this excited them to commence anew. And, They continued from noon till the time of offering the evening... read more
At noon - Elijah mocked them - Had not Elijah been conscious of the Divine protection, he certainly would not have used such freedom of speech while encompassed by his enemies. Cry aloud - Make a great noise; oblige him by your vociferations to attend to your suit. For he is a god - הוא אלהים כי ki Elohim hu , he is the supreme God, you worship him as such, he must needs be such, and no doubt jealous of his own honor and the credit of his votaries! A strong... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:34
And he said, do it the second time, and they did it the second time ,.... That is, poured four barrels of water more upon the wood: and he said, do it the third time, and they did it the third time ; so that there were in all twelve barrels of water poured on the wood, agreeably to the number of the twelve stones the altar was built with, and may have respect to the same as they. read more