(20) Hast thou also brought evil.—Elijah’s complaint is characteristic of the half-presumptuous impatience seen more fully in 1 Kings 19:0. He apparently implies that his own lot, as a hunted fugitive not protected by God’s Almighty power, is so hard, that it must be his presence which has brought trouble even on the home that sheltered him. read more
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
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
17:20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also {k} brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?(k) He was afraid lest God’s name be blasphemed and his ministry contemned, unless he continued his mercies as he had begun them, especially while he remained there. read more
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
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
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
(19) And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. (20) And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? (21) And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. (22) And the LORD heard the voice of... read more
Her son. He speaks in the most earnest and familiar manner, shewing his confidence in God. (Salien) read more
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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