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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

Israel being thus far reformed that they had acknowledged the Lord to be God, and had consented to the execution of Baal's prophets, that they might not seduce them any more, though this was far short of a thorough reformation, yet it was so far accepted that God thereupon opened the bottles of heaven, and poured out blessings upon his land, that very evening (as it should seem) on which they did this good work, which should have confirmed them in their reformation; see Hag. 2:18, 19. I.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:45

And it came to pass in the mean while ,.... That the servant was gone with the message to Ahab, and Ahab was getting ready his chariot: that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain ; which all sprung from the cloud like a man's hand; and so we are told F11 Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacra, vol. 3. p. 591. , that sometimes a little cloud called the ox's eye is seen on a mount of the Cape of Good Hope, called Tafesbery, when the sky is most serene, and the sea... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:46

And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah ,.... Giving him more than common strength of body, as well as courage and fortitude of mind; so the Targum, the spirit of strength from the Lord was with him: and he girded up his loins ; gathered up his long loose garment, and girt it about him, that he might be more fit for travelling: and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel ; reckoned about sixteen miles from Carmel F12 Bunting's Travels, &c.; p. 204. ; this showed his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:46

Ran before Ahab - Many think that Elijah ran before the king in order to do him honor; and much learned labor has been spent on this passage in order to show that Elijah had put himself at the head of a company of chanters who ran before the king reciting his praises, or the praises of God; a custom which still exists in Arabian countries! I believe all these entirely mistake the writer's meaning: Ahab yoked his chariot, and made all speed to Jezreel. The hand of the Lord, or, as the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-46

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. Elijah is now prepared for his work. He who had sent him into the desert now commands him to enter into open conflict with idolatry. God makes His will known to him in two ways. I. BY AN INWARD IMPULSE . II. THROUGH HIS MEETING WITH THE YOUNG OBADIAH , the protector of the prophets, and the faithful servant of God in the midst of the impure court of Ahab. Let it be ours to seek such a twofold assurance of the will of God. Let... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-45

Effectual Fervent Prayer. It is pre-eminently in the matter of prayer that Elijah is proposed to us as an example in the New Testament. From the long list of Hebrew saints and worthies he has been selected by St. James 5:17 , James 5:18 to prove and illustrate the proposition that "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much in its working" ( James 5:16 , Revised Version). His prayers for drought are not mentioned by our historian, but his prayer for rain may not unreasonably be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

The Sound of Rain. The fire has fallen upon the sacrifice of Elijah. The people are convinced, renounce Baal, confess Jehovah supreme, and evince their sincerity by slaying the idolatrous priests. Now there is "a sound of abundance of rain." I. THIS WAS THE SOUND OF SALVATION . 1 . Rain was salvation to the nation . 2 . It was a sign of spiritual blessings . 3 . Revivals have their premonitions . II. THE CONDITIONS HAD BEEN FULFILLED . 1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

The return of blessing. I. ELIJAH 'S ASSURANCE OF GOD 'S MERCY . "There is a sound of abundance of rain," but it was only as yet a sound in the prophet's ear . 1 . The ground of the assurance . 2 . The use he made of it . "He said unto Ahab," and through him to all Israel, "Get thee up," etc. The work of the believer is to comfort God's people, and strengthen their expectation of good. II. HIS PREVAILING WITH GOD . 1 . The assurance of God ' s... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:45

And it came to pass in the meanwhile [Heb. unto thus and unto thus, i.e; till now and then (cf. Exodus 7:16 ; Joshua 17:14 ). Gesen; Bähr, al . support the rendering of the A.V. Ewald, Keil, al . understand "while the hand is being moved hither and thither," i.e; very speedily. The practical difference is not great], that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. ["The cry of the boy from his mountain watch had hardly been uttered when the storm... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:46

And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah [Same expression 2 Kings 3:15 ; Ezekiel 1:3 ; Ezekiel 3:14 ; Ezekiel 8:1 ; Ezekiel 33:22 ; cf. also Exodus 9:3 ; 2:15 ; Ruth 1:13 ; Acts 11:21 ; Acts 13:11 . Some of the commentators understand the words of Divine guidance, some of a supernatural strengthening. There is no need to exclude either interpretation. An impulse from on high impelled him to "gird up his loins" and go with the king; a strength not his own sustained him... read more

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