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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:1-7

The history of Elijah begins somewhat abruptly. Usually, when a prophet enters, we have some account of his parentage, are told whose son he was and of what tribe; but Elijah drops (so to speak) out of the clouds, as if, like Melchisedek, he were without father, without mother, and without descent, which made some of the Jews fancy that he was an angel sent from heaven; but the apostle has assured us that he was a man subject to like passions as we are (Jas. 5:17), which perhaps intimates, not... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:8-16

We have here an account of the further protection Elijah was taken under, and the further provision made for him in his retirement. At destruction and famine he shall laugh that has God for his friend to guard and maintain him. The brook Cherith is dried up, but God's care of his people, and kindness to them, never slacken, never fail, but are still the same, are still continued and drawn out to those that know him, Ps. 36:10. When the brook was dried up Jordan was not; why did not God send... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:1

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead ,.... Which belonged partly to the Reubenites and Gadites, and partly to the half-tribe of Manasseh on the other side Jordan, where this prophet dwelt; but why he is called the Tishbite is not easy to say; what Kimchi observes seems right, that he was at first of a city called Toshab, and afterward's dwelt at Gilead; which city perhaps is the same with Thisbe, in the tribe of Naphtali, the native place of Tobit, "Who in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:2

And the word of the Lord came to him ,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum; this shows that by word, in the former verse, he means the word of the Lord by him: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:3

Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward ,.... From the place where he was, being in danger from Ahab and Jezebel, provoked by his reproofs, threatenings, and prophecies: and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan ; in some wood or cave near it, or among the reeds and rushes that grew on the banks of it; and Bochart F15 Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 2. c. 13. col. 216. takes it to be the same with the river Kanah, on the borders of Ephraim, which has its name from reeds, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:4

And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook ,.... The water of that was to be his drink: and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there ; whereby he should be provided with food to eat; by whom are meant not angels in the form of ravens, as some; nor, as others, Arabians, for there were none of that people near him; nor, as others, merchants, the word being sometimes used of them, for this was not a likely method for privacy; nor, as others, the inhabitants of a place called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:5

So he went, and did according to the word of the Lord ,.... Took his journey eastward, and hid himself in the place directed to: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan ; see Gill on 1 Kings 17:3 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:6

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening ,.... For his breakfast and supper, the two principal meals then in use; and as there were several employed, they could bring a sufficiency in a short time for each meal; and these provisions were ready prepared, the bread made and baked, and the flesh boiled, broiled, or roasted; from whence they had it need not be inquired after; the Jews say F23 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 113. 1. Cholin, fol. 5.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:7

And it came to pass after a while ,.... Or "at the end of days" F24 מקץ ימים "in, vel a, fine dierum", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; , perhaps a year, which sometimes is the sense of this phrase, see Exodus 13:10 , that the brook dried up ; through the excessive heat, and for want of supplies from the springs and fountains with which it was fed, and for the following reason: because there had been no rain in the land ; from the time Elijah prayed and prophesied; of this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:8

And the word of the Lord came unto him ,.... As before, after he had been a year at the brook, and that was dried up: saying ; as follows. read more

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