1 Kings 17:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17-24

We have here a further recompence made to the widow for her kindness to the prophet; as if it were a small thing to be kept alive, her son, when dead, is restored to life, and so restored to her. Observe, I. The sickness and death of the child. For aught that appears he was her only son, the comfort of her widowed estate. He was fed miraculously, and yet that did not secure him from sickness and death. Your fathers did eat manna, and are dead, but there is bread of which a man may eat and not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:21

And he stretched himself upon the child three times ,.... Or "measured himself" F9 ויתמדד "et mensus est se", Pagninus, Montanus; "admensus se", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. on it, or put himself into a posture in some respects equal to the child; putting his mouth on its mouth, his eyes on its eyes, his hands on its hands, as Elisha afterwards did in a like case, perhaps in imitation of him, 2 Kings 4:34 , thereby showing his great affection to the child, and in order to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 17:21

Stretched himself upon the child three times - It is supposed that he did this in order to communicate some natural warmth to the body of the child, in order to dispose it to receive the departed spirit. Elisha, his disciple, did the same in order to restore the dead child of the Shunammite, 2 Kings 4:34 . And St. Paul appears to have stretched himself on Eutychus in order to restore him to life, Acts 20:10 . Let this child ' s soul come into him again -... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:7-24

Second Preparation of Elijah. Elijah passed through his second phase of preparation under the humble roof of the widow of Sarepta. He is in the right attitude for gaining a holy preparedness for his work, for he has placed himself absolutely and directly under the guidance of God. When the word of God comes to him, he is ready to arise and go whithersoever it bids. Thus was Christ "led of the Spirit" to commence His public ministry ( Matthew 4:1 ); and throughout His whole course He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17-24

Life from the Dead. The miracles wrought by Elijah or associated with his name were for the most part of the nacre of severe judgments, and present the person of the lowly prophet in a stern and terrible light before us. But the two miracles that mark the opening of his career were miracles of mercy, and show that there was another side to his character, one that was tenderly sympathetic and humane. Having at first brought hope and a new lease of life to the starving mother and her child,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17-24

Affliction and its Fruits. I. THE DISCIPLINE OF TRIAL . 1 . It is no proof of God's anger . Sorrow darkens the homes of God's beloved. This was a home of faith and ministering love. Affliction is no more proof of wrath than is the farmer's ploughing of his field. To him, with his eye upon the future harvest, it is only the needful preparation of the soil. And the great Husbandman, with His eye upon the eternal glory, must open up a bed within the soul's depths for the seed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:19-24

The Sign of the Widow's Son. Here is a touching scene—a poor widow pressing to her bosom the corpse of her only child, while in the agony of her bereaved soul, addressing Elijah, she says, "What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come to call my sin to my remembrance, and to slay my son?" Now note the words of the text: "And he said unto her, Give me thy son , " etc. In this history we have— I. AN EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF FAITH . Behold here— 1. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:21

And he stretched himself [marg. measured himself, but Gesenius holds that stretch out is the primary meaning of the root] upon the child [cf. 2 Kings 4:34 . The commentators are again at variance as to whether these words imply the use of natural means or not. Those who hold that the child was dead naturally adopt the negative, and some (Keil, Rawlinson, al .) compare with it the action of our Lord in the case of the blind, deaf and dumb ( Matthew 9:35 ; Luke 7:14 ; John 9:6 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:21

Prayer for the Dead. The portrait of the widow of Zarephath is remarkably natural. Her calmness in speaking of the trouble that was only threatened ( 1 Kings 17:12 ), is contrasted with her agony when trouble actually comes ( 1 Kings 17:18 ). She believed in Jehovah though in a heathen kingdom; yet there was a blending of superstition with her faith. She supposed that God might have overlooked her sin, had it not been that He was present with His prophet in her home; and she confounded... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 17:21

He stretched himself upon the child three times - This action of Elijah is different from that of Elisha (marginal reference), and does not imply the use of any natural means for the restoration of suspended animation. It is nearly parallel to the “touch,” through which our Lord performed similar miracles Matthew 9:25; Luke 7:14. read more

Group of Brands