1 Kings 17:24

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 17:24

And the woman said to Elijah, now by this I know that thou art a man of God ,.... She took him to be one at his first coming to her; she was in a great measure confirmed in it by the miracle of the barrel of meal and cruse of oil; but upon the death of her son, which she was ready to impute to the prophet, she was staggered at it; but now, by his resurrection from the dead, was fully assured of it: and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth ; she had known before that what he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 17:24

The word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth - Three grand effects were produced by this temporary affliction: The woman was led to examine her heart, and try her ways; The power of God became highly manifest in the resurrection of the child; She was convinced that the word of the Lord was truth, and that not one syllable of it could fall to the ground. Through a little suffering all this good was obtained. The subject in the fourth verse of this chapter deserves a... 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 17:24

And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this [Heb. this . Gesenius interprets עַתָּה זֶה just now . Similarly Bähr, nunmehr ] I know that thou art a man of God [not that she had doubted it before. See verse 18. In the face of what Elijah had done for her, she could not doubt it. All that she means is that this is a great fresh proof of his mission], and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth. [This last word אֱמֶת from which Amittai ( Jonah 1:1 ) is formed,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 17:23-24

1 Kings 17:23-24. Elijah said, See, thy son liveth And see the power of prayer, and the power of him that hears and answers prayer, that kills and makes alive. The woman said, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God Though she believed it before, and termed him a man of God, (1 Kings 17:18,) which she might well do, having been a daily witness of the miraculous increase of the meal and oil; yet, when she saw he did not cure her sick child, but suffered him to grow worse, and die,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:1-24

16:29-22:53 MINISTRY OF ELIJAHJezebel’s Baalism in Israel (16:29-17:24)In a new political alliance, Ahab, the new king of Israel, married Jezebel, daughter of the king-priest of Phoenicia. Ahab not only accepted his wife’s Baalism, but also gave it official status in Israel by building a Baal temple in the capital (29-33). The Baalism imported by Jezebel was of a kind far more evil and far more dangerous to Israel’s religion than the common Canaanite Baalism practised at the high places.... read more

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