1 Kings 18:10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-16

In these verses we find, I. The sad state of Israel at this time, upon two accounts:? 1. Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord (1 Kgs. 18:4), slew them, 1 Kgs. 18:13. Being an idolater, she was a persecutor, and made Ahab one. Even in those bad times, when the calves were worshipped and the temple at Jerusalem deserted, yet there were some good people that feared God and served him, and some good prophets that instructed them in the knowledge of him and assisted them in their devotions. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:10

As the Lord thy God liveth ,.... Which is the form of an oath he thought fit to make, to ascertain the truth of what he was about to say: there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee ; which is either an hyperbolical expression, signifying he had sought for him in many places, and in every place he could think of; or it must be understood either of the ten tribes, which were as so many nations and kingdoms as they had been; or were more in the times of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:10

There is no nation or kingdom - He had sent through all his own states and to the neighboring governments to find out the prophet, as he knew, from his own declaration, that both rain and drought were to be the effect of his prayers. Had he found him, he no doubt intended to oblige him to procure rain, or punish him for having brought on this drought. He took an oath - Ahab must have had considerable power and authority among the neighboring nations to require and exact... 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 18:7-16

The Servant of the Lord. Such is the meaning of Obadiah's name; and so truly descriptive of his character is it that we may take him as a typical servant of God. I. HE FEARED THE LORD FROM HIS YOUTH . 1 . Piety is not natural . 2 . Grace is free . 3 . Those who fear God from their youth have great advantages . II. HE FEARED THE LORD GREATLY . See the manifestation of this in his— 1. Respect for the ambassador of God . 2 . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:7-16

Obadiah. It is a proof of the extremity of distress to which the land had been reduced by famine that the king himself with one of his highest officers, the governor of his household, should have gone forth on this expedition in search of water and pasturage. The reverence the person of Elijah inspired is seen in the behaviour of Obadiah towards him when they met. The brief notice we have of this man is highly instructive. I. HIS FIDELITY . His name, Obadiah, "servant of Jehovah,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:10

As the Lord thy God liveth [Obadiah uses precisely the same adjuration as the widow of Zarephath, 1 Kings 17:12 . But then, though Jehovah was undoubtedly his God, He was in a more special and intimate manner Elijah's God. The oath corresponds well with the prophet's name], there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee [Keil says the hyperbole is to be explained by the "inward excitement and fear" of the speaker. But the Orientals use similar exaggerations in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 18:10

There is no nation ... - This is expressed in the style of Oriental hyperbole. What Obadiah means is: “there is no nation nor kingdom, of those over which he has influence, whither the king has not sent.” He could scarcely, for example, have exacted an oath from such countries as Egypt or Syria of Damascus. But Ahab may have been powerful enough to expect an oath from the neighboring Hittite, Moabite, and Edomite tribes, perhaps even from Ethbaal his father-in-law, and the kings of Hamath and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 18:9-10

1 Kings 18:9-10. What have I sinned, &c. Wherein have I so offended God, and thee his prophet, that thou shouldest inflict this punishment upon me, and thus expose me to certain ruin? For that he concluded would be the effect of such a message delivered by him to Ahab, as he shows by what follows. There is no nation or kingdom, &c. Namely, near to his own, where he could in reason think Elijah had hid himself. We must often understand general expressions with such limitations. He... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-46

Elijah and the prophets of Baal (18:1-46)After three years unbroken drought, God told Elijah that the time had come to make Ahab and Israel decide clearly whether they would follow him or Baal (18:1-2). Ahab was concerned about the effect of the drought on Israel’s trade and defence (for he was in danger of losing his valuable transport animals), but he was not so concerned about the religious condition of the country. He still tried to serve both God and Baal. While his queen attacked God’s... read more

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