1 Kings 18:4

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 18:4

For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord ,.... Or slew them, as the Targum; put them to death some way or another; such as were brought up in the schools of the prophets, trained up in religious exercises, and instructed others therein: that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave ; fifty in one cave and fifty in another; for there were large caves in the land of Israel capable of holding such a number, and many more, see 1 Samuel 22:1 and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:4

Fed them with bread and water - By these are signified the necessaries of life, of whatsoever kind. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-6

The Cry for Life. For three years and six months the heavens were as brass. Throughout the summers the sun glared and flamed in a cloudless sky, and the temperature, even at night, never sank to the dew-point. Throughout the winters, if the temperature reached that point, the elements were so boisterous that no dew could settle upon the herbage, and the winds carried the aqueous vapour away to other lands. In the absence of dew and rain, vegetation, excepting only that near rivers or... 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 18:3-4

The Governor of Ahab's House. There are few things in these books of Scripture more surprising and suggestive than the position of Obadiah in She palace of Ahab. Consider— I. THE AGE . We have seen that during this reign ( 1 Kings 16:30 , 1 Kings 16:33 ; 1 Kings 21:25 ), and especially in the capital city of Samaria ( 1 Kings 16:32 ), the wickedness of Israel had reached its zenith. From the accession of Jeroboam, and the schism which followed it, the northern kingdom had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:4

For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord [Our author now instances a proof of Obadiah's devotion. The incident to which he refers is otherwise unknown to us, nor can we refer it with certainty to its proper place in the history. But it is extremely probable that this work of extermination was begun as an act of reprisals for the drought denounced by Elijah. Obadiah 1:13 almost implies that it had taken place during his absence. We see here, consequently, an additional... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 18:4

We have no details of Jezebel’s deed of blood. Some have conjectured that it was the answer of Jezebel to Elijah’s threat, and that the command given him to hide in Cherith alone saved him from being one of the victims. This view receives some support from Obadiah’s act and words 1 Kings 18:13.Fifty in a cave - The limestone formation of Judaea and Samaria abounds with large natural caverns, the size of which is easily increased by art. These “caves” play an important part in the history of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 18:4

1 Kings 18:4. When Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord The name of prophets was not only given to such as were endowed with an extraordinary spirit of prophecy, but to such ministers of religion as devoted themselves to the service of God, in preaching, praying, and praising him. There were schools of these prophets, it is likely, still remaining in Israel; but Jezebel endeavoured both to destroy the schools, and those that were brought up in them, in order that none might be left to... 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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