1 Kings 18:42

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

Israel being thus far reformed that they had acknowledged the Lord to be God, and had consented to the execution of Baal's prophets, that they might not seduce them any more, though this was far short of a thorough reformation, yet it was so far accepted that God thereupon opened the bottles of heaven, and poured out blessings upon his land, that very evening (as it should seem) on which they did this good work, which should have confirmed them in their reformation; see Hag. 2:18, 19. I.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:42

So Ahab went up to eat and to drink ,.... Up to his chariot, as some think, or rather to some place higher than that in which he now was: and Elijah went up to the top of Carmel ; higher still, where he both might be alone, and have the opportunity of observing the clouds gathering, and the rain coming: and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees ; expressive of his humility, and of his earnestness, and vehement desire, and continued importunity, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:42

Put his face between his knees - He kneeled down, and then bowed his head to the earth, so that, while his face was between his knees, his forehead touched the ground. 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 18:41-45

Effectual Fervent Prayer. It is pre-eminently in the matter of prayer that Elijah is proposed to us as an example in the New Testament. From the long list of Hebrew saints and worthies he has been selected by St. James 5:17 , James 5:18 to prove and illustrate the proposition that "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much in its working" ( James 5:16 , Revised Version). His prayers for drought are not mentioned by our historian, but his prayer for rain may not unreasonably be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

The Sound of Rain. The fire has fallen upon the sacrifice of Elijah. The people are convinced, renounce Baal, confess Jehovah supreme, and evince their sincerity by slaying the idolatrous priests. Now there is "a sound of abundance of rain." I. THIS WAS THE SOUND OF SALVATION . 1 . Rain was salvation to the nation . 2 . It was a sign of spiritual blessings . 3 . Revivals have their premonitions . II. THE CONDITIONS HAD BEEN FULFILLED . 1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

The return of blessing. I. ELIJAH 'S ASSURANCE OF GOD 'S MERCY . "There is a sound of abundance of rain," but it was only as yet a sound in the prophet's ear . 1 . The ground of the assurance . 2 . The use he made of it . "He said unto Ahab," and through him to all Israel, "Get thee up," etc. The work of the believer is to comfort God's people, and strengthen their expectation of good. II. HIS PREVAILING WITH GOD . 1 . The assurance of God ' s... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:42

So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top [Heb. head ] of Carmel [It is clear from Verse 43 that this was not the actual summit, nor can it have been, as Bähr supposes, the outermost promontory towards the sea, unless he means the foot or slope of that ridge or promontory, for from this רֹאשׁ the sea was not visible. It also appears from the עֲלֵה of verse 44 that this point must have been at a lower elevation than the plateau where the altar had stood and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 18:42

Ahab could feast; Elijah could not, or would not. Ascending Carmel not quite to the highest elevation 1 Kings 18:43, but to a point, a little below the highest, from where the sea was not visible, he proceeded to pray earnestly for rain, as he had prayed formerly that it might not rain. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 18:42

1 Kings 18:42. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel Where he might pour out his prayers unto God; and whence he might look toward the sea. He had a large prospect of the sea from hence: the sailors at this day call it Cape Carmel. Between his knees That is, bowed his head so low, that it touched his knees; thus abasing himself in the sense of his own meanness, now God had thus honoured him. read more

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