1 Kings 18:45

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 18:45

And it came to pass in the mean while ,.... That the servant was gone with the message to Ahab, and Ahab was getting ready his chariot: that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain ; which all sprung from the cloud like a man's hand; and so we are told F11 Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacra, vol. 3. p. 591. , that sometimes a little cloud called the ox's eye is seen on a mount of the Cape of Good Hope, called Tafesbery, when the sky is most serene, and the sea... 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 18:45

And it came to pass in the meanwhile [Heb. unto thus and unto thus, i.e; till now and then (cf. Exodus 7:16 ; Joshua 17:14 ). Gesen; Bähr, al . support the rendering of the A.V. Ewald, Keil, al . understand "while the hand is being moved hither and thither," i.e; very speedily. The practical difference is not great], that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. ["The cry of the boy from his mountain watch had hardly been uttered when the storm... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 18:45

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 18:45

1 Kings 18:45. The heaven was black with clouds and wind— When rain falls in the eastern countries, it is often preceded by a squall of wind; so the ingenious editor of the Ruins of Palmyra tells us, that they seldom have rain there, except at the equinoxes; that nothing could be more serene than the sky all the time they were there, which was about a fortnight in March, except one afternoon, that there was a small shower, preceded by a whirlwind, which took up such quantities of sand from the... read more

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