1 Kings 19:11-13

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:11

And he said, Go forth [The LXX . inserts αὔριον , which, however, is destitute of authority, and was probably inserted from Exodus 34:2 , to explain the difficulty which the prophet's apparent disregard of this command creates], and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed, by [Heb. passeth by . Only used here and in Exodus 33:22 ; Exodus 34:6 of the Divine Being. The beatific vision must be transient. An abiding presence, a שֹׁכֵן , was more than... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:11

" Stand … before the Lord ." Only thus can we know ourselves, and self-knowledge must be our first aim. " E caelo descendit, γνῶθι σεαυτόν ." "In thy light shall we see light." We compare ourselves with pigmies when we compare ourselves with others ( 2 Corinthians 10:12 ). It is only in the presence of our Maker that we learn our nothingness and sinfulness. "Now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" ( Job 42:6 , Job 42:6 ). "Beholding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:12

And after the earthquake a fire [For the association of tempest, earthquake, fire, etc; as punishments of God, see Isaiah 29:6 , and Psalms 18:7 , Psalms 18:8 . "Fire" may well signify lightning ( Job 1:16 ; Exodus 9:23 ). For a vivid description era thunderstorm at Sinai, see Stewart's "Tent and Khan, " pp. 139, 140; ap. Stanley, "Jew. Ch.," vol. 1. p. 149]: but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice . [Heb. a voice of gentle silence . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:12

" A still small voice ." The terrors of the Lord awe the soul; His love melts and wins it. What the law could not do, the gospel has done (Rein 1 Kings 8:8 ). Christ draws men unto Him by the sweet attraction of His cross ( John 12:32 ). The lightnings and thunders, the trumpet and the voices of Sinai, do not move the world as do the seven last words of the Crucified. "Not in the wind that parted the Red Sea, or the fire that swept the top of Sinai," was God brought so near to man, "as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:13

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle [Like Moses, Exodus 3:6 .; cf. Exodus 33:20 ; Exodus 34:33 ; 2 Corinthians 3:13 ; Isaiah 6:1 , Isaiah 6:2 . This mantle (see note on 1 Kings 18:46 ) was probably a sheepskin. The LXX . calls it νηλωτή (cf. Hebrews 11:37 ). In Zechariah 13:4 we find that the prophets wore a mantle of hair], and went out, and stood [Same words as in verse 11. It was the still small voice, apparently, that first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:13

" Wrapped his face in his mantle ." He was afraid to look upon God ( Exodus 3:6 ; cf. Genesis 3:10 , "I hid myself"). "Conscience makes cowards of us all." Besides, no man can see His face and live ( Exodus 33:20 ). The beatific vision is too much for our poor mortality, too much for the angelic powers ( Isaiah 6:2 ). It is in mercy that God is veiled from our view. The seeing God as He is belongs to the times of restitution ( Matthew 5:8 ; Hebrews 12:14 ; Revelation 1:7 ; ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 19:11

And behold, the Lord passed by - The remainder of this verse and the whole of the next are placed by the Septuagint, and by the Arabic translator, in the mouth of the Angel. But it seems best to regard the vision as ending with the words “before the Lord” - and the writer as then assuming that this was done, and proceeding to describe what followed. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 19:12

A still small voice - literally, “a sound of soft stillness.” The teaching is a condemnation of that “zeal” which Elijah had gloried in, a zeal exhibiting itself in fierce and terrible vengeances, and an exaltation and recommendation of that mild and gentle temper, which “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” But it was so contrary to the whole character of the stern, harsh, unsparing Tishbite, that it could have found no ready entrance into his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 19:13

Mantle - The upper garment, a sort of short cloak or cape - perhaps made of untanned sheepskin, which was, besides the strip of leather round his loins, the sole apparel of the prophet (compare Matthew 3:4). For the action compare the marginal references.There came a voice unto him ... - The question heard before in vision is now put again to the prophet by the Lord Himself. Elijah gives no humbler and more gentle answer. He is still satisfied with his own statement of his case. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 19:11

1 Kings 19:11. Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord Elijah came hither to meet with God, and God graciously condescended to give him the meeting. And the manner of his manifesting himself seems evidently to refer to the discoveries God formerly made of himself at this place to Moses. Then there was a tempest, an earthquake, and fire, (Hebrews 12:18,) but when God would show Moses his glory, he proclaimed his name before him, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, &c. So... read more

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