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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17-24

We have here a further recompence made to the widow for her kindness to the prophet; as if it were a small thing to be kept alive, her son, when dead, is restored to life, and so restored to her. Observe, I. The sickness and death of the child. For aught that appears he was her only son, the comfort of her widowed estate. He was fed miraculously, and yet that did not secure him from sickness and death. Your fathers did eat manna, and are dead, but there is bread of which a man may eat and not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17

And it came to pass after these things ,.... Not only after the conversation that passed between the prophet, and the widow, but after they had lived together many days, a year or years, upon the miraculous provision made for them: that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick ; that is, the son of the widow woman in whose house the prophet dwelt; the Jews say F8 Pirke Eliezer, c. 33. this woman was the mother of Jonah, and that he was this son of her's: and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 17:17

There was no breath left in him - He ceased to breathe and died. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:7-24

Second Preparation of Elijah. Elijah passed through his second phase of preparation under the humble roof of the widow of Sarepta. He is in the right attitude for gaining a holy preparedness for his work, for he has placed himself absolutely and directly under the guidance of God. When the word of God comes to him, he is ready to arise and go whithersoever it bids. Thus was Christ "led of the Spirit" to commence His public ministry ( Matthew 4:1 ); and throughout His whole course He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17

And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. [Does this mean that he was dead? Keil thinks it perfectly clear that it does. Bähr is as firmly persuaded that it does not. He justly remarks (3) Daniel 10:18 , Daniel 10:20 do not necessitate the belief that he was dead (see below). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17-18

The Reproaches of Death. In 1 Kings 17:15 we read that the widow and her household did eat of the multiplied meal " days " ( ימים ), a term which is by some Hebraists understood, when used without qualification, to denote a year . So the phrase with which the text opens, "And it came to pass after these things," imports that the miracle of raising the widow's son occurred "after" Elijah had been one year in her house. The "things" to which this miracle succeeded were the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17-24

Life from the Dead. The miracles wrought by Elijah or associated with his name were for the most part of the nacre of severe judgments, and present the person of the lowly prophet in a stern and terrible light before us. But the two miracles that mark the opening of his career were miracles of mercy, and show that there was another side to his character, one that was tenderly sympathetic and humane. Having at first brought hope and a new lease of life to the starving mother and her child,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 17:17-24

Affliction and its Fruits. I. THE DISCIPLINE OF TRIAL . 1 . It is no proof of God's anger . Sorrow darkens the homes of God's beloved. This was a home of faith and ministering love. Affliction is no more proof of wrath than is the farmer's ploughing of his field. To him, with his eye upon the future harvest, it is only the needful preparation of the soil. And the great Husbandman, with His eye upon the eternal glory, must open up a bed within the soul's depths for the seed... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 17:17

No breath - Or, “no spirit,” “no soul.” (Compare Genesis 2:7). The word used is translated “spirit” in Proverbs 20:27; Ecclesiastes 3:21; Job 26:4; and elsewhere. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 17:17

1 Kings 17:17. There was no breath left in him No soul or life, as the Hebrew word here used properly signifies. For, says Buxtorf, “The Hebrews by נשׁמה , neshama, understand the rational and immortal soul, whence they are wont to swear by it: and he quotes Aben Ezra as an authority for rendering the word, anima, sed humana tantum; the soul, but only the human. The expression, however, here only means that he died, as is manifest from the following verses. This was a terrible and... read more

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