1 Kings 17:7-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:1-7

The history of Elijah begins somewhat abruptly. Usually, when a prophet enters, we have some account of his parentage, are told whose son he was and of what tribe; but Elijah drops (so to speak) out of the clouds, as if, like Melchisedek, he were without father, without mother, and without descent, which made some of the Jews fancy that he was an angel sent from heaven; but the apostle has assured us that he was a man subject to like passions as we are (Jas. 5:17), which perhaps intimates, not... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:8-16

We have here an account of the further protection Elijah was taken under, and the further provision made for him in his retirement. At destruction and famine he shall laugh that has God for his friend to guard and maintain him. The brook Cherith is dried up, but God's care of his people, and kindness to them, never slacken, never fail, but are still the same, are still continued and drawn out to those that know him, Ps. 36:10. When the brook was dried up Jordan was not; why did not God send... read more

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 17:7

And it came to pass after a while ,.... Or "at the end of days" F24 מקץ ימים "in, vel a, fine dierum", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; , perhaps a year, which sometimes is the sense of this phrase, see Exodus 13:10 , that the brook dried up ; through the excessive heat, and for want of supplies from the springs and fountains with which it was fed, and for the following reason: because there had been no rain in the land ; from the time Elijah prayed and prophesied; of this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:8

And the word of the Lord came unto him ,.... As before, after he had been a year at the brook, and that was dried up: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:9

Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there ,.... This might be a trial of the prophet's faith, to be sent to dwell in a place belonging to the Zidonians, among whom Jezebel had an interest, being the daughter of their king, 1 Kings 16:31 , the place is so called, to distinguish it from another Zarephath, Obadiah 1:20 , Kimchi interprets it, near to Zidon, yet not as belonging to it, but of the land of Israel; though it rather seems to be a Gentile city; it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:10

So he arose, and went to Zarephath ,.... Which, according to Bunting F6 Ut supra, (Travels, &c.;) p. 203. , was one hundred miles from the brook Cherith: and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering sticks : perhaps out of an hedge just without the city this shows her to be a poor woman, who had no other way of coming at fuel but this, and no servant to fetch it for her: Bunting tells us, that now before the gate of the city there is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:11

And as she was going to fetch it ,.... For she made no difficulty of granting his request, but immediately set out to fetch him some water from the city, or some spring close by, or her own house; being very ready to do an hospitable act to a stranger, and especially to a good man, and a prophet, as she might perceive by his habit he was, as it seems by what follows: and said, bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand ; to eat before he drank; this he said still further to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:12

And she said, as the Lord thy God liveth ,.... Which shows her to be a good woman, swearing by the living God, and him only, and that she took Elijah to be a good man, and a prophet of the Lord: I have not a cake ; greater or less, not a morsel of bread in the house: but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse ; these separate and unmixed, and not made into a cake, and dressed as she intended to do with them: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks ; or a few,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:13

And Elijah said unto her, fear not ,.... That she and her son should die, it would not be the case: go and do as thou hast said : mix her meal and her oil, and make a cake thereof, and bake it: but make thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son : which was not said from a selfish spirit of the prophet, but to try the faith of the woman; and besides, as Abarbinel observes, the prophet was not only hungry and thirsty through his journey,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:1-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 17:8-16

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:13

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