1 Kings 18:16-46

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-16

In these verses we find, I. The sad state of Israel at this time, upon two accounts:? 1. Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord (1 Kgs. 18:4), slew them, 1 Kgs. 18:13. Being an idolater, she was a persecutor, and made Ahab one. Even in those bad times, when the calves were worshipped and the temple at Jerusalem deserted, yet there were some good people that feared God and served him, and some good prophets that instructed them in the knowledge of him and assisted them in their devotions. The... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 18:17-20

We have here the meeting between Ahab and Elijah, as bad a king as ever the world was plagued with and as good a prophet as ever the church was blessed with. 1. Ahab, like himself, basely accused Elijah. He durst not strike him, remembering that Jeroboam's hand withered when it was stretched out against a prophet, but gave him bad language, which was no less an affront to him that sent him. It was a very coarse compliment with which he accosted him at the first word: Art thou he that troubleth... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 18:21-40

Ahab and the people expected that Elijah would, in this solemn assembly, bless the land, and pray for rain; but he had other work to do first. The people must be brought to repent and reform, and then they may look for the removal of the judgment, but not till then. This is the right method. God will first prepare our heart, and then cause his ear to hear, will first turn us to him, and then turn to us, Ps. 10:17; 80:3. Deserters must not look for God's favour till they return to their... read more

Matthew Henry

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 18:16

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him ,.... That Elijah was in such a place, and had desired him to inform him of it, and was ready to appear before him that day wherever he pleased; for upon the prophet's oath Obadiah was entirely satisfied, and was in no fear of delivering the message: and Ahab went to meet Elijah ; though perhaps the bold message of the prophet might make him fear he had something to say to him not very agreeable. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:17

And it came to pass when Ahab saw Elijah ,.... As soon as he came up to him, and knew who he was; Abarbinel thinks, because his hair was grown so long that Ahab did not know him certainly, and therefore put the following question: that Ahab said unto him, art thou he that troubleth Israel ? by opposing the religion of Baal, which prevailed among them; but chiefly rain being withheld from them according to his word, and at his prayer. read more

John Gill

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

And he answered ,.... That is, Elijah, with great boldness and undaunted courage, not fearing the face of the king, being sent to show himself to him in the name of the King of kings: I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house ; they, by their sins, were the cause of all the troubles, those sore evil and sad calamities that were upon them: in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord : to have no other gods before him, and not to make images, and worship... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:19

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel ..... No doubt but more discourse passed between Ahab and Elijah, though not recorded, before he made this motion to him; it is very probable, that after some dispute between them, who was the true God, and about idolatry, as the cause of want of rain, Elijah proposed to the king what he afterwards did to the people, to which he could not object; and being desirous of gratifying his curiosity, and especially of having rain,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:20

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel ,.... By messengers, requiring their attendance at Mount Carmel at such a time, at least their chief and principal men: and gathered the prophets together unto Mount Carmel ; the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, but not the four hundred prophets of the groves; for of them we have no account afterwards, only of the former; it may be they were not at the command of Ahab, only of Jezebel, at whose table they ate, who would not suffer them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:21

And Elijah came unto all the people ,.... Assembled at Mount Carmel: and said, how long halt ye between two opinions ? sometimes inclining to the one, and sometimes to the other: as a lame man in walking, his body moves sometimes to one side, and sometimes to another; or "leap ye upon two branches" F18 פסחים על שתי הסעפים "transilietis super duos ramoe, Malvenda; vos transilientes super ambos ramos", Piscator. , like a bird that leaps or hops from one branch to another, and... read more

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