1 Kings 18:25-39

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:25

And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal ,.... Who agreed to this proposal, though not expressed; or they signified it by their silence. Ben Gersom thinks they agreed to it, because that, according to their belief, Baal was Mars, and in the sign of Aries, one of the fiery planets, and therefore fancied he could send down fire on their sacrifice; but Abarbinel is of opinion that it was the sun they worshipped, under the name of Baal, the great luminary which presides over the element of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:26

And they took the bullock which was given them ,.... By such of them as made the choice: and they dressed it ; slew it, and cut it in pieces, and laid it on the wood, but put no fire under it: and called on the name of Baal, from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us ; and send fire down on the sacrifice; and if the sun was their Baal, they might hope, as the heat he gradually diffused was at its height at noon, that some flashes of fire would proceed from it to consume... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:27

And it came to pass at noon ,.... When they had been from the time of the morning sacrifice until now invoking their deity to no purpose: that Elijah mocked them ; he jeered and bantered them: and said, cry aloud ; your god does not hear you; perhaps, if you raise your voice higher, he may; for he is a god ; according to your esteem of him, and, if so, he surely may hear you: unless either he is talking ; with others about matters of moment and importance, who are waiting on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:28

And they cried aloud ,.... Trying to make him hear, if possible: and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them ; so the priests of Heathen deities used to slash themselves on their shoulders, arms, and thighs, in their devotions to them, as many writers observe F26 Vid. Kipping. Antiqu. Roman. l. 1. c. 10. p. 202. , fancying their gods were delighted with human blood; particularly the priests of Bellona F1 Tertul Apolog. c.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:29

And it came to pass when midday was past ,.... And nothing done, no fire descended: and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice ; continued praying to Baal, and singing his praises, but all to no purpose; or they behaved like madmen, as the Targum; thus they went on until it was time to offer the evening sacrifice; so that they had no interruption in their service, and had all the time they could desire to have to importune their god to do the favour for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:30

And Elijah said unto all the people, come near unto me ,.... And observe what I do, and what will be done at my request: and all the people came near unto him ; left the prophets of Baal to themselves, and took no more notice of them, but attended to what the prophet should say and do: and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down ; which had been set up when high places and altars were allowed of, while the tabernacle was unsettled, and the temple not built; this is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:31

And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob ,.... Which he might very easily come at from the mountain: unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name , which signifies one that has power with God, as Jacob had, when the word came to him to make a change in his name at Penuel, Genesis 32:28 , and as Elijah hoped and believed he should have at this time, being a prophet, and a worshipper of Israel's God. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:32

And with the stones he built an altar in the same of the Lord ,.... Whom the twelve tribes had formerly worshipped; and though now divided in their civil state, yet ought to be united in the worship of God: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed ; or two seahs, one of which was the third part of an ephah, and two of them were more than half a bushel; and this trench or ditch round the altar was as broad as such a measure of seed would sow. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:33

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood ,.... Just in such manner as sacrifices usually were: and said, fill four barrels with water ; either from the brook Kishon, or, if that was dried up, from the sea; for both were near this mountain, and so to be had, though a time of drought: and pour it on the burnt sacrifice ; that which was intended to be one: and upon the wood : wherewith it was to be burnt, and so made unfit for it; and... read more

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