1 Kings 18:30-35

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 18:30

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:34

And he said, do it the second time, and they did it the second time ,.... That is, poured four barrels of water more upon the wood: and he said, do it the third time, and they did it the third time ; so that there were in all twelve barrels of water poured on the wood, agreeably to the number of the twelve stones the altar was built with, and may have respect to the same as they. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:35

And the water ran round about the altar ,.... There being such a large effusion of it on it; and he filled the trench also with water ; which surrounded the altar, so that it seemed impracticable that any fire should kindle upon it; and this gave full proof and demonstration there could be no collusion in this matter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:30

He repaired the altar of the Lord - There had been an altar of Jehovah in that place, called, even among the heathens, the altar of Carmel, probably built in the time of the judges, or, as the rabbins imagine, by Saul. Tacitus and Suetonius mention an altar on Mount Carmel, which Vespasian went to consult; there was no temple nor statue, but simply an altar that was respectable for its antiquity. " Est Judaeam inter Syriamque Carmelus; ita vocant montem Deumque: nec simulachrum... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:31

Took twelve stones - He did this to show that all the twelve tribes of Israel should be joined in the worship of Jehovah. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:32

He made a trench - This was to detain the water that might fall down from the altar when the barrels should be poured upon it, 1 Kings 18:35 . read more

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