1 Kings 18:36-46

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 18:36

And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice ,.... Which the people of God at Jerusalem were now attending to: that Elijah the prophet came near ; to the altar he had built, and on which he had laid the sacrifice: and said ; in prayer to God: Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; the covenant God of the ancestors of his people, though they had now so fully departed from him: let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel ; and that there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:37

Hear me, O Lord, hear me ;.... Which repetition is made to express his importunity, and the vehement earnest desire of his soul to be heard in such a case, which so much concerned the glory of God; the Targum is, "receive my prayer, O Lord, concerning the fire, receive my prayer concerning the rain;' as if the one respected the sending down the fire on the sacrifice, and the other sending rain on the earth; and which sense is followed by other Jewish writers: that this people may know... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:38

Then the fire of the Lord fell ,.... An extraordinary fire from God out of heaven, as the effects of it show: and consumed the burnt sacrifice ; as it had done in former instances, Leviticus 9:24 , and besides this, which is still more extraordinary, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust ; of the altar, thereby signifying that even such were not to be used any more: and licked up the water that was in the trench ; around the altar, see 1 Kings 18:32 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:39

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces ,.... In reverence of God, astonished at the miracle wrought, ashamed of themselves and their sins, particularly their idolatry, that they should turn their backs on the true God, and follow idols: and they said, the Lord, he is the God, the Lord, he is the God ; which acknowledgment of God, as the true God, in opposition to Baal, is repeated, to show their firm belief and strong assurance of it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:40

And Elijah said unto them, take the prophets of Baal ,.... The four hundred and fifty that were upon the spot; for the number of the people of Israel, now gathered together, were equal to it; nor was it in Ahab's power to hinder it, and he might himself be so far surprised and convicted as not in the least to object to it: let not one of them escape : that there might be none of them left to seduce the people any more: and they took them ; laid hold on them, everyone of them: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41

And Elijah said unto Ahab, get thee up ,.... From the brook and valley where the execution of the prophets had been made; either up to his chariot, or to the tent or pavilion erected on the side of the mount, where the whole scene of things was transacted; eat and drink ; which he had no leisure for all the day, from the time of the morning sacrifice to the evening sacrifice, which was taken up in attending to the issue of the several sacrifices; but now he is bid to eat and refresh... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:42

So Ahab went up to eat and to drink ,.... Up to his chariot, as some think, or rather to some place higher than that in which he now was: and Elijah went up to the top of Carmel ; higher still, where he both might be alone, and have the opportunity of observing the clouds gathering, and the rain coming: and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees ; expressive of his humility, and of his earnestness, and vehement desire, and continued importunity, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:43

And said to his servant ,.... Whom some take to be the son of the widow of Sarepta, but he must be too young to be employed in such service as this was: go up now ; still higher on Mount Carmel; than where he was, even to the highest point of it: look towards the sea : or the west, as the Targum, the Mediterranean sea, which lay to the west of the land of Israel: and he went up and looked, and he said, there is nothing ; there was nothing in the sky, or arising out of the sea,... read more

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