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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 18:44

And it came to pass at the seventh time that he said, behold there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand ,.... Either about the size or in the form of it; rain water comes out of the sea, and, being strained through the clouds and air, becomes fresh: and he said, go up : the meaning seems to be, that he should first go down from the mount, and then go up to that part of it where Ahab was: say unto Ahab, prepare thy chariot ; bind or fasten the horses to it, as the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:44

There ariseth a little cloud out of the sea , like a man ' s hand . - איש ככף kechaph ish , like the hollow of a man's hand. In the form of the hand bent, the concave side downmost. I have witnessed a resemblance of this kind at sea previously to a violent storm, a little cloud the size of a man's hand first appearing, and this increasing in size and density every moment, till at last it covered the whole heavens, and then burst forth with incredible fury. Mr.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-46

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. Elijah is now prepared for his work. He who had sent him into the desert now commands him to enter into open conflict with idolatry. God makes His will known to him in two ways. I. BY AN INWARD IMPULSE . II. THROUGH HIS MEETING WITH THE YOUNG OBADIAH , the protector of the prophets, and the faithful servant of God in the midst of the impure court of Ahab. Let it be ours to seek such a twofold assurance of the will of God. Let... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-45

Effectual Fervent Prayer. It is pre-eminently in the matter of prayer that Elijah is proposed to us as an example in the New Testament. From the long list of Hebrew saints and worthies he has been selected by St. James 5:17 , James 5:18 to prove and illustrate the proposition that "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much in its working" ( James 5:16 , Revised Version). His prayers for drought are not mentioned by our historian, but his prayer for rain may not unreasonably be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

The Sound of Rain. The fire has fallen upon the sacrifice of Elijah. The people are convinced, renounce Baal, confess Jehovah supreme, and evince their sincerity by slaying the idolatrous priests. Now there is "a sound of abundance of rain." I. THIS WAS THE SOUND OF SALVATION . 1 . Rain was salvation to the nation . 2 . It was a sign of spiritual blessings . 3 . Revivals have their premonitions . II. THE CONDITIONS HAD BEEN FULFILLED . 1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

The return of blessing. I. ELIJAH 'S ASSURANCE OF GOD 'S MERCY . "There is a sound of abundance of rain," but it was only as yet a sound in the prophet's ear . 1 . The ground of the assurance . 2 . The use he made of it . "He said unto Ahab," and through him to all Israel, "Get thee up," etc. The work of the believer is to comfort God's people, and strengthen their expectation of good. II. HIS PREVAILING WITH GOD . 1 . The assurance of God ' s... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:44

And it came to pus at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. [ כַף lit; palm, hollow of hand. Cf. Luke 12:54 , "When ye see the cloud (Gr. τὴν νεφέλην ) arise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is." "Still in autumn the Utile cloud comes up like a man's hand and swells till huge thunder pillars are piled black and high above the mountains" (Condor). But it is not in Palestine alone... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 18:44

Elijah's Prayer for Rain. The wonders which accompanied the ministry of Elijah were not meaningless prodigies. Those who question the wisdom of miracles should remember that the condition of those for whom they were intended rendered them necessary. Sensuous men must learn through their senses, and worshippers of material force must be met by physical displays of power. We do not try to instruct a child by an essay, or to convince a savage by a syllogism. God could speak directly to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 18:44

A little cloud ... - Sailors know full well that such a cloud on the far horizon is often the forerunner of a violent storm. read more

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