1 Kings 19:15-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 19:9-18

Here is, I. Elijah housed in a cave at Mount Horeb, which is called the mount of God, because on it God had formerly manifested his glory. And perhaps this was the same cave, or cleft of a rock, in which Moses was hidden when the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed his name, Exod. 33:22. What Elijah proposed to himself in coming to lodge here, I cannot conceive, unless it was to indulge his melancholy, or to satisfy his curiosity and assist his faith and devotion with the sight of that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 19:15

And the Lord said unto him, go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus ,.... He is bid to go back the way he came, through the wilderness of Arabia, which was part of his way to Damascus, near to which was another wilderness, which took its name from thence; though Fortunatus Schacchus F24 Elaeochrism. Myrothec. l. 1. c. 39. col. 198. thinks no other is meant by this phrase than returning to his former course and custom of preach the law of God, and reclaiming men from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 19:16

And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel ,.... This was a son of Jehoshaphat, and a grandson of Nimshi; nor does he appear to have been anointed by Elijah, but by Elisha; and being done by his order and direction was the same as if it was done by himself, unless he was twice anointed, see 2 Kings 9:1 . and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room ; which was in the half tribe of Manasseh, on this side Jordan; See... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 19:17

And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay ,.... Which suggests that many should be slain in Israel by them both, as were by Hazael, 2 Kings 10:32 and by Jehu, 2 Kings 9:24 , and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay ; which may be understood either literally of the forty two children cursed by him, in consequence of which they were destroyed by bears, 2 Kings 2:24 or rather figuratively by his prophecies, see Hosea... read more

John Gill

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

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel ,.... From perishing by the sword of either of them: all the knees which have not bowed to Baal ; that is, had not worshipped him, which was signified by this gesture: and every mouth which hath not kissed him ; either the image of Baal itself, or the hand, in reverence of him; which rites, one or other, or both, were used by his worshippers; See Gill on Hosea 13:2 . This either refers, as some think, to the present time, and so is an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 19:15

To the wilderness of Damascus - He does not desire him to take a road by which he might be likely to meet Jezebel, or any other of his enemies. Anoint Hazael - For what reason the Lord was about to make all these revolutions, we are told in 1 Kings 19:17 . God was about to bring his judgments upon the land, and especially on the house of Ahab. This he exterminated by means of Jehu; and Jehu himself was a scourge of the Lord to the people. Hazael also grievously afflicted... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 19:16

Elisha - shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room - Jarchi gives a strange turn to these words: "Thy prophecy (or execution of the prophetic office) does not please me, because thou art the constant accuser of my children." With all their abominations, this rabbin would have us to believe that those vile idolaters and murderers were still the beloved children of God! And why? Because God had made a covenant with their fathers; therefore said the ancient as well as the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 19:17

Shall Elisha slay - We do not find that Elisha either used the sword, or commissioned it to be used, though he delivered solemn prophecies against this disobedient people: and this is probably the sense in which this should be understood, as Elisha was prophet before Hazael was king, and Hazael was king before Jehu; and the heavy famine which he brought on the land took place before the reign either of Jehu or Hazael. The meaning of the prophecy may be this: Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 19:18

Seven thousand in Israel - That is, many thousands; for seven is a number of perfection, as we have often seen: so, The barren has borne seven - has had a numerous off-spring; Gold seven times purified - purified till all the dross is perfectly separated from it. The court and multitudes of the people had gone after Baal; but perhaps the majority of the common people still worshipped in secret the God of their fathers. Every mouth which hath not kissed him - Idolaters... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:1-18

The Desponding Prophet. A marvellous change has come over Elijah. It is difficult to imagine a more complete contrast than is presented by his moral attitude in this and the previous chapters. He who just before has so boldly confronted the proud king, and defied the priests of Baal, standing without fear before his flaming altar, and sternly carrying out the judgment of God on the corrupters of His people, is now filled with dismay, and flies from the post of duty and of danger. So... read more

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