1 Kings 19:18

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 19:18

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 19:18

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:9-18

Elijah at Horeb. Elijah went in the strength of the refreshment he had received from the Angel-Jehovah a forty days' journey to Horeb. He was now on holy ground. It was the "mount of God" on which Moses had seen the Angel-Jehovah in the bush, and was within sight of Sinai, memorable for the giving of the law. On Horeb he lodges in a cave, perhaps the very recess from which Moses witnessed the Shechinah (see Exodus 32:22 ), and here becomes the subject of Divine communications and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:9-18

Elijah at Horeb. I. How GOD DEALS WITH THE DESPAIRING . 1 . Elijah ' s mistake . Because Jezebel's enmity remained unsubdued the straggle was at once given over as hopeless; "and he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there." The same mistake is made by those who labour on with unexpectant toil, whose wrestling with God is given up, whose feeble thought and listless tones proclaim their hopelessness: by those who have laid down the work to which God called... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:18

Yet I have left me [So St. Paul, Romans 11:4 , κατέλιπον ; but the LXX . ( καταλείψεις ) and all the versions translate the word as future, as in the margin, 1 will leave, and so the ו conversive seems to require. See Gesen; Gram. § 124-26] seven thousand [not so much a round as a symbolical number—"the ἐκλογή of the godly" (Keil). "The remnant according to the election of grace" ( Romans 11:5 ). It is like the 144,000 and the 12,000 of Revelation 7:4-8 . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:18

" Yet have I left me seven thousand ." There is always a remnant ( Romans 11:4 , Romans 11:5 ). The gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church. God has His secret ones, unknown to men. The number of the elect must be accomplished. ( Revelation 7:4 ). The prophets have been too much given to pessimist views. "God's faithful ones are often his hidden ones" ( Psalms 83:8 ). "Yet in fall'n Israel are there hearts and eyes, That day by day in prayer like thine arise, Thou... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 19:18

Yet I have left me ... - Rather, as in the margin. “Seven thousand” faithful Israelites shall survive all the persecutions of Ahab and Jezebel, and carry down the worship of Yahweh to another generation. Elijah is mistaken in supposing that he only is left. The number is manifestly a “round” number, not an exact estimate. Perhaps it is, moreover, a mystical or symbolic number. Compare Revelation 7:5-8. Of all the symbolic numbers used in Scripture, seven is the most common.Every mouth which... read more

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