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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 19:1-8

One would have expected, after such a public and sensible manifestation of the glory of God and such a clear decision of the controversy depending between him and Baal, to the honour of Elijah, the confusion of Baal's prophets, and the universal satisfaction of the people?after they had seen both fire and water come from heaven at the prayer of Elijah, and both in mercy to them, the one as it signified the acceptance of their offering, the other as it refreshed their inheritance, which was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 19:3

And when he saw that ,.... That her design and resolution were to take away his life; the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions read, "and he was afraid"; or frightened; he that had such courage as not to be afraid to meet Ahab, and contend with four hundred and fifty priests of Baal, and in the face of all Israel, who at first were not inclined to take his part, is now terrified at the threats of a single woman; which shows that the spirit and courage he had before were of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 19:3

He arose , and went for his life - He saw it was best to give place to this storm, and go to a place of safety. He probably thought that the miracle at Carmel would have been the means of effecting the conversion of the whole court and of the country, but, finding himself mistaken, he is greatly discouraged. To Beer-sheba - This being at the most southern extremity of the promised land, and under the jurisdiction of the king of Judah, he might suppose himself in a place of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:1-8

Elijah's Prayer for Death. How erratic have been the movements of this prophet! Our first introduction to him is at the court of Ahab, whence, as soon as he utters his prophecy, he is away to Cherith in the east, among the wilds of Gilead. Next we find him in the north, at Zarephath of Zidon. Then he meets Obadiah, probably in the plain of Esdraelon, whence he passes over to Carmel in the west. From Carmel he runs before Ahab's horses to the entrance of Jezreel. The next day finds him on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:1-8

The Prophet's Despair. I. ELIJAH 'S WEAKNESS . 1 . His disappointment . With the hand of the Lord upon him he had come to Jezreel ( 1 Kings 18:46 ). Was it not because a further success for God awaited him there? Could Carmel's wonders and the mercy of God in the rain now flooding the earth be resisted? Jezebel's message, displaying only determined and increased hostility, rudely dispels the dream. The blighting of the long-expected fruit of prayer and waiting and mightiest... 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 19:3

And when he saw that [Heb. and he saw and arose, etc. But the LXX . has καὶ ἐφοβήθη , and the Vulgate timuit, and it is to be observed that this meaning, " and he feared, " can be extracted from this word וירא without any change of radicals, for the full form יִירָא is occasionally abbreviated into יִרָא ; see 1 Samuel 18:12 ; 1 Samuel 21:13 ; 2 Kings 17:28 . A few MSS . have here וייּרא and it certainly suits the context better. Bähr, who interprets, "he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:3

" He arose and went for his life ." Elijah, the intrepid apostle of Carmel, who had met the king without fear and faced the four hundred Baal prophets, and stood alone contra mundum, is seized with panic fear. The champion of the morning becomes the coward of the evening. We may well exclaim here, Quantum mutatus ab illo! well ask, "Lord, what is man?" Some have called man a demigod; have seen in him "the peer of the angels." "What a piece of work," says Hamlet, "is man! how noble in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 19:3

The rapid movement of the original is very striking. “And he saw (or, “feared,” as some read), and he rose, and he went, etc.” The fear and flight of Elijah are very remarkable. Jezebel’s threat alone, had not, in all probability, produced the extraordinary change but, partly, physical reaction from the over-excitement of the preceding day; and, partly, internal disquietude and doubt as to the wisdom of the course which he had adopted.Beer-sheba is about 95 miles from Jezreel, on the very... read more

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