Verse 4
4. A juniper tree “A species of the broom plant, Genista roetam of Forskal. The Hebrew name רתם , rothem, is the same as the present Arabic name. The Vulgate, Luther, English Version, and others, translate it wrongly by juniper. It is the largest and most conspicuous shrub of the deserts of Sinai, growing thickly in the watercourses and valleys. The roots are very bitter, and are regarded by the Arabs as yielding the best charcoal. This illustrates Job 30:4, and Psalms 120:4. Our Arabs always selected the place of encampment, if possible, in a spot where it grew, in order to be sheltered by it at night from the wind; and during the day, when they often went on in advance of the camels, we found them not unfrequently sitting or sleeping under a bush of retem to protect them from the sun.” Robinson.
Requested for himself that he might die Literally, besought his soul to die. See note on 1 Kings 17:22.
It is enough I have lived long enough and seen sorrows enough. From this some infer that Elijah was now advanced in years.
Take away my life “Strange contradiction,” says Kitto. “Here the man who was destined not to taste of death flees from death on the one hand, and seeks it on the other.”
Not better than my fathers With all the Divine power and glory revealed in me, I am still as fallible and weak as they, and deserve to live no longer.
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