John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:10
So he arose, and went to Zarephath ,.... Which, according to Bunting F6 Ut supra, (Travels, &c.;) p. 203. , was one hundred miles from the brook Cherith: and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering sticks : perhaps out of an hedge just without the city this shows her to be a poor woman, who had no other way of coming at fuel but this, and no servant to fetch it for her: Bunting tells us, that now before the gate of the city there is... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 17:9
Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there ,.... This might be a trial of the prophet's faith, to be sent to dwell in a place belonging to the Zidonians, among whom Jezebel had an interest, being the daughter of their king, 1 Kings 16:31 , the place is so called, to distinguish it from another Zarephath, Obadiah 1:20 , Kimchi interprets it, near to Zidon, yet not as belonging to it, but of the land of Israel; though it rather seems to be a Gentile city; it is... read more