15 And Elijah H452 said, H559 As the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 liveth, H2416 before H6440 whom I stand, H5975 I will surely shew H7200 myself unto him to day. H3117
And Elijah H452 the Tishbite, H8664 who was of the inhabitants H8453 of Gilead, H1568 said H559 unto Ahab, H256 As the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 liveth, H2416 before H6440 whom I stand, H5975 there shall not be dew H2919 nor rain H4306 these years, H8141 but according H6310 to my word. H1697
As the LORD H3068 thy God H430 liveth, H2416 there is no H3426 nation H1471 or kingdom, H4467 whither H834 my lord H113 hath not sent H7971 to seek H1245 thee: and when they said, H559 He is not there; he took an oath H7650 of the kingdom H4467 and nation, H1471 that they found H4672 thee not.
But Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 which standeth H5975 before H6440 thee, he shall go in H935 thither: encourage H2388 him: for he shall cause Israel H3478 to inherit H5157 it.
And lest thou lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 unto heaven, H8064 and when thou seest H7200 the sun, H8121 and the moon, H3394 and the stars, H3556 even all the host H6635 of heaven, H8064 shouldest be driven H5080 to worship H7812 them, and serve H5647 them, which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath divided H2505 unto all nations H5971 under the whole heaven. H8064
Who is this King H4428 of glory? H3519 The LORD H3068 strong H5808 and mighty, H1368 the LORD H3068 mighty H1368 in battle. H4421 Lift up H5375 your heads, H7218 O ye gates; H8179 even lift them up, H5375 ye everlasting H5769 doors; H6607 and the King H4428 of glory H3519 shall come in. H935 Who is this King H4428 of glory? H3519 The LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 he is the King H4428 of glory. H3519 Selah. H5542
And one cried H7121 unto another, and said, H559 Holy, H6918 holy, H6918 holy, H6918 is the LORD H3068 of hosts: H6635 the whole earth H776 is full H4393 of his glory. H3519
Hearken H8085 unto me, ye that know H3045 righteousness, H6664 the people H5971 in whose heart H3820 is my law; H8451 fear H3372 ye not the reproach H2781 of men, H582 neither be ye afraid H2865 of their revilings. H1421 For the moth H6211 shall eat them up H398 like a garment, H899 and the worm H5580 shall eat H398 them like wool: H6785 but my righteousness H6666 shall be for ever, H5769 and my salvation H3444 from generation H1755 to generation. H1755
And they shall spread H7849 them before the sun, H8121 and the moon, H3394 and all the host H6635 of heaven, H8064 whom they have loved, H157 and whom they have served, H5647 and after H310 whom they have walked, H1980 and whom they have sought, H1875 and whom they have worshipped: H7812 they shall not be gathered, H622 nor be buried; H6912 they shall be for dung H1828 upon the face H6440 of the earth. H127
And G2532 the angel G32 answering G611 said G2036 unto him, G846 I G1473 am G1510 Gabriel, G1043 that stand G3936 in the presence G1799 of God; G2316 and G2532 am sent G649 to speak G2980 unto G4314 thee, G4571 and G2532 to shew G2097 thee G4671 these G5023 glad tidings. G2097
And G2532 suddenly G1810 there was G1096 with G4862 the angel G32 a multitude G4128 of the heavenly G3770 host G4756 praising G134 God, G2316 and G2532 saying, G3004 Glory G1391 to God G2316 in G1722 the highest, G5310 and G2532 on G1909 earth G1093 peace, G1515 good will G2107 toward G1722 men. G444
For G1063 men G444 verily G3303 swear G3660 by G2596 the greater: G3187 and G2532 an oath G3727 for G1519 confirmation G951 is to them G846 an end G4009 of all G3956 strife. G485 Wherein G1722 G3739 God, G2316 willing G1014 more abundantly G4054 to shew G1925 unto the heirs G2818 of promise G1860 the immutability G276 of his G846 counsel, G1012 confirmed G3315 it by an oath: G3727
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 18
Commentary on 1 Kings 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
We left the prophet Elijah wrapt up in obscurity. It does not appear that either the increase of the provision or the raising of the child had caused him to be taken notice of at Zarephath, for then Ahab would have discovered him; he would rather do good than be known to do it. But in this chapter his appearance was as public as before his retirement was close; the days appointed for his concealment (which was part of the judgment upon Israel) being finished, he is now commanded to show himself to Ahab, and to expect rain upon the earth (v. 1). Pursuant to this order we have here,
It is a chapter in which are many things very observable.
1Ki 18:1-16
In these verses we find,
1Ki 18:17-20
We have here the meeting between Ahab and Elijah, as bad a king as ever the world was plagued with and as good a prophet as ever the church was blessed with.
1Ki 18:21-40
Ahab and the people expected that Elijah would, in this solemn assembly, bless the land, and pray for rain; but he had other work to do first. The people must be brought to repent and reform, and then they may look for the removal of the judgment, but not till then. This is the right method. God will first prepare our heart, and then cause his ear to hear, will first turn us to him, and then turn to us, Ps. 10:17; 80:3. Deserters must not look for God's favour till they return to their allegiance. Elijah might have looked for rain seventy times seven times, and not have seen it, if he had not thus begun his work at the right end. Three years and a half's famine would not bring them back to God. Elijah would endeavour to convince their judgments, and no doubt it was by special warrant and direction from heaven that he put the controversy between God and Baal upon a public trial. It was great condescension in God that he would suffer so plain a case to be disputed, and would permit Baal to be a competitor with him; but thus God would have every mouth to be stopped and all flesh to become silent before him. God's cause is so incontestably just that it needs not fear to have the evidences of its equity searched into and weighed.
1Ki 18:41-46
Israel being thus far reformed that they had acknowledged the Lord to be God, and had consented to the execution of Baal's prophets, that they might not seduce them any more, though this was far short of a thorough reformation, yet it was so far accepted that God thereupon opened the bottles of heaven, and poured out blessings upon his land, that very evening (as it should seem) on which they did this good work, which should have confirmed them in their reformation; see Hag. 2:18, 19.