16 And Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Nimshi H5250 shalt thou anoint H4886 to be king H4428 over Israel: H3478 and Elisha H477 the son H1121 of Shaphat H8202 of Abelmeholah H65 shalt thou anoint H4886 to be prophet H5030 in thy room.
So he departed H3212 thence, and found H4672 Elisha H477 the son H1121 of Shaphat, H8202 who was plowing H2790 with twelve H8147 H6240 yoke H6776 of oxen before H6440 him, and he with the twelfth: H8147 H6240 and Elijah H452 passed H5674 by him, and cast H7993 his mantle H155 upon him. And he left H5800 the oxen, H1241 and ran H7323 after H310 Elijah, H452 and said, H559 Let me, I pray thee, kiss H5401 my father H1 and my mother, H517 and then I will follow H3212 H310 thee. And he said H559 unto him, Go back H3212 again: H7725 for what have I done H6213 to thee? And he returned back H7725 from him, H310 and took H3947 a yoke H6776 of oxen, H1241 and slew H2076 them, and boiled H1310 their flesh H1320 with the instruments H3627 of the oxen, H1241 and gave H5414 unto the people, H5971 and they did eat. H398 Then he arose, H6965 and went H3212 after H310 Elijah, H452 and ministered H8334 unto him.
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, H5674 that Elijah H452 said H559 unto Elisha, H477 Ask H7592 what I shall do H6213 for thee, before I be taken away H3947 from thee. And Elisha H477 said, H559 I pray thee, let a double H8147 portion H6310 of thy spirit H7307 be upon me.
And the three H7969 hundred H3967 blew H8628 the trumpets, H7782 and the LORD H3068 set H7760 every man's H376 sword H2719 against his fellow, H7453 even throughout all the host: H4264 and the host H4264 fled H5127 to Bethshittah H1029 in Zererath, H6888 and to the border H8193 of Abelmeholah, H65 unto Tabbath. H2888
Baana H1195 the son H1121 of Ahilud; H286 to him pertained Taanach H8590 and Megiddo, H4023 and all Bethshean, H1052 which is by H681 Zartanah H6891 beneath Jezreel, H3157 from Bethshean H1052 to Abelmeholah, H65 even unto the place that is beyond H5676 Jokneam: H3361
And Elisha H477 the prophet H5030 called H7121 one H259 of the children H1121 of the prophets, H5030 and said H559 unto him, Gird up H2296 thy loins, H4975 and take H3947 this box H6378 of oil H8081 in thine hand, H3027 and go H3212 to Ramothgilead: H7433 H1568 And when thou comest H935 thither, look out H7200 there Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Jehoshaphat H3092 the son H1121 of Nimshi, H5250 and go in, H935 and make him arise up H6965 from among H8432 his brethren, H251 and carry H935 him to an inner H2315 chamber; H2315 Then take H3947 the box H6378 of oil, H8081 and pour H3332 it on his head, H7218 and say, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 I have anointed H4886 thee king H4428 over Israel. H3478 Then open H6605 the door, H1817 and flee, H5127 and tarry H2442 not. So the young man, H5288 even the young man H5288 the prophet, H5030 went H3212 to Ramothgilead. H7433 H1568 And when he came, H935 behold, the captains H8269 of the host H2428 were sitting; H3427 and he said, H559 I have an errand H1697 to thee, O captain. H8269 And Jehu H3058 said, H559 Unto which of all us? And he said, H559 To thee, O captain. H8269 And he arose, H6965 and went H935 into the house; H1004 and he poured H3332 the oil H8081 on his head, H7218 and said H559 unto him, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 I have anointed H4886 thee king H4428 over the people H5971 of the LORD, H3068 even over Israel. H3478 And thou shalt smite H5221 the house H1004 of Ahab H256 thy master, H113 that I may avenge H5358 the blood H1818 of my servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 and the blood H1818 of all the servants H5650 of the LORD, H3068 at the hand H3027 of Jezebel. H348 For the whole house H1004 of Ahab H256 shall perish: H6 and I will cut off H3772 from Ahab H256 him that pisseth H8366 against the wall, H7023 and him that is shut up H6113 and left H5800 in Israel: H3478 And I will make H5414 the house H1004 of Ahab H256 like the house H1004 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 and like the house H1004 of Baasha H1201 the son H1121 of Ahijah: H281 And the dogs H3611 shall eat H398 Jezebel H348 in the portion H2506 of Jezreel, H3157 and there shall be none to bury H6912 her. And he opened H6605 the door, H1817 and fled. H5127 Then Jehu H3058 came forth H3318 to the servants H5650 of his lord: H113 and one said H559 unto him, Is all well? H7965 wherefore came H935 this mad H7696 fellow to thee? And he said H559 unto them, Ye know H3045 the man, H376 and his communication. H7879 And they said, H559 It is false; H8267 tell H5046 us now. And he said, H559 Thus and thus spake H559 he to me, saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 I have anointed H4886 thee king H4428 over Israel. H3478 Then they hasted, H4116 and took H3947 every man H376 his garment, H899 and put H7760 it under him on the top H1634 of the stairs, H4609 and blew H8628 with trumpets, H7782 saying, H559 Jehu H3058 is king. H4427 So Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Jehoshaphat H3092 the son H1121 of Nimshi H5250 conspired H7194 against Joram. H3141 (Now Joram H3141 had kept H8104 Ramothgilead, H7433 H1568 he and all Israel, H3478 because H6440 of Hazael H2371 king H4428 of Syria. H758
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Kings 19
Commentary on 1 Kings 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
1Ki 19:1-3. Elijah Flees to Beer-sheba.
3. he arose, and went for his life—He entered Jezreel full of hope. But a message from the incensed and hard-hearted queen, vowing speedy vengeance for her slaughtered priests, dispelled all his bright visions of the future. It is probable, however, that in the present temper of the people, even she would not have dared to lay violent hands on the Lord's servant, and purposely threatened him because she could do no more. The threat produced the intended effect, for his faith suddenly failed him. He fled out of the kingdom into the southernmost part of the territories in Judah; nor did he deem himself safe even there, but, dismissing his servant, he resolved to seek refuge among the mountain recesses of Sinai, and there longed for death (Jas 5:17). This sudden and extraordinary depression of mind arose from too great confidence inspired by the miracles wrought at Carmel, and by the disposition the people evinced there. Had he remained steadfast and immovable, the impression on the mind of Ahab and the people generally might have been followed by good results. But he had been exalted above measure (2Co 12:7-9), and being left to himself, the great prophet, instead of showing the indomitable spirit of a martyr, fled from his post of duty.
1Ki 19:4-18. He Is Comforted by an Angel.
4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness—on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb—a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his wants, enabled him, in a better but not wholly right frame of mind, by virtue of that supernatural supply, to complete his contemplated journey. In the solitude of Sinai, God appeared to instruct him. "What doest thou here, Elijah?" was a searching question addressed to one who had been called to so arduous and urgent a mission as his. By an awful exhibition of divine power, he was made aware of the divine speaker who addressed him; his attention was arrested, his petulance was silenced, his heart was touched, and he was bid without delay return to the land of Israel, and prosecute the Lord's work there. To convince him that an idolatrous nation will not be unpunished, He commissions him to anoint three persons who were destined in Providence to avenge God's controversy with the people of Israel. Anointing is used synonymously with appointment (Jud 9:8), and is applied to all named, although Jehu alone had the consecrated oil poured over his head. They were all three destined to be eminent instruments in achieving the destruction of idolaters, though in different ways. But of the three commissions, Elijah personally executed only one; namely, the call of Elisha to be his assistant and successor [1Ki 19:19], and by him the other two were accomplished (2Ki 8:7-13; 9:1-10). Having thus satisfied the fiery zeal of the erring but sincere and pious prophet, the Lord proceeded to correct the erroneous impression under which Elijah had been laboring, of his being the sole adherent of the true religion in the land; for God, who seeth in secret, and knew all that were His, knew that there were seven thousand persons who had not done homage (literally, "kissed the hand") to Baal.
16. Abel-meholah—that is, "the meadow of dancing," in the valley of the Jordan.
1Ki 19:19-21. Elisha Follows Elijah.
19. Elisha the son of Shaphat—Most probably he belonged to a family distinguished for piety, and for their opposition to the prevailing calf-worship.
ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen—indicating that he was a man of substance.
Elijah … cast his mantle upon him—This was an investiture with the prophetic office. It is in this way that the Brahmins, the Persian Sufis, and other priestly or sacred characters in the East are appointed—a mantle being, by some eminent priest, thrown across their shoulders. Elisha had probably been educated in the schools of the prophets.
20. what have I done to thee?—that is, Go, but keep in mind the solemn ceremony I have just performed on thee. It is not I, but God, who calls thee. Do not allow any earthly affection to detain you from obeying His call.
21. took a yoke of oxen—Having hastily prepared (2Sa 24:22) a farewell entertainment to his family and friends, he left his native place and attached himself to Elijah as his minister.