29 And it came to pass, when midday H6672 was past, H5674 and they prophesied H5012 until the time of the offering H5927 of the evening sacrifice, H4503 that there was neither voice, H6963 nor any to answer, H6030 nor any that regarded. H7182
And the other H8145 lamb H3532 thou shalt offer H6213 at even, H6153 and shalt do H6213 thereto according to the meat offering H4503 of the morning, H1242 and according to the drink offering H5262 thereof, for a sweet H5207 savour, H7381 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068
And they took H3947 the bullock H6499 which was given H5414 them, and they dressed H6213 it, and called H7121 on the name H8034 of Baal H1168 from morning H1242 even until noon, H6672 saying, H559 O Baal, H1168 hear H6030 us. But there was no H369 voice, H6963 nor any that answered. H6030 And they leaped H6452 upon the altar H4196 which was made. H6213
And it came to pass on the morrow, H4283 that the evil H7451 spirit H7307 from God H430 came H6743 upon Saul, H7586 and he prophesied H5012 in the midst H8432 of the house: H1004 and David H1732 played H5059 with his hand, H3027 as at other times: H3117 and there was a javelin H2595 in Saul's H7586 hand. H3027
And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 and Jehoshaphat H3092 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 sat H3427 each H376 on his throne, H3678 having put on H3847 their robes, H899 in a void place H1637 in the entrance H6607 of the gate H8179 of Samaria; H8111 and all the prophets H5030 prophesied H5012 before H6440 them.
Even the prophet H5030 Jeremiah H3414 said, H559 Amen: H543 the LORD H3068 do H6213 so: the LORD H3068 perform H6965 thy words H1697 which thou hast prophesied, H5012 to bring again H7725 the vessels H3627 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 and all that is carried away captive, H1473 from Babylon H894 into this place. H4725 Nevertheless hear H8085 thou now this word H1697 that I speak H1696 in thine ears, H241 and in the ears H241 of all the people; H5971 The prophets H5030 that have been before H6440 me and before H6440 thee of old H5769 prophesied H5012 both against many H7227 countries, H776 and against great H1419 kingdoms, H4467 of war, H4421 and of evil, H7451 and of pestilence. H1698 The prophet H5030 which prophesieth H5012 of peace, H7965 when the word H1697 of the prophet H5030 shall come to pass, H935 then H227 shall the prophet H5030 be known, H3045 that the LORD H3068 hath truly H571 sent H7971 him.
And G1161 it came to pass, G1096 as we G2257 went G4198 to G1519 prayer, G4335 a certain G5100 damsel G3814 possessed G2192 with a spirit G4151 of divination G4436 met G528 us, G2254 which G3748 brought G3930 her G846 masters G2962 much G4183 gain G2039 by soothsaying: G3132 The same G3778 followed G2628 Paul G3972 and G2532 us, G2254 and cried, G2896 saying, G3004 These G3778 men G444 are G1526 the servants G1401 of the most high G5310 God, G2316 which G3748 shew G2605 unto us G2254 the way G3598 of salvation. G4991
Every G3956 man G435 praying G4336 or G2228 prophesying, G4395 having G2192 his head G2776 covered, G2596 dishonoureth G2617 his G846 head. G2776 But G1161 every G3956 woman G1135 that prayeth G4336 or G2228 prophesieth G4395 with her head G2776 uncovered G177 dishonoureth G2617 her G1438 head: G2776 for G1063 that is G2076 even G2532 all one G1520 as if G846 she were shaven. G3587
Howbeit G235 then, G5119 G3303 when ye knew G1492 not G3756 God, G2316 ye did service G1398 unto them which by nature G5449 are G5607 no G3361 gods. G2316
G3739 Now G1161 as G5158 Jannes G2389 and G2532 Jambres G2387 withstood G436 Moses, G3475 so G3779 do G436 these G3778 also G2532 resist G436 the truth: G225 men G444 of corrupt G2704 minds, G3563 reprobate G96 concerning G4012 the faith. G4102 But G235 they shall proceed G4298 no G3756 further: G1909 G4119 for G1063 their G846 folly G454 shall be G2071 manifest G1552 unto all G3956 men, as G5613 theirs G1565 also G2532 was. G1096
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.