Matthew Henry

Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood,

“If we, in sincerity, offer our hearts to God, he will, by his grace, kindle a holy fire in them. Elijah was no priest, nor were his attendants Levites.”

At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that…

“Elijah sought not his own glory but in subserviency to God's, and for his own necessary vindication. (2.)”

When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

“Some, we hope, had their hearts thus turned back, but the generality of them were convinced only, not converted, yielded to the truth of God, that he is the God, but consented not to his covenant, that he should be theirs.”

Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.”

“If Jehovah be the true God, Baal is a false God, to whom these Israelites had revolted, and seduced others to the worship of him; and therefore, by the express law of God, they were to be put to death, Deut. xiii.”

Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

“If Ahab had paid the respect to Elijah that he deserved he would have taken him into his chariot, as the eunuch did Philip, that he might honour him before the elders of Israel, and confer with him further about the reformation of the kingdom.”

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

“His heart was set upon them, and he aggravated the slaying of them as Elijah's crime, without taking notice that it was a just reprisal upon Jezebel for killing God's prophets, ch. xviii.”

And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

“Nay, which kept him by his sacrifice when the fire of God fell upon it? He that stood undaunted in the midst of the terrors both of heaven and earth trembles at the impotent menaces of a proud passionate woman.”

while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die.

“He requested for his life (so it is in the margin), that he might die; for death is life to a good man; the death of the body is the life of the soul.”

Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

“He needed not to complain of the unkindness of men when it was thus made up by the ministration of angels. Thus provided for, he had reason to think he had fared better than the prophets of the groves, that did eat at Jezebel's table.”

A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”

“Elijah housed in a cave at Mount Horeb, which is called the mount of God, because on it God had formerly manifested his glory.”

So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

“Thither the Spirit of the Lord led him, probably beyond his own intention, that he might have communion with God in the same place where Moses had, the law that was given by Moses being revived by him.”

After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.

“Faith comes by hearing the word of God; miracles do but make way for it. [3.] Then God spoke to his people with terror; but in the gospel of Christ, which was to be introduced by the spirit and power of Elias, he would speak…”

When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

“"What doest thou here, in this cave? Is this a place for a prophet of the Lord to lodge in? Is this a time for such men to retreat, when the public has such need of them?"”

“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with…

“These separate altars, though breaking in upon the unity of the church, yet, being erected and attended by those that sincerely aimed at the glory of God and served him faithfully, the seeming schism was excused.”

Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

“In times of the greatest degeneracy and apostasy God has always had, and will have, a remnant faithful to him, some that keep their integrity and do not go down the stream. The apostle mentions this answer of God to Elijah ( Rom. xi.”

So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.”

“An invisible hand touched his heart, and unaccountably inclined him by a secret power, without any external persuasions, to quit his husbandry and give himself to the ministry. It is in a day of power that Christ's subjects are made willing ( Ps. cx.”

So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them.

“It was a discouraging time for prophets to set out in. A man that had consulted with flesh and blood would not be fond of Elijah's mantle, nor willing to wear his coat; yet Elisha cheerfully, and with a great deal of satisfaction, leaves all…”

Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.

“What the ground of the quarrel was we are not told; covetousness and ambition were the principle, which would never want some pretence or other.”

Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and your best wives and children…

“"All shall be mine, without exception." 2. Ahab's poor spirit sends Ben-hadad a very disgraceful submission. It is general indeed (he cannot mention particulars in his surrender with so much pleasure as Ben-hadad did in his demand), but it is effectual: I am thine, and…”

And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

“(1.) If he had not by sin provoked God to depart from him, Ben-hadad could not have made such a demand. Sin brings men into such straits, by putting them out of divine protection.”

Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army?

“Behold, and wonder, that God should send a prophet with a kind and gracious message to so wicked a prince as Ahab was; but he did it, (1.)”

So Ahab assembled the young officers of the district governors, and there were 232 men. And after them, he assembled the rest of the Israelite troops, 7,000 in all.

“It is observable that it is the same number with theirs that he not bowed the knee to Baal ( ch. xix. 18 ), though, it is likely, not the same men. The issue was accordingly.”

and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.

“Now where are the silver and gold he demanded of Ahab? Where are the handfuls of Samaria's dust? Those that are most secure are commonly least courageous.”

Afterward, the prophet approached the king of Israel and said, “Go and strengthen your position, and take note what you must do, for in the spring the king of Aram…

“God had decreed the end, but Ahab must use the means, else he tempts God: "Help thyself, strengthen thyself, and God will help and strengthen thee."”

So do this: Dismiss all the kings from their positions and replace them with other officers.

“Let every man be employed in that which he is brought up to and used to, and preferred to that which he is fit for.”