Westminster Leningrad Codex with Strong’s numbers

1 וַיְהִיH1961 יָמִיםH3117 רַבִּיםH7227 וּדְבַרH1697 יְהוָהH3068 הָיָהH1961 אֶלH413 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 בַּשָּׁנָהH8141 הַשְּׁלִישִׁיתH7992 לֵאמֹרH559 לֵךְH1980 הֵרָאֵהH7200 אֶלH413 אַחְאָבH256 וְאֶתְּנָהH5414 מָטָרH4306 עַלH5921 פְּנֵיH6440 הָאֲדָמָֽהH127

2 וַיֵּלֶךְH1980 אֵֽלִיָּהוּH452 לְהֵרָאוֹתH7200 אֶלH413 אַחְאָבH256 וְהָרָעָבH7458 חָזָקH2389 בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹןH8111

3 וַיִּקְרָאH7121 אַחְאָבH256 אֶלH413 עֹבַדְיָהוּH5662 אֲשֶׁרH834 עַלH5921 הַבָּיִתH1004 וְעֹבַדְיָהוּH5662 הָיָהH1961 יָרֵאH3373 אֶתH853 יְהוָהH3068 מְאֹֽדH3966

4 וַיְהִיH1961 בְּהַכְרִיתH3772 אִיזֶבֶלH348 אֵתH853 נְבִיאֵיH5030 יְהוָהH3068 וַיִּקַּחH3947 עֹבַדְיָהוּH5662 מֵאָהH3967 נְבִאִיםH5030 וַֽיַּחְבִּיאֵםH2244 חֲמִשִּׁיםH2572 אִישׁH376 בַּמְּעָרָהH4631 וְכִלְכְּלָםH3557 לֶחֶםH3899 וָמָֽיִםH4325

5 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אַחְאָבH256 אֶלH413 עֹבַדְיָהוּH5662 לֵךְH1980 בָּאָרֶץH776 אֶלH413 כָּלH3605 מַעְיְנֵיH4599 הַמַּיִםH4325 וְאֶלH413 כָּלH3605 הַנְּחָלִיםH5158 אוּלַיH194 נִמְצָאH4672 חָצִירH2682 וּנְחַיֶּהH2421 סוּסH5483 וָפֶרֶדH6505 וְלוֹאH3808 נַכְרִיתH3772 מֵהַבְּהֵמָֽהH929

6 וַֽיְחַלְּקוּH2505 לָהֶםH1992 אֶתH853 הָאָרֶץH776 לַֽעֲבָרH5674 בָּהּH0 אַחְאָבH256 הָלַךְH1980 בְּדֶרֶךְH1870 אֶחָדH259 לְבַדּוֹH905 וְעֹֽבַדְיָהוּH5662 הָלַךְH1980 בְּדֶרֶךְH1870 אֶחָדH259 לְבַדּֽוֹH905

7 וַיְהִיH1961 עֹבַדְיָהוּH5662 בַּדֶּרֶךְH1870 וְהִנֵּהH2009 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 לִקְרָאתוֹH7125 וַיַּכִּרֵהוּH5234 וַיִּפֹּלH5307 עַלH5921 פָּנָיוH6440 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 הַאַתָּהH859 זֶהH2088 אֲדֹנִיH113 אֵלִיָּֽהוּH452

8 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 לוֹH0 אָנִיH589 לֵךְH1980 אֱמֹרH559 לַאדֹנֶיךָH113 הִנֵּהH2009 אֵלִיָּֽהוּH452

9 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 מֶהH4100 חָטָאתִיH2398 כִּֽיH3588 אַתָּהH859 נֹתֵןH5414 אֶֽתH853 עַבְדְּךָH5650 בְּיַדH3027 אַחְאָבH256 לַהֲמִיתֵֽנִיH4191

10 חַיH2416 יְהוָהH3068 אֱלֹהֶיךָH430 אִםH518 יֶשׁH3426 גּוֹיH1471 וּמַמְלָכָהH4467 אֲשֶׁרH834 לֹֽאH3808 שָׁלַחH7971 אֲדֹנִיH113 שָׁםH8033 לְבַקֶּשְׁךָH1245 וְאָמְרוּH559 אָיִןH369 וְהִשְׁבִּיעַH7650 אֶתH853 הַמַּמְלָכָהH4467 וְאֶתH853 הַגּוֹיH1471 כִּיH3588 לֹאH3808 יִמְצָאֶֽכָּהH4672

11 וְעַתָּהH6258 אַתָּהH859 אֹמֵרH559 לֵךְH1980 אֱמֹרH559 לַאדֹנֶיךָH113 הִנֵּהH2009 אֵלִיָּֽהוּH452

12 וְהָיָהH1961 אֲנִיH589 אֵלֵךְH1980 מֵאִתָּךְH853 וְרוּחַH7307 יְהוָהH3068 יִֽשָּׂאֲךָH5375 עַלH5921 אֲשֶׁרH834 לֹֽאH3808 אֵדָעH3045 וּבָאתִיH935 לְהַגִּידH5046 לְאַחְאָבH256 וְלֹאH3808 יִֽמְצָאֲךָH4672 וַהֲרָגָנִיH2026 וְעַבְדְּךָH5650 יָרֵאH3372 אֶתH853 יְהוָהH3068 מִנְּעֻרָֽיH5271

13 הֲלֹֽאH3808 הֻגַּדH5046 לַֽאדֹנִיH113 אֵתH853 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשִׂיתִיH6213 בַּהֲרֹגH2026 אִיזֶבֶלH348 אֵתH853 נְבִיאֵיH5030 יְהוָהH3068 וָאַחְבִּאH2244 מִנְּבִיאֵיH5030 יְהוָהH3068 מֵאָהH3967 אִישׁH376 חֲמִשִּׁיםH2572 חֲמִשִּׁיםH2572 אִישׁH376 בַּמְּעָרָהH4631 וָאֲכַלְכְּלֵםH3557 לֶחֶםH3899 וָמָֽיִםH4325

14 וְעַתָּהH6258 אַתָּהH859 אֹמֵרH559 לֵךְH1980 אֱמֹרH559 לַֽאדֹנֶיךָH113 הִנֵּהH2009 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 וַהֲרָגָֽנִיH2026

15 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֵֽלִיָּהוּH452 חַיH2416 יְהוָהH3068 צְבָאוֹתH6635 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָמַדְתִּיH5975 לְפָנָיוH6440 כִּיH3588 הַיּוֹםH3117 אֵרָאֶהH7200 אֵלָֽיוH413

16 וַיֵּלֶךְH1980 עֹבַדְיָהוּH5662 לִקְרַאתH7125 אַחְאָבH256 וַיַּגֶּדH5046 לוֹH0 וַיֵּלֶךְH1980 אַחְאָבH256 לִקְרַאתH7125 אֵלִיָּֽהוּH452

17 וַיְהִיH1961 כִּרְאוֹתH7200 אַחְאָבH256 אֶתH853 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אַחְאָבH256 אֵלָיוH413 הַאַתָּהH859 זֶהH2088 עֹכֵרH5916 יִשְׂרָאֵֽלH3478

18 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 לֹאH3808 עָכַרְתִּיH5916 אֶתH853 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 כִּיH3588 אִםH518 אַתָּהH859 וּבֵיתH1004 אָבִיךָH1 בַּֽעֲזָבְכֶםH5800 אֶתH853 מִצְוֺתH4687 יְהוָהH3068 וַתֵּלֶךְH1980 אַחֲרֵיH310 הַבְּעָלִֽיםH1168

19 וְעַתָּהH6258 שְׁלַחH7971 קְבֹץH6908 אֵלַיH413 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 אֶלH413 הַרH2022 הַכַּרְמֶלH3760 וְאֶתH853 נְבִיאֵיH5030 הַבַּעַלH1168 אַרְבַּעH702 מֵאוֹתH3967 וַחֲמִשִּׁיםH2572 וּנְבִיאֵיH5030 הָֽאֲשֵׁרָהH842 אַרְבַּעH702 מֵאוֹתH3967 אֹכְלֵיH398 שֻׁלְחַןH7979 אִיזָֽבֶלH348

20 וַיִּשְׁלַחH7971 אַחְאָבH256 בְּכָלH3605 בְּנֵיH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 וַיִּקְבֹּץH6908 אֶתH853 הַנְּבִיאִיםH5030 אֶלH413 הַרH2022 הַכַּרְמֶֽלH3760

21 וַיִּגַּשׁH5066 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 אֶלH413 כָּלH3605 הָעָםH5971 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 עַדH5704 מָתַיH4970 אַתֶּםH859 פֹּסְחִיםH6452 עַלH5921 שְׁתֵּיH8147 הַסְּעִפִּיםH5587 אִםH518 יְהוָהH3068 הָֽאֱלֹהִיםH430 לְכוּH1980 אַחֲרָיוH310 וְאִםH518 הַבַּעַלH1168 לְכוּH1980 אַחֲרָיוH310 וְלֹֽאH3808 עָנוּH6030 הָעָםH5971 אֹתוֹH853 דָּבָֽרH1697

22 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 אֶלH413 הָעָםH5971 אֲנִיH589 נוֹתַרְתִּיH3498 נָבִיאH5030 לַיהוָהH3068 לְבַדִּיH905 וּנְבִיאֵיH5030 הַבַּעַלH1168 אַרְבַּעH702 מֵאוֹתH3967 וַחֲמִשִּׁיםH2572 אִֽישׁH376

23 וְיִתְּנוּH5414 לָנוּH0 שְׁנַיִםH8147 פָּרִיםH6499 וְיִבְחֲרוּH977 לָהֶםH1992 הַפָּרH6499 הָאֶחָדH259 וִֽינַתְּחֻהוּH5408 וְיָשִׂימוּH7760 עַלH5921 הָעֵצִיםH6086 וְאֵשׁH784 לֹאH3808 יָשִׂימוּH7760 וַאֲנִיH589 אֶעֱשֶׂהH6213 אֶתH853 הַפָּרH6499 הָאֶחָדH259 וְנָֽתַתִּיH5414 עַלH5921 הָעֵצִיםH6086 וְאֵשׁH784 לֹאH3808 אָשִֽׂיםH7760

24 וּקְרָאתֶםH7121 בְּשֵׁםH8034 אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶםH430 וַֽאֲנִיH589 אֶקְרָאH7121 בְשֵׁםH8034 יְהוָהH3068 וְהָיָהH1961 הָאֱלֹהִיםH430 אֲשֶׁרH834 יַעֲנֶהH6030 בָאֵשׁH784 הוּאH1931 הָאֱלֹהִיםH430 וַיַּעַןH6030 כָּלH3605 הָעָםH5971 וַיֹּאמְרוּH559 טוֹבH2896 הַדָּבָֽרH1697

25 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 לִנְבִיאֵיH5030 הַבַּעַלH1168 בַּחֲרוּH977 לָכֶםH0 הַפָּרH6499 הָֽאֶחָדH259 וַעֲשׂוּH6213 רִאשֹׁנָהH7223 כִּיH3588 אַתֶּםH859 הָרַבִּיםH7227 וְקִרְאוּH7121 בְּשֵׁםH8034 אֱלֹהֵיכֶםH430 וְאֵשׁH784 לֹאH3808 תָשִֽׂימוּH7760

26 וַיִּקְחוּH3947 אֶתH853 הַפָּרH6499 אֲשֶׁרH834 נָתַןH5414 לָהֶםH0 וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּH6213 וַיִּקְרְאוּH7121 בְשֵׁםH8034 הַבַּעַלH1168 מֵהַבֹּקֶרH1242 וְעַדH5704 הַצָּהֳרַיִםH6672 לֵאמֹרH559 הַבַּעַלH1168 עֲנֵנוּH6030 וְאֵיןH369 קוֹלH6963 וְאֵיןH369 עֹנֶהH6030 וַֽיְפַסְּחוּH6452 עַלH5921 הַמִּזְבֵּחַH4196 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָֽׂהH6213

27 וַיְהִיH1961 בַֽצָּהֳרַיִםH6672 וַיְהַתֵּלH2048 בָּהֶםH0 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 קִרְאוּH7121 בְקוֹלH6963 גָּדוֹלH1419 כִּֽיH3588 אֱלֹהִיםH430 הוּאH1931 כִּיH3588 שִׂיחַH7879 וְכִֽיH3588 שִׂיגH7873 לוֹH0 וְכִֽיH3588 דֶרֶךְH1870 לוֹH0 אוּלַיH194 יָשֵׁןH3463 הוּאH1931 וְיִקָֽץH3364

28 וַֽיִּקְרְאוּH7121 בְּקוֹלH6963 גָּדוֹלH1419 וַיִּתְגֹּֽדְדוּH1413 כְּמִשְׁפָּטָםH4941 בַּחֲרָבוֹתH2719 וּבָֽרְמָחִיםH7420 עַדH5704 שְׁפָךְH8210 דָּםH1818 עֲלֵיהֶֽםH5921

29 וַֽיְהִיH1961 כַּעֲבֹרH5674 הַֽצָּהֳרַיִםH6672 וַיִּֽתְנַבְּאוּH5012 עַדH5704 לַעֲלוֹתH5927 הַמִּנְחָהH4503 וְאֵֽיןH369 קוֹלH6963 וְאֵיןH369 עֹנֶהH6030 וְאֵיןH369 קָֽשֶׁבH7182

30 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 לְכָלH3605 הָעָםH5971 גְּשׁוּH5066 אֵלַיH413 וַיִּגְּשׁוּH5066 כָלH3605 הָעָםH5971 אֵלָיוH413 וַיְרַפֵּאH7495 אֶתH853 מִזְבַּחH4196 יְהוָהH3068 הֶהָרֽוּסH2040

31 וַיִּקַּחH3947 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 שְׁתֵּיםH8147 עֶשְׂרֵהH6240 אֲבָנִיםH68 כְּמִסְפַּרH4557 שִׁבְטֵיH7626 בְנֵֽיH1121 יַעֲקֹבH3290 אֲשֶׁרH834 הָיָהH1961 דְבַרH1697 יְהוָהH3068 אֵלָיוH413 לֵאמֹרH559 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 יִהְיֶהH1961 שְׁמֶֽךָH8034

32 וַיִּבְנֶהH1129 אֶתH854 הָאֲבָנִיםH68 מִזְבֵּחַH4196 בְּשֵׁםH8034 יְהוָהH3068 וַיַּעַשׂH6213 תְּעָלָהH8585 כְּבֵיתH1004 סָאתַיִםH5429 זֶרַעH2233 סָבִיבH5439 לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַH4196

33 וַֽיַּעֲרֹךְH6186 אֶתH853 הָֽעֵצִיםH6086 וַיְנַתַּחH5408 אֶתH853 הַפָּרH6499 וַיָּשֶׂםH7760 עַלH5921 הָעֵצִֽיםH6086

34 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 מִלְאוּH4390 אַרְבָּעָהH702 כַדִּיםH3537 מַיִםH4325 וְיִֽצְקוּH3332 עַלH5921 הָעֹלָהH5930 וְעַלH5921 הָעֵצִיםH6086 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 שְׁנוּH8138 וַיִּשְׁנוּH8138 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 שַׁלֵּשׁוּH8027 וַיְשַׁלֵּֽשׁוּH8027

35 וַיֵּלְכוּH1980 הַמַּיִםH4325 סָבִיבH5439 לַמִּזְבֵּחַH4196 וְגַםH1571 אֶתH853 הַתְּעָלָהH8585 מִלֵּאH4390 מָֽיִםH4325

36 וַיְהִיH1961 בַּעֲלוֹתH5927 הַמִּנְחָהH4503 וַיִּגַּשׁH5066 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 הַנָּבִיאH5030 וַיֹּאמַרH559 יְהוָהH3068 אֱלֹהֵיH430 אַבְרָהָםH85 יִצְחָקH3327 וְיִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 הַיּוֹםH3117 יִוָּדַעH3045 כִּֽיH3588 אַתָּהH859 אֱלֹהִיםH430 בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 וַאֲנִיH589 עַבְדֶּךָH5650 ובדבריךH1697 וּבִדְבָרְךָH1697 עָשִׂיתִיH6213 אֵתH853 כָּלH3605 הַדְּבָרִיםH1697 הָאֵֽלֶּהH428

37 עֲנֵנִיH6030 יְהוָהH3068 עֲנֵנִיH6030 וְיֵֽדְעוּH3045 הָעָםH5971 הַזֶּהH2088 כִּֽיH3588 אַתָּהH859 יְהוָהH3068 הָאֱלֹהִיםH430 וְאַתָּהH859 הֲסִבֹּתָH5437 אֶתH853 לִבָּםH3820 אֲחֹרַנִּֽיתH322

38 וַתִּפֹּלH5307 אֵשׁH784 יְהוָהH3068 וַתֹּאכַלH398 אֶתH853 הָֽעֹלָהH5930 וְאֶתH853 הָעֵצִיםH6086 וְאֶתH853 הָאֲבָנִיםH68 וְאֶתH853 הֶעָפָרH6083 וְאֶתH853 הַמַּיִםH4325 אֲשֶׁרH834 בַּתְּעָלָהH8585 לִחֵֽכָהH3897

39 וַיַּרְאH7200 כָּלH3605 הָעָםH5971 וַֽיִּפְּלוּH5307 עַלH5921 פְּנֵיהֶםH6440 וַיֹּאמְרוּH559 יְהוָהH3068 הוּאH1931 הָאֱלֹהִיםH430 יְהוָהH3068 הוּאH1931 הָאֱלֹהִֽיםH430

40 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 לָהֶםH0 תִּפְשׂוּH8610 אֶתH853 נְבִיאֵיH5030 הַבַּעַלH1168 אִישׁH376 אַלH408 יִמָּלֵטH4422 מֵהֶםH1992 וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂוּםH8610 וַיּוֹרִדֵםH3381 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 אֶלH413 נַחַלH5158 קִישׁוֹןH7028 וַיִּשְׁחָטֵםH7819 שָֽׁםH8033

41 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 לְאַחְאָבH256 עֲלֵהH5927 אֱכֹלH398 וּשְׁתֵהH8354 כִּיH3588 קוֹלH6963 הֲמוֹןH1995 הַגָּֽשֶׁםH1653

42 וַיַּעֲלֶהH5927 אַחְאָבH256 לֶאֱכֹלH398 וְלִשְׁתּוֹתH8354 וְאֵלִיָּהוּH452 עָלָהH5927 אֶלH413 רֹאשׁH7218 הַכַּרְמֶלH3760 וַיִּגְהַרH1457 אַרְצָהH776 וַיָּשֶׂםH7760 פָּנָיוH6440 בֵּיןH996 ברכוH1290 בִּרְכָּֽיוH1290

43 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֶֽלH413 נַעֲרוֹH5288 עֲלֵֽהH5927 נָאH4994 הַבֵּטH5027 דֶּֽרֶךְH1870 יָםH3220 וַיַּעַלH5927 וַיַּבֵּטH5027 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֵיןH369 מְאוּמָהH3972 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 שֻׁבH7725 שֶׁבַעH7651 פְּעָמִֽיםH6471

44 וַֽיְהִיH1961 בַּשְּׁבִעִיתH7637 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 הִנֵּהH2009 עָבH5645 קְטַנָּהH6996 כְּכַףH3709 אִישׁH376 עֹלָהH5927 מִיָּםH3220 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 עֲלֵהH5927 אֱמֹרH559 אֶלH413 אַחְאָבH256 אֱסֹרH631 וָרֵדH3381 וְלֹאH3808 יַעַצָרְכָהH6113 הַגָּֽשֶׁםH1653

45 וַיְהִיH1961 עַדH5704 כֹּהH3541 וְעַדH5704 כֹּהH3541 וְהַשָּׁמַיִםH8064 הִֽתְקַדְּרוּH6937 עָבִיםH5645 וְרוּחַH7307 וַיְהִיH1961 גֶּשֶׁםH1653 גָּדוֹלH1419 וַיִּרְכַּבH7392 אַחְאָבH256 וַיֵּלֶךְH1980 יִזְרְעֶֽאלָהH3157

46 וְיַדH3027 יְהוָהH3068 הָֽיְתָהH1961 אֶלH413 אֵלִיָּהוּH452 וַיְשַׁנֵּסH8151 מָתְנָיוH4975 וַיָּרָץH7323 לִפְנֵיH6440 אַחְאָבH256 עַדH5704 בֹּאֲכָהH935 יִזְרְעֶֽאלָהH3157

Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary
 1   ELIJAH MEETS OBADIAH. (1Ki. 18:1-16)
the third year--In the New Testament, it is said there was no rain "for the space of three years and six months" [Jas 5:17]. The early rain fell in our March, the latter rain in our October. Though Ahab might have at first ridiculed Elijah's announcement, yet when neither of these rains fell in their season, he was incensed against the prophet as the cause of the national judgment, and compelled him, with God's direction, to consult his safety in flight. This was six months after the king was told there would be neither dew nor rain, and from this period the three years in this passage are computed.
Go, show thyself unto Ahab--The king had remained obdurate and impenitent. Another opportunity was to be given him of repentance, and Elijah was sent in order to declare to him the cause of the national judgment, and to promise him, on condition of his removing it, the immediate blessing of rain.

 2   Elijah went--a marvellous proof of the natural intrepidity of this prophet, of his moral courage, and his unfaltering confidence in the protecting care of God, that he ventured to approach the presence of the raging lion.
there was a sore famine in Samaria--Elijah found that the famine was pressing with intense severity in the capital. Corn must have been obtained for the people from Egypt or the adjoining countries, else life could not have been sustained for three years; but Ahab, with the chamberlain of his royal household, is represented as giving a personal search for pasture to his cattle. On the banks of the rivulets, grass, tender shoots of grass, might naturally be expected; but the water being dried up, the verdure would disappear. In the pastoral districts of the East it would be reckoned a most suitable occupation still for a king or chief to go at the head of such an expedition. Ranging over a large tract of country, Ahab had gone through one district, Obadiah through another.

 3   Obadiah feared the Lord greatly--Although he did not follow the course taken by the Levites and the majority of pious Israelites at that time of emigration into Judah (2Chr 11:13-16), he was a secret and sincere worshipper. He probably considered the violent character of the government, and his power of doing some good to the persecuted people of God as a sufficient excuse for his not going to worship in Jerusalem.

 4   an hundred prophets--not men endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the prophetic office, but who were devoted to the service of God, preaching, praying, praising, &c. (1Sam 10:10-12).
fed them with bread and water--These articles are often used to include sustenance of any kind. As this succor must have been given them at the hazard, not only of his place, but his life, it was a strong proof of his attachment to the true religion.

 7   Obadiah was in the way . . . Elijah met him--Deeming it imprudent to rush without previous intimation into Ahab's presence, the prophet solicited Obadiah to announce his return to Ahab. The commission, with a delicate allusion to the perils he had already encountered in securing others of God's servants, was, in very touching terms, declined, as unkind and peculiarly hazardous. But Elijah having dispelled all the apprehensions entertained about the Spirit's carrying him away, Obadiah undertook to convey the prophet's message to Ahab and solicit an interview. But Ahab, bent on revenge, or impatient for the appearance of rain, went himself to meet Elijah.

 17   Art thou he that troubleth Israel--A violent altercation took place. Ahab thought to awe him into submission, but the prophet boldly and undisguisedly told the king that the national calamity was traceable chiefly to his own and his family's patronage and practice of idolatry. But, while rebuking the sins, Elijah paid all due respect to the high rank of the offender. He urged the king to convene, by virtue of his royal mandate, a public assembly, in whose presence it might be solemnly decided which was the troubler of Israel. The appeal could not well be resisted, and Ahab, from whatever motives, consented to the proposal. God directed and overruled the issue.

 19   gather . . . the prophets of Baal . . . the prophets of the groves--From the sequel it appears that the former only came. The latter, anticipating some evil, evaded the king's command.
which eat at Jezebel's table--that is, not at the royal table where she herself dined, but they were maintained from her kitchen establishment (see on 1Sam 20:25 and 1Kgs 4:22). They were the priests of Astarte, the Zidonian goddess.

 20   mount Carmel--is a bold, bluff promontory, which extends from the western coast of Palestine, at the bay of Acre, for many miles eastward, to the central hills of Samaria. It is a long range, presenting many summits, and intersected by a number of small ravines. The spot where the contest took place is situated at the eastern extremity, which is also the highest point of the whole ridge. It is called El-Mohhraka, "the Burning," or "the Burnt Place." No spot could have been better adapted for the thousands of Israel to have stood drawn up on those gentle slopes. The rock shoots up in an almost perpendicular wall of more than two hundred feet in height, on the side of the vale of Esdraelon. This wall made it visible over the whole plain, and from all the surrounding heights, where gazing multitudes would be stationed.

 21   Elijah said unto all the people, How long halt ye?--They had long been attempting to conjoin the service of God with that of Baal. It was an impracticable union and the people were so struck with a sense of their own folly, or dread of the king's displeasure, that they "answered not a word." Elijah proposed to decide for them the controversy between God and Baal by an appeal, not to the authority of the law, for that would have no weight, but by a visible token from Heaven. As fire was the element over which Baal was supposed to preside, Elijah proposed that two bullocks should be slain and placed on separate altars of wood, the one for Baal, and the other for God. On whichever the fire should descend to consume it, the event should determine the true God, whom it was their duty to serve. The proposal, appearing every way reasonable, was received by the people with unanimous approval. The priests of Baal commenced the ceremony by calling on their god. In vain did they continue invoking their senseless deity from morning till noon, and from noon till evening, uttering the most piercing cries, using the most frantic gesticulations, and mingling their blood with the sacrifice. No response was heard. No fire descended. Elijah exposed their folly and imposture with the severest irony and, as the day was far advanced, commenced his operations. Inviting the people to approach and see the entire proceeding, he first repaired an old altar of God, which Jezebel had demolished. Then, having arranged the cut pieces of the bullock, he caused four barrels or jars of water to be dashed all over the altar and round in the trench. Once, twice, a third time this precaution was taken, and then, when he had offered an earnest prayer, the miraculous fire descended (Lev 9:24; Judg 6:21; Judg 13:20; 1Chr 21:26; 2Chr 7:1), and consumed not only the sacrifice, but the very stones of the altar. The impression on the minds of the people was that of admiration mingled with awe; and with one voice they acknowledged the supremacy of Jehovah as the true God. Taking advantage of their excited feelings, Elijah called on them to seize the priestly impostors, and by their blood fill the channel of the river (Kishon), which, in consequence of their idolatries, the drought had dried up--a direction, which, severe and relentless as it seems, it was his duty as God's minister to give (Deut 15:5; Deut 18:20). The natural features of the mount exactly correspond with the details of this narrative. The conspicuous summit, 1635 feet above the sea, on which the altars were placed, presents an esplanade spacious enough for the king and the priests of Baal to stand on the one side, and Elijah on the other. It is a rocky soil, on which there is abundance of loose stones, to furnish the twelve stones of which the altar was built--a bed of thick earth, in which a trench could be dug; and yet the earth not so loose that the water poured into it would be absorbed; two hundred fifty feet beneath the altar plateau, there is a perennial fountain, which, being close to the altar of the Lord, might not have been accessible to the people; and whence, therefore, even in that season of severe drought, Elijah could procure those copious supplies of water which he poured over the altar. The distance between this spring and the site of the altar is so short, as to make it perfectly possible to go thrice thither and back again, whereas it would have been impossible once in an afternoon to fetch water from the sea [VAN DE VELDE]. The summit is one thousand feet above the Kishon, which nowhere runs from the sea so close to the base of the mount as just beneath El-Mohhraka; so that the priests of Baal could, in a few minutes, be taken down to the brook (torrent), and slain there.

 42   ELIJAH, BY PRAYER, OBTAINS RAIN. (1Kgs 18:41-46)
Ahab went up to eat and to drink--Ahab, kept in painful excitement by the agonizing scene, had eaten nothing all the day. He was recommended to refresh himself without a moment's delay; and, while the king was thus occupied, the prophet, far from taking rest, was absorbed in prayer for the fulfilment of the promise (1Kgs 18:1).
put his face between his knees--a posture of earnest supplication still used.

 43   Go up now, look toward the sea--From the place of worship there is a small eminence, which, on the west and northwest side, intercepts the view of the sea [STANLEY; VAN DE VELDE]. It can be ascended in a few minutes, and presents a wide prospect of the Mediterranean. Six times the servant went up, but the sky was clear--the sea tranquil. On the seventh he described the sign of approaching rain [1Kgs 18:44].

 44   Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand--The clearness of the sky renders the smallest speck distinctly visible; and this is in Palestine the uniform precursor of rain. It rises higher and higher, and becomes larger and larger with astonishing celerity, till the whole heaven is black, and the cloud bursts in a deluge of rain.
Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not--either by the river Kishon being suddenly so swollen as to be impassable, or from the deep layer of dust in the arid plain being turned into thick mud, so as to impede the wheels.

 45   Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel--now Zerin, a distance of about ten miles. This race was performed in the midst of a tempest of rain. But all rejoiced at it, as diffusing a sudden refreshment over all the land of Jezreel.

 46   Elijah . . . girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab--It was anciently, and still is in some countries of the East, customary for kings and nobles to have runners before their chariots, who are tightly girt for the purpose. The prophet, like the Bedouins of his native Gilead, had been trained to run; and, as the Lord was with him, he continued with unabated agility and strength. It was, in the circumstances, a most proper service for Elijah to render. It tended to strengthen the favorable impression made on the heart of Ahab and furnished an answer to the cavils of Jezebel for it showed that he who was so zealous in the service of God, was, at the same time, devotedly loyal to his king. The result of this solemn and decisive contest was a heavy blow and great discouragement to the cause of idolatry. But subsequent events seem to prove that the impressions, though deep, were but partial and temporary.