1.
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
how he had slain: or, all about how he had slain.
all. Some codices, with Septuagint, omit this word "all".
2.
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
to me. These words in italics are read in some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Compare 1 Kings 20:10 .
3.
And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
he arose. Some codices, with Aramaean Manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "And he feared and arose".
servant = young man.
4.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
himself = his soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
5.
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6.
And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
cake. cruse. Elijah miraculously fed three times. See notes on 1 Kings 17:4 , 1 Kings 17:6 .
7.
And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8.
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
forty. The number of Probation. See App-10 .
Horeb. About 180 miles.
9.
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
lodged = passed the night.
What. ? Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ), as though He did not know.
10.
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
the LORD God of hosts. First occurrence of this title. See App-4 = Jehovah Elohim zeb'aoth. It occurs in 2 Samuel 5:10 , but in narrative, not address. "The LORD ( Jehovah ) God ( Elohim ) of hosts" occurs only here in Kings and Chronicles. Often in Psalms ( 1Ki 59:6 ; 1Ki 69:6 ; 1Ki 80:4 , 1Ki 80:19 ; 1Ki 84:8 ; 1Ki 89:8 ). In Isaiah 10:23 , Isaiah 10:24 ; Isaiah 22:5 , Isaiah 22:12 , Isaiah 22:14 , Isaiah 22:15 ; Isaiah 28:22 .Jeremiah 2:19 ; Jeremiah 5:14 ; Jeremiah 15:16 ; Jeremiah 35:17 ; Jeremiah 49:5 ; Jeremiah 50:25 , Jeremiah 50:31 .Hosea 12:5 .Amos 5:15 . After the return from captivity "LORD of hosts" occurs fourteen times in Haggai; about fifty in Zechariah; and twenty-five in Malachi. But "LORD God of hosts" is not found in those books.
children = sons.
thrown, &c. Quoted in Romans 11:2 , Romans 11:3 .
altars. There were lay altars (local) for customary individual offerings by laymen, as well as at Jerusalem. These had no horns.
I. I. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 .
11.
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
Go forth. Septuagint adds "to-morrow".
wind. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
12.
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
a still small voice = the sound of stillness. Compare Job 4:16 . Septuagint = a gentle breeze, usually misquoted "the still", &c.
13.
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
wrapped: as Moses at the bush (Exodus 3:6 ).
said. Some codices, with Syriac, add "unto him". Compare 1 Kings 19:9 .
14.
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15.
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
on thy way = to thy way: i.e. out of which he had deviated.
anoint: i.e. cause to be anointed. Compare 2 Kings 9:1-7 .
16.
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
son of Nimshi. Son put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for grandson or descendant (2 Kings 9:2 ).
Elisha = El = my GOD [is] salvation.
17.
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
the sword. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for judgments inflicted by it. Compare 2 Kings 9 and 2 Kings 10 . The first prophecy given to Elijah.
Elisha slay: i.e. declare should be slain. Hebrew idiom. See Jeremiah 1:10 . Hosea 6:5 .
18.
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
I have left, &c. Romans 11:4 .
bowed. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct),
kissed . for worshipping. Compare Hos 3:12 .
kissed him. Hebrew kissed to him. Compare Job 31:26 , Job 31:27 .
19.
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
twelve: seven separate ploughs following each other. Often seen to-day.
mantle. Compare Zechariah 13:4 .
20.
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
what have I done. ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), or "what is the meaning of what I did? "
21.
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
instruments = implements. Compare 2 Samuel 24:22 .