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and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little "water in a vessel, that I may drink." 11. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, "Bring me, I pray "thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." 12. And she said, "As the LORD thy "God liveth, I have not a cake, but an "handful of meal in a barrel, and a little « oil in a cruse: and behold, I am gather"ing two sticks, that I may go in, and "dress it for me and my son, that we "may eat it, and die." 13. And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not; go, and do as "thou hast said: but make me thereof a "little cake first, and bring it unto me, ❝ and after make for thee, and for thy 14. For thus saith the LORD God ❝ of Israel, "The barrel of meal shall not "waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, "until the day that the LORD sendeth rain "upon the earth." 15. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah : and she, and he, and her house did eat many days. 16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. 17. And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left in him. 18. And she said unto Elijah, "What "have I to do with thee, O thou man of "God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my 19. And he said unto her, "Give me thy son." And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20. And he cried unto the LORD, and said, "O LORD my God, hast "thou also brought evil upon the widow "with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son ?" 21. And he stretched himself

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the child three times, and cried unto upon the LORD, and said, "O LORD my God, "I pray thee, let this child's soul come

(d) v. 1. "Third year," i. e. " of drought:" at Elijah's prayer God had withheld the rain for three years. See ante, xvii. note on v. I.

(e) v. 2. "Famine," in consequence of the drought.

"into him again." 22. And the L heard the voice of Elijah; and the so the child came into him again, a revived. 23. And Elijah took the i, and brought him down out of the chan into the house, and delivered him unto mother and Elijah said, "See, thr "liveth." 24. And the woman said? Elijah, "Now by this I know that a "art a man of God, and that the wat "the LORD in thy mouth is truth."

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CHAP. XVIII.

AND it came to pass after many

that the word of the LORD Came Elijah in the third (d) year, saying, b "shew thyself unto Ahab; and Ir "send rain upon the earth." Elijah went to shew himself unto A And there was a sore famine (e) in Sanca 3. And Ahab called Obadiah, which the governor of his house. (Now O feared the LORD greatly: 4. For so, when Jezebel (f) cut off the prop of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hu prophets, and hid them by fifty in a c and fed them with bread and v 5. And Ahab said unto Obadiah, "into the land, unto all fountains "water, and unto all brooks: peradi

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we may find grass to save the ho "mules alive: that we lose not ag "beasts." 6. So they divided between them to pass through: went one way by himself, and went another way by himself. Obadiah was in the way, behold E him and he knew him, and fell face, and said, "Art thou that "Elijah?" 8. And he answered "I am go tell thy lord, Behold, " is here." 9. And he said, "What a "I sinned, that thou wouldest delive "servant into the hand of Ahab me? 10. As the LORD thy God in "there is no nation or kingdom, my lord hath not sent to seek thee:

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"when they said, He is not there; he took "an oath of the kingdom and nation, that "they found thee not. 11. And now thou "sayest, "Go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah " is here. 12. And it shall come to pass,

as soon as I am gone from thee, that the "spirit of the LORD shall carry thee "whither I know not; and so when I "come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find "thee, he shall slay me : but I thy servant "fear the LORD from my youth. 13. Was "it not told my lord, what I did when "Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD? "how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S "prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them "with bread and water? 14. And now thou "sayest, "Go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah

is here: and he shall slay me." 15. And Elijah said, " As the LORD of hosts liveth, "before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day." 16. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17. And it came to pass when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, "Art thou he "that troubleth (b) Israel?" 18. And he banswered, "I have not troubled Israel, but

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thou and thy fathers house, in that ye "have forsaken the commandments of the "LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim (i).

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19. Now therefore send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and "the prophets of Baal (i) four hundred

and fifty, and the prophets of the groves "four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's "table." 20. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 21. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, "How long halt ye between two opinions? "if the LORD be God, follow him: but if "Baal, then follow him." And the people answered him not a word. 22. Then said Elijah unto the people, " I, even I only "remain a prophet of the LORD; but "Baal's prophets are four hundred and

(b) v. 17. "Troubleth Israel," by having prayed for the drought, which caused the famine. See James v. 17, 18.

(i) v. 18. 19. "Baalim," and "Baal," heathen idols.

(k) v. 24. "By fire." A challenge they

"fifty men. 23. Let them therefore give "us two bullocks, and let them choose one "bullock for themselves, and cut it in "pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no "fire under: and I will dress the other "bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no "fire under : 24. And call ye on the

name of your gods, and I will call on "the name of the LORD: and the God "that answereth by fire (k), let him be "God." And all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken." 25. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, "Choose you one bullock for yourselves, " and dress it first; for ye are many: and ❝call on the name of your gods, but put "no fire under." 26. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leapt upon the altar which was made. 27. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, "Cry "aloud: for he (1) is a god, either he is "talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in "a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, "and must be awaked." 28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29. And it came to pass, when mid-day was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30. And Elijah said unto all the people, "Come near unto me." And all the people came near unto him: And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word (m) of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be thy name." 32. And

with the stones he built an altar in the

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name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said,

Fill four barrels with water, and pour "it on the burnt-sacrifice, and on the "wood." 34. And he said, "Do it the "second time:" and they did it the second time. And he said, "Do it the third "time" and they did it the third time. 35. And the water ran round about the altar, and he filled the trench also with water. 36. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of "Israel, let it be known this day, that "thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy "servant, and that I have done all these "things at thy word. 37. Hear me, O "LORD, hear me, that this people may "know that thou art the LORD God, and "that thou hast turned (n) their heart back

again." 38. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, "The "LORD, he is the God, the LORD he is "the God." 40. And Elijah said unto them, "Take the prophets of Baal, let not "one of them escape:" and they took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 41. And Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get "thee up, eat and drink, for there is a "sound of abundance of rain." 42. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink, and Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. 43. And said to his servant, "Go up now, look "toward the sea." And he went up, and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And

(n) v.37. "Turned their heart back again," i. e. "attempted to reclaimthem, to bring them "back again to thee."

(0) v. 45. Jezreel," where Ahab lived. See 1 Kings xxi. 1. post.

(p) v. 1. “All, &c." See the preceding chap. (q) v.4. "Die." This gave occasion to

he said, "Go again seven times." 44. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud "out of the sea, like a man's hand." And he said, "Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare

thy chariot, and get thee down, that the "rain stop thee not." 45. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heave was black with clouds and wind, and ther was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel (o). 46. And the ha of the LORD was on Elijah; and he gir up his loins, and ran before Ahab, to entrance of Jezreel.

CHAP. XIX.

AND. Ahab told Jezebel all (f)

Elijah had done, and withall,

he had slain all the prophets with t sword. 2. Then Jezebel sent a messeng unto Elijah, saying, "So let the gods d "to me, and more also, if I make not "life as the life of one of them, by te "morrow about this time." 3. And he saw that, he arose and went for is, and came to Beer-sheba, which belong to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 he himself went a day's journey wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree and he requested for bir self that he might die (q), and said, "It "enough, now O LORD, take away "life: for I am not better than my fathers 5. And as he lay and slept under a junipe tree, behold then, an angel touched and said unto him, "Arise and ext 6. And he looked, and behold, there a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse water at his head: and he did eat drink, and laid him down again. 7 the angel of the LORD came again second time, and touched him, and "Arise and eat, because the journey "too great for thee." 8. And he a and did eat and drink, and went in strength of that meat forty (r) days

St. James's observation, that Elijah (whom calls Elias) was a man subject to like passi as we are. James v. 17.

(r) v. 8. "40 days and 40 nights." T same length of time Moses was without f upon the Mount, and our Saviour in the W derness.

ty nights, unto Horeb (s) the mount of d. 9. And he came thither unto a e, and lodged there; and behold, the rd of the LORD came to him, and he I unto him, "What doest thou here, Elijah ?" 10. And he said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD God of 1osts for the children of Israel have orsaken thy covenant, thrown down hine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only am left, and they seek my life to take it away.'

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And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD." rd behold (t), the LORD passed by, and reat and strong wind rent the mountains, I brake in pieces the rocks before the RD; but the LORD was not in the wind: 1 after the wind an earthquake; but the RD was not in the earthquake: 12. And er the earthquake a fire; but the LORD s not in the fire: and after the fire 1 small voice (u). 13. And it was fo, en Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his Be in his mantle, and went out, and od in the entering in of the cave and Thold there came a voice unto him, and d, "What doest thou here, Elijah ?" . 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

"Damascus : and when thou comest, "anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. "16. And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt "thou anoint to be king over Israel: and "Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meho"lah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in "thy room. 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. 18. Yet (x) 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." 19. So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth and Elijah passed by him, and cast (y) his mantle upon him. 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?" 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.

CHAP XXI.

sword; and I, even I only am left, and AND, (2) it came to pass after thise

4. And the LORD said unto him, "Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of

things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria (a).

(s) v. 8. "Horeb," or " Sinai," where God ad his communications with Moses, and peraps the same mountain in which the transfiguation occurred, when Moses and Elias, to whom the former appearances occurred, apeared talking with our Saviour. One object n the transfiguration might be, to intimate to he Apostles who witnessed it, that Christ was he person who in the former instances had appeared to Moses and Elias.

(t) v. 11. "And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind, &c." or rather, "Lo, the Lord is about to pass by:" "and behold a great and strong wind, &c." 2 Hales 424. So Sept.

(u) v. 12. At the end, the Alexandrine

Greek version adds, " and there was the Lord." 2 Hales 424.

(x) v. 18. "Yet have I left, &c." A rebuke to Elijah for his despair, and wishing for death, as in verse 4. and for intimating that he only was left, &c. It is to this allusion is made, Ecclus. xlviii. 7. when, in speaking of other occurrences to Elijah, this is introduced: "Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in "Sinai." And see Rom. xi. 4.

(y) v. 19. "Cast his mantle upon him,” to intimate, that he was to bear the great prophetic office Elijah had sustained.

(z) v. 1. Before Christ 900.

(a) v. 1. "Samaria," the capital of Israel.

2. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, "Give me thy vineyard, that I may have "it for a garden of herbs, because it is

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near unto my house, and I will give thee "for it a better vineyard than it or if it "seem good to thee, I will give thee the "worth of it in money.” 3. And Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD (b) forbid it "me, that I should give the inheritance "of my fathers unto thee." 4. And Ahab came into his house, heavy and displeased, because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers: and he laid him down. upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 5. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou "eatest no bread ?" 6. And he said unto her, "Because I spake unto Naboth the "Jezreelite, and said unto him, "Give "me thy vineyard for money; or else if "it please thee, I will give thee another "vineyard for it:" and he answered, "I "will not give thee my vineyard.” 7. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, "Dost "thou (c) now govern the kingdom of "Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let "thine heart be merry: I will (d) give "thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jez"reelite." 8. So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders, and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9. And she wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast, "and set Naboth on high among the "people: 10. And set two men, sons " of Belial (e), before him, to bear witness "against him, saying, "Thou didst blas

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pheme God and the king:" and then carry him out, and stone him that he may die." II. And the men of his

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city, even the elders and the nobles whe were the inhabitants in his city, did a Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people 13. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and th men of Belial witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of people, saying, "Naboth did blasphe "God and the king." Then they car him forth out of the city, and stoned b with stones, that he died. 14. Then sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth is sto " and is dead.” 15. And it came to pa when Jezebel heard that Naboth stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel sal to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of th "vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, wh " he refused to give thee for money: "Naboth is not alive, but dead." 16. A it came to pass when Ahab heard Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17. And the word of the LORD came to Elgh the Tishbite, saying, 18. " Arise, go "to meet Ahab king of Israel, which "in Samaria: behold, he is in the viney "of Naboth, whither he is gone down "6 possess it. 19. And thou shalt p "unto him, saying, "Thus saith "LORD, Hast thou killed, and also tika "possession?" And thou shalt speak un "him, saying, "Thus saith the LORD, " "the place where dogs licked the blood "Naboth, shall dogs lick thy (f) blood "even thine." 20. And Ahab said Elijah, "Hast thou found me, O "enemy?" And he answered, "I b "found thee: because thou hast sold "self to work evil in the sight "LORD. 21. Behold, I will bring

Art thou indeed king, and canst thou not a complish this thy wish!

(d) v. 7. "I will give thee, &c." A wicke abuse of power.

(e) v. 10. Belial," i. e. "wickedness.” (f) v. 19. "Thy blood." Accomplis "Thy_blood." accordingly, post, 1 Kings xxii. 38. in Ah case; and again in the case of Jehoram his 2 Kings ix. 25. 26. post.

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