1 KINGS CHAPTER 17 Elijah foretelleth, Ahab that there shall be a great drought; is sent to Cherith, where the ravens feed him, 1 Kings 17:1-7. He is sent to Zarephath to a widow, who feedeth him with meal and oil, which wasted not, 1 Kings 17:8-16. Her son dieth, and he raiseth him, 1 Kings 17:17-23. She acknowledgeth him to be a prophet, 1 Kings 17:24. Elijah was the most eminent of the prophets, Matthew 17:3, who is here brought in, like Melchisedek, Genesis 14:18 Hebrews 7:3, without any mention of his father, or mother, or beginning of his days; like a man dropped out of the clouds, and raised by God's special providence as a witness for himself in this most degenerate time and state of things; that by his zeal, and courage, and power of miracles, he might give some check to their various and abominable idolatries, and some reviving to that small number of the Lord's prophets and people who yet remained in Israel, as we shall see. The Tishbite; so called, either from the place of his birth or habitation, or for some other reason not now known. Of the inhabitants of Gilead; which was the land beyond Jordan. See Genesis 31:21. Said unto Ahab; having doubtless admonished him of his sin and danger before this; and now, upon his obstinacy in his wicked courses, he proceeds to declare and execute the judgment of God upon him. As the Lord God of Israel liveth: I swear by the God of Israel, who, is the only true and living God; when the gods whom thou hast joined with him, or preferred before him, are dead and senseless idols. Before whom I stand; either,
1. Whose minister I am, (as this phrase is oft used, as Numbers 3:6 Deuteronomy 10:8, Deuteronomy 17:12 18:5) not only in general, but especially in this threatening, which I now deliver in his name and authority, and not from my own imagination or passion. Or,
2. Who is now present with me, and a witness of what I say; and let him punish me severely, if I speak not the truth. There shall not be dew nor rain: this was a prediction, but was seconded with his prayer, that God would verify it, as it is recorded, James 5:17. And this prayer of his was not voluntary and malicious, but necessary, and (all things considered) truly charitable; that by this sharp and long affliction God's honour, and the truth of his word and threatenings, (which was now so horribly and universally contemned,) might be vindicated, and the Israelites (whom their present impunity and prosperity had hardened in their idolatry) might hereby be awakened to see their own wickedness, and the vanity of their calves and other idols, and their dependence upon God, and the necessity of returning to the true religion. These years, i.e. these following years, which were three and a half, Luke 4:25 James 5:17. But according to my word, i.e. until I shall declare that this judgment shall cease, and shall pray to God for the removal of it.