Elijah said unto them; he takes the opportunity, whilst the people's hearts were warm with the fresh sense of this great miracle. Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, that their blood might be poured into that river, and thence conveyed into the sea, and might not defile the holy land. Slew them there. Quest. How could Elijah do this, seeing he was but a private person? Answ. First, he had no doubt the consent of all the heads of the people, who were there assembled; and of the king too, who durst not resist the universal torrent, and could not deny that they were impostors, and worthy of death; and probably was by the prophet assured of rain when this was done. Answ. Secondly, As these idolatrous priests were manifestly under a sentence of death, passed upon such by the sovereign Lord of life and death, Deu 13 Deu 17; so Elijah had sufficient authority to execute it, as being a prophet, and an extraordinary minister of God's vengeance against sinners, now especially when the magistrate so grossly neglected his duty therein.
Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 18:40
1 Kings 18:40
40 And Elijah said unto them, Takeh 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.