Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we. It cannot be said that he was so raised above us as to afford no example to common mortals.
Prayed earnestly - literally, prayed with prayer: Hebraisms for intensely (cf. Luke 22:15). Alford is wrong in saying Elias' prayer that it might not rain 'is not even hinted at in the Old Testament.' In 1 Kings 17:1 it is plainly implied, "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." His prophecy of the fact was according to a divine intimation given to him in answer to prayer. In jealousy for God's honour (1 Kings 19:10), being of one mind with God in abhorrence of apostasy, he prayed that the national idolatry should be punished with a national judgment, drought, if haply it might bring them to repent: on Israel's profession of repentance he prayed for the removal of it, as is implied in 1 Kings 18:39-42: cf. Luke 4:25.
Three years ... - Compare 1 Kings 18:1, "the third year;" namely, from Elijah's going to Zarephath (1 Kings 17:9): the prophecy (James 5:1) was probably about five or six months previously.