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Albert Barnes · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Barnes: This is ironically parallel to the conundrum the Phoenician widow faced in 17:18. When a prophet of God shows up, the situation often escalates to life- or-death levels. Note that Obadiah says in his speech three times that Ahab will kill him (18:9, 12, 14). [This becomes the refrain of vv. 7-14] (See 1-2 Kings - Page 155) 1 Kings 18:10 “As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you. the Lord: 1Ki 18:15 1:29 2:24 17:1,12 1Sa 29:6 my master: Ps 10:2 Jer 26:20-23 that they could not find you: 1Ki 17:5,9 Ps 12:7,8 31:20 91:1 Jer 36:26 Joh 8:59 OBADIAH CLEARLY FEARS AHAB'S WRATH As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you Finding Elijah was a priority for Ahab. Bob
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Barnes: We already know that this is not literally the situation, although Elijah must surely have felt very much like it was an accurate summary of the case, both here and in 19:10, 14. (SEE 1-2 Kings - Page 156) 1 Kings 18:23 “Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. PREPARATION FOR THE TEST OF THE REAL GOD Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. - In this section Elijah gives the false prophets every possible advantage, so they could have no excuses! 1 Kings 18:24 “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “That is a good idea.” the God who answers by fire 1Ki 18:38 Lev 9:24 Jdg 6:21 1Ch 21:26 2Ch 7:1,3 all the people said, 2Sa 14:19 That is a good idea Hebrew literally = "the word is good" Isa 39:8 THE PROOF OF DIVINITY IS FIRE ON SACRIFICE Then you call on the name of your god - You here presumably is the people who had gathered to watch this battle of the gods. Alan Carr: The whole tragedy lies in the fact that the people are even willing to consider that Baal might be real. After all the things that God had done for them, how could they stoop to the place where they would even consider a contest of this nature? Imagine them expecting God to prove Himself to them after all He had already done for them and their nation! and I will call on the name of the LORD - Notice Elijah is careful not to say "your LORD," for he knows their divided, "syncretistic" hearts. and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” - Supernatural fire would determine who was the supernatural god! This challenge is significant because lightning which usually occurs with thunder and rain was thought to Baal’s arrows. Thus Elijah is giving Baal an opportunity to act where he is strongest. Satan of course is always a counterfeit but the truth is that lightning was described as Yahweh’s arrows is in 2Sa 22:15; Ps. 18:14; Ps 77:17; Ps 144:6; Hab. 3:11. And all the people said, “That is a good idea - Elijah elicits a unanimous affirmation. David
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Barnes: The Hebrew literally says “the hand of Yahweh” was upon him (cf. 2 Kgs 3:15); the idiom connotes divine power invigorating the prophet, giving him strength to run the roughly 17 miles (27 km) to Ahab’s estate at Jezreel. (See 1-2 Kings - Page 160) And he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel - Girded up his loins is that of gathering up the robes and tucking them into the sash or belt so that they do not get in the way of the legs when running (or working or fighting). Assuming Ahab witnessed Elijah running, he would have now seen overwhelming evidence that Elijah was God's prophet and that God was the true God.