Westminster Annotations, 1 Kings (3 Kings) · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
Vers. 1. ANd] This copulative particle joyns this chapter with the latter part of the former, and shews that this judgement of famine followed upon the forementioned sins of Ahab, and Hiel.
Elijah] Heb. Elijahu. Luke 4. 25. he is called Elias. He is here brought in as Melchisedec, without father, or mother, or descent, Gen. 14. 18. Heb. 7. 3.
Tishbite] Of the city Thisbe, Tob. 1. 2.
Gilead] A countrey on the other side of Jordan, appertaining part to Gad, part to Manasseh, Josh. 13. 25, 31.
said] After he had prayed that there might be no rain (Jam. 5. 17.) and by some evidence from God was assured that his prayer was heard.
As the Lord] See Chap. 1. 29.
before whom I stand] Whose minister I am, and whom I am ready to serve, Deut. 10. 8. Acts 27. 23.
there shall not be] Heb. if there be. A form of asseveration, which implieth an imprecation, and maketh a more vehement and certain negation.
not be dew] No moisture, or refreshing at all; for dew is the least kinde of refreshing that falls upon the earth. Thus is the threatning (Levit. 26. 19.) accomplished.
these yeers] Immediately following, for the space of three yeers and an half, Luk. 4. 23. Jam. 5. 17.
but according] Unlesse God by my ministery shall declare otherwise. Or, but just as I have said.
V. 2. came] By divine inspiration, or revelation.
V. 3. hide thy self] From Ahab's rage, chap. 18. 10.
Cherith] A running spring in a desert place, not inhabited.
V. 4. command] Even unreasonable creatures are at Gods command, Psal. 78. 23. and 105. 28. see v. 9.
to feed thee] To bring to thee such meat as thou maist eat.
V. 5. dwelt] There abode night and day as in an house. There was questionlesse some cave there, wherein he so dwelt, as chap. 19. v. 9.
V. 6. the ravens] Greedy birds, devouring what they can get, not sparing any thing for their young ones, as is inferred out of Job 38. 41. and Psal. 147 9.
bread and flesh] Some ravens, bread, others, flesh, and that sod, or rosted: God by his providence directing them to the places where they might have it.
V. 7. after a while] Heb. at the end of dayes. Six moneths, as is supposed. See chap. 18. 1.
brook dried] Springs are much maintained by the moisture that comes from heaven. Great droughts dry them up. This setteth out the greatnesse of the drought.
in the land] Of Israel. No circumstance sheweth that that rain was withheld from Judah. That land was at this time as Goshen, Exod. 8. 22. and 9. 26. note Amos. 4. 7.
V. 8. came] See v. 2.
V. 9. Zarephath] Called Sarepta; A citie which the Zidonians inhabited, of which countrey this widow was, Luk. 4. 26. It bordered upon the land of Israel; and as Israel was infected with their sin (chap. 16. 31.) so they did partake of Israels punishment.
dwell there] There continue as in thine own house, v. 5.
commanded] By my over-ruling powerfull providence I have, as by a command, moved her. For the certainty of the thing, the time past is put for the future. Here are instances given of senselesse creatures (dew and rain, vers. 1.) of unreasonable (ravens, vers. 4.) and of the heathen, to be at Gods command.
V. 10. a little water] Water was there more plentifull then bread: therefore first, he thereby makes triall of the readinesse of her minde to sustain him, as Gen. 24. 17.
in a vessell] Or, in this vessel. Bringing with him the dish, or cup, with which he took water out of the brook.
V. 11. as she was going] By her readinesse to grant his first request, he is encouraged to ask more.
a morsell] A little peace: so much as may somewhat satisfie my present hunger.
V. 12. the Lord thy God] Vers. 1. She believed the God of the Israelites to be the true God: as Rahab (Josh. 2. 11.) and Ruth 1. 16.
not a cake] Not so much as a little cake baked on an hearth. (Gen. 18. 6.) No bread at all baked in the oven; not a peece of a loaf.
two sticks] A few sticks: two or three, as we say, 2 Sam. 13. 6.
for me and my son] See v. 15.
eat it, and die] Preserve our life as long as we have any means, and then yeeld our lives to the good pleasure of God. For she saw no means of preserving their lives any longer.
V. 13. fear not] Famine, and death to follow thereupon.
first] Before thou make for thy self and son a cake.
V. 14. The barrel of meal] The meal in the barrell, and the oyl in the cruse shall continue without wasting.
sendeth] Heb. giveth.
V. 15. she, and he] The widdow and the Prophet.
her house] All that were in her house: her family, Gen. 7. 1. This implieth that there were more then her self and her son. But there being no more meal and oyl left, then was for once sufficient for her self and her son, she mentions them onelyonly, vers. 12.
many dayes] Or, a full yeer. Three yeers. See chap. 18. 1.
V. 16. the barrel] See v. 14.
by] Heb. by the hand of.
V. 17. no breath] A description of death.
V. 18. What have I, &c.] Heb. What to me and thee? What difference is there betwixt thee and me? What have I done to thee? or, What hast thou seen in me? Joh. 2. 4. See on Judg. 11. 12.
to call my sin, &c.] To put God in minde of my sins: or, to complain of me before God for my sins.
to slay my s…n] To incense God so against me, as to take my son away, my son from me.
V. 19. out of her bosome] Where she hugged him, to bring, if it were possible, some heat into him.
into a loft] That he might be the more private, Acts 9. 40.
own bed] Because he went to stretch himself thereupon, v. 21.
V. 20. cried] Earnestly prayed, Exod. 14. 15. 2 King. 2. 12.
my God] He strengthneth his faith with the consideration of that speciall relation which was betwixt God and him.
evil] This judgement, Job 2. 10. Amos 3. 6. His complaint is through fear of the widows discouragement, lest she should think that she had shewed kindnesse to her own damage.
V. 21. stretched] Heb. measured. The Hebrew word importeth such a posture, as in a like case is noted of Elisha, 2 King. 4. 34. He so lay upon the childe, that by sense of the childes coldnesse, his own spirit in calling on God might be the more fervent, and also that he might discern heat and life, as it should come into the childe, Act. 20. 10.
three times] To shew his fervency and constancy in prayer. So Matth. 26. 44. 2 Cor. 12. 8.
into him] Heb. into his inward parts.
V. 22. came into him] For by death the soul departeth from the body.
he revived] The first, that we read of, raised from the death.
V. 23. took the childe] Now living again, to shew the widow that she had not entertained a prophet in vain, Matth. 10. 41.
V. 24. by this I know] I am further assured. For miracles confirm faith, Joh. 3. 2.
a man of God] A true prophet of God, chap. 13. 1.
the word of the Lord] Whatsoever thou saist from the LORD: as the continuance of drought, and the increase of my me… and oyl.