# This is here added, 1. As a CharaQter of the time > ſtance of the Truth and Certainty of Divine Prodiions and _ nations, this being fulfilled 800 Years after it was threatned ; and withal, asa Warning to the Jrazl:tes, not ro think themiclves inno- cent or fate, becauſe the Judgment thteatned againſt them by A4hijah Chap. 14+15. Was not yet executed, though they continued in that: Calt-worſhip which he condemned ; bur to expett the certain accom- pliſhment of it in due time, if they perſiſtee in their Impenitency, Or, 2. As an evidence of the horrible Corruprion of his Times, arid of that high Contempt of God which then Reigned. & Who lived in Bethel, the Seat and Sink of Idolatry, wherewith he was throughly leavencd. 7 A place ſeated in the Tribe of Benjamin, but belonging tothe Kingdom of ſſrael: which place he ſeems to have choſen for his Buildings ; net ſo much forhis own advantage, as our of a contempt of the True God, and of his Threatnings, which he deſigned to con- vince of Falſhood by his own Experience ; and out of an ambitious defire to advance his own Repuration and Intereſt thereby, by attempting that which he knew his King and Queen too, would be highly pleaſed with. 12. e. In the beginning of his Building, God took away his Firſt-born, and others ſucceſſively in the progreſs of the Work, and the youngeſt when he finiſhed it. And1o he found by his own ſad Experience, the truth of God's Word, and how vain it was to contend with him. Queſt, Why did not God rather puniſh Hiel himſelf? Anl. This was aterrible Puniſhmeart,to ſee his Children cut off by Divine Vengeance, before their time, cuc afte- another ; and all this, for his own folly and raſbneſs. Compare Fer. 52. 0. And as for Hiel himſelf, poffibly after he had been ſpared ſo long chat he might be an Eye-witneſs of his Sons untimely Deaths ; he alſo might be cut off, though it be nog Recorded, asnot belonging to the Prophecy here ment:oned ; or, if nor, his preſent Impuniry was his greateſt Miſery ; either, as it continued his Torment in the ſad and laſting Remembrance of his Loſs and Miſery ; or as it was 4 mean to hearden his Heart fo for greater Judgments, to which he was referved. n= Of which, ſee on Joſh. 6. 26.
C a A FAVE Elijah foretelleth Ahab that there ſhall be a great Drought : Is ſont to Che« r:th, where the Ravens feed h:m, 1 7. He i ſent to Zarephath to a Widow, who feedeth him with M:al and O:l which waſted not. 8== =16. Her Son dieth, and he raiſeth him, 17 23. She acknowledgeth him to be a Prophet. 24,
A N D + Elijah @ the Tiſhbite b who 45 of the Þ in- habitants of Gilead c, ſaid unto Ahab 4, * As the LORD God of Iſrael liveth e, before whom I ſtand f, there ſhall not be dew nor rain g theſe years b, but ac- cording to my word z.
a The moſt Eminent ef the Prophets, Matth: 17: 3: who is here brought in» like Melchiſedeck, Gen: 14: 18: Heb. 9; 3: without any - mention of his Father, or Mother, or beginning of his Days like . a Man dropt out of the Clouds, and raiſed by God's ſpecial Pro- vidence as a Witneſs for himſelf, in this moſt degenerate time and ſtate of things ; that by his Zeal, and Courage, and Power'cf 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 14el : as we ſhall ſee. b So called either from the place of his Birth or Habitation ; or for ſome other reaſon not now known. c Which was the Land beyond Jordan. See Gen:31:21 AHaving doubtleſs admoniſhed him of his Sin &danger before this;&now upon his obſtinacy in his wickedCourles, he proceeds to declare, and execute the Judgment of God upon hin. e I ſwear by the God of Jſrae/, 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. f Either, ir. Whoſe Miniſter I am ( as this Phraſe is oft uſed, as Num. 3: 6: Deut:10: 8. and 17.12. 18. 5.) notonly in general,but eſpecially in this Threatning, which I now deliver in his Name and Authority, and not from my own Imagination or Paſſion. Or, 2. Whois now preſent with me, anda Witneſs of what Iſay ; andlet him puniſh me ſeverely, if 1 tpeak not the Truth. g "This was a PrediQion, but was ſeconded with his Prayer, That God would verific it ; as it is Recorded Jo. 5.
17. Andthis Prayer of his was nor voluntary,and malicious, but
as - neccliary,
Chap. Xvi. | ©
Segubm, * according to the word of the LORD, which * Joſh: 6 26,
f Heb Elijabu, Luk:4:25 he is caltd El:48,
+ Heb.
ſojourntr!,
* james Fe ITs
eb? hu, uy #, cb, mer, me$
7e
Heb. at the end of day; Gen. 4 3" .Famv 14. 26,
Chap. XV IE
and
'b. @ #
Marv, and ( all things conſidered ) truly Charitable ; that by RD Ben and long AfffiGtion, God's Honour,and the Truth of his Word and Threatnings ( which was now ſo horribly and univer- ally contemned ) might be Vindicared ; and the Ifracktes ( whom
their preſent Impunity and Proſperity had hardned in their Idola-
:oht hereby be awakened to ſee their own Wickednels, _ jan ton of their Calves, and other Idols ; and their Depen- dance upon God,and the nec-ſſiry of returning to the True Reli- gion. hz. e. Thele following Years, which were three and an half, Luke 4; 25 Jam: 5:17. 4 1.6 Unrtil I thall declare, That this Judg- ment ſhall ceaſe, and thall pray to God for the Removal of it-
2 And the word of the LORD came unto him,
ſaying, ] "T Get the hence,and turn thee Eaſt-ward,and hide thy ſelf by the brook Cherith &, that is before Jordan. þ Thus God reſcues him from the Fury of Ahab and Jezabel,who, he knew, would ſeek to deſtroy him. Qu Why did not 4446 ſeize upon him immediatly upon theſe words ? Avnſ. r. This muſt be aſcribed to God's over-ruling Providence, who hath the Hearts of all men in his hands ; and hath oft prote&ed his Prophets and Servants in ſuch caſes. 2. He might Jay this not by word of Mouth, but by Letter and "Meſſage ſent to him ; as that word is
: ſed, as Exod: 18: 6. — hs all 2. that thou ſhalt drink of the brook,
and I have commended 1 the Ravens m to feed thee
there.