22 Let them therefore give us two bullocks », and let them chuſe one bullock for themſelves o, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under : and I will dreſs the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under :
n He attempts the Deciſion of this Controverſie, not by God's Word, which was either rejected, or diſpiſed, or grolly neglected by the generality of that People ; but by a Miracle, to which all that had common Senſe muſt needs ſubmit. o Which they judge beſt and fitteſt for their purpoſe.
24 And call ye on the name of your [|| gods, and I will call on the Name of the LORD:and the God that anſwereth by fire p, let him be God. And all the peo- ple q anſwered and faid, + Ir is well ſpoken.
p 7. e. Thar ſhall conſume the Sacrifice by Fire ſent from Hea- ven 5 which the People knew the True God uſed to do,as Gen:4:4: Tu1:6:21:and 13:20. q Even the Baalites themſelves; partly, becauſe they could not without great reproach to themſelves and Baal, re-
Baal's Power and Divinity,having probably had ſome Experiments; of ſupernatural and progidious Events done in the Worthig aq
fute ſo equal a motion; and partly,becauſe they were confident A
Baal by Gods juſt and wite Permiſſion, for the hardening of that!
Apoſltatical and wicked People in their Idoiatry ; as God hath in ſeveral Ages for the like reaſon ſuffered lying Wonders to be wroughtby the Devil, whom they worſhipped in and by their Idols.
25 And Elijah faid unto the prophets of baal, Chuſe ye one builock for your ſeives, and drels 7 fit{t, for ye are many r : and cail on the name of your || gods, but
put no fire under.
r And I am willing to give you the precedency. This he did, partly becauſe if he had firit offered,and God had anſwered by Fire, as he knew that he would do, Baal's Prie{t; would have been diſcou- raged, and upon ſome Excuſe (which would eaſily be accepred in regard of the Kings Authority, and the Favour which they had with the People) would have defiitcd from making the trial on their part ; and partly,becauſe the Diſappointment of the Prieſts of Baz!, of which he was well aſſured, would notably prepare the way for the Peoples more diligent attention unto his Words aud Actions, and cauſe them to entertain the Prophets good Succefs with more Admiration and Affection ; and this coming laſt, would leave the creater Imprefſion and Relith upon their tearts- And rhis they accepted, becauſe'they might think, that if Baal did anſwer them firſt, which they preſumed he would the Pcopte would be fo confir- med & heightned in their Opinion of Baal. that they by the Kings Aſtiirance might murder Elja4 before he came ro his Experiment.
26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dreiled zt ?, and called on the name of Baal from morning « even until noon, ſaying, O Baal, || hear us. But there was no voice,nor any thar|| anſwered. And thcy.|| leapt upon the altar x which was made y.
}J Which being choſen by them,v:25.was now put into their Hands by thoje who had theBcairs in theirCuſtody,till they were taken away for Sacrifice. #t Cur it in picces,and laid the parts in or upon the Wood « From the time of the Morning-Sacrificezwhich advantage Elijah fuſfecred them to take for their Sacrifice. z Or, over the altar: which might calily-be done the Altar being low, & ſuddenly made for the p:ctenr ule. Or rathergbeſiae (as the Hebrew (al) oft ſignifies) the altar 7 or, before it. They uted ſome ſuperſtitious, unutual,and dito:derly Geſtures, either pretending to be acted by the Spirir 01 their God,and to be 1n a kind of Holy Rige,and Religious Extaſic ; or,in way of Devotion to their god;which they might borrow from ric Practice of their Progenitors, who, amongtt orther thi1gs, uled Dancing in God's Service and Preſence, ay Ex; 15; 20;and 32:19
er
K- 1 Ne ©
ij
q Al il]
Chap. XVIII. |
Fung. 21; 21. 2.5m: 6. 14, y Heb. which be made ; Either, Firſt, E/:as ; which tome thing was already made, though the making of ir be not mentioned til afterwards, wer: 31. and that it was their Deſign, by leaping upon his Altar, ro overthrow ir. Or rather, Sccondly, Ahab on their behalf 3 or, any other Perſon : that being only an Hebraiſm, the Third Perſon Active, being pur for the Paltive Verb, as our Tranſlators wel! render ir.
27 And it came to pals at noon z, that Elijah mock- j ed them «, and faid, Cry, Taioud : tor hejsa god, ci- t Heb! | cher || he is talking, or he f is purſuing, or he is in a 37% # |} journey 6, or peradventure he {leepeth, and muſt be £399! awaked i On j
oz d if of
! x When they had long tried all means in vain. # Derided them y Frogs
& their gods, which were indeed,and had now proved themſelves to hath 8
be ridiculous & contemprible rhings. By this example we ſee,rhat purſuirs
all jeſting is not unlawful, but only thatwhich intrencheth upon Pie«
ty.& good Manners. See on Eph:5:4. 6 He is employed abour ſome
other buſineſs, and hath nor leiſure to mind you: for being a god |
of a ſmall & narrow Underſtanding,he cannot mind t vo things at if
once,and you are immodeſt & unreatonable to expeTt it from him. | 28 And they cried aloud c, and cut themſelves after
their manner with knives and lancers 4, till + the blood + Heb.
guſhed out upon them. poured our if c As if Eta had ſpoken the truth,and their god needed rowzing. blood «pon ||
d Mingling their own Blood with their Sacritices ;as knowing by theme
experience, that nothing was more acceptable to their Baal ( which
was indeed the Devil) than Humane Blood ; and hoping hereby to
move their god to pity and help them And this indeed was the
prattice of divers Heathens in the Worthip of their falſe gods, as is
manifeſt both from Scripture,as Levit:19.28. Deut:141. 1 Kings 18: 28.
and from the expreſs Teſtimonies of Plurarch, Lucian, Apuleius, and
many others.
29 And it came to paſs, when mid-day was paſt,and - _ they + prophetied e until the :izze of the F offering of +#cb.had | the evening lacrifice f, that there was neither voice, nor props.
any to anſwer, nor any f that regarded g. t Heb. 4+ | e 4.e. Praiſed,and prayed unto,and worſhipped their God ; for ſo ſeendinge |
the word propheſying is uſed, r Sam: 10: 10:and 19: 20, &C. i Chron. T Heb. &fe
25.2, 3. Matth. 7. 22. tentiun.