The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 408

clauses" (Keil).] Obadiah [This no.me is of limestone formation, abounds in cn.verns. almost as remnrkablo as Elijuh's, or would See Stanley, S. and P. pp.161, 62. From the bo, if it were not more common. It means earliest times we find men-outlo.ws and the "servant o.f Jehovah." Compare the modern like-taking up their abode therein. Of. Arabic Abdal/,ah. Although borne by one Josh. x. 17; Jadg. vi. 2; 1 Sam. xxii. 1; who "lea.reel the Lord greatly" (ver. 3), and Ezek. xxxiii. 27; Heh. xi. 38. Pl'Obably "from his youtb" (1:~r. 12), -~t occ~:.s too the division into two companies was partly frequently (1 Chron. 111. 21 ; vu. 3 ; vw. 38; for the sake of security (see Gen. xxii. S), ix. 16; 2 Cbroo. x.ii. 7; xxxiv. 12; Ezra nnd partly for the sake of convenience. The 'Ii.ii. 9 ; Obad. i., &c.) to justify the belief greater the number to be fed, the greater that it was assumed or bestowed as an the chance of detection. Compnre also indication of his character (Rawlinson)], Jacob's precnntions Gen. xxxii. 8], and which was the governor or his [Heh. over fed them with bread [or, foodJ and water.) the] house. [See nofo on eh. iv. G, and cf. [It is to be observed, as bearing on eh. xvii. eh. x,i. 9. Rawlinson says it "tells in 4-6, that these hundred prophets, though farnur of the monarch's tolerance that he preserved by the special pl'Ovidence o~ should have maintained an adherent of the Goel, were nevertheless maintained through old religion in so important an office." But human agency and by natnml means. it is just as probable that it was because of Ver. 5.-And Ahab said [had said] unto his religion that he occupied this post of Obadiah, Go. into [Heb. in] the land, unto trust. Alrn.b could depend on his fidelity all founta.ins [Heb. places of fountains. Cf. and conscientiousness]. (Now Obadiah [here with l~l,IQ from l'.ll, ii~t., from ii~ &o.J begins a second pa.renthtsis within the first] reared [Heb. u:a.s fearing] the Lord greatly. of water, and unto all brooks [wudies; see Ver. 4.-For it was eo, when Jezebel cut on eh. xvii. 3) : peradventure we may find off' the prophets ot the Lord [Oar author grass to save the horses and mules alive now instances a proof of Obadiah's devotion. [It has been inferred from Ahab's concern The incident to which be refers is other- for his stud that he viewed the sufferings of wise unknown to us, nor can we refer it with his subjects with comparative indifference, certainty to its proper place in the history. or at least rego.rded them as of altogether Bat it is extremely probable that this work secondary importance. But this is a too of extermination was begun as an act of re- hasty conclusion. His subjects were, for prisals for the drought denounced by Elijah. the most part, as well able to find water for themselves as he was for them, and be Ver. 13 al.most implies that it bad taken might safely trust to their mstiuct of self- place during his absence. We see here, con- preservation to do their best to meet the sequently, an additional reason for Lis emergency. Bat the dumb cattle, con- flight (cL eh. rix. 2). These" prophets" are fined to the stall, could not act for them- the same as those elsewhere called the selves. Hence this expedition in sea.rob " sons of the prophete, i.e., members of of fodder] , that we lose not all the the prophetic schools; cf. 2 Kings ii. 3, 5, 7, beaste. [Marg. that we cut not ourselves &c. Jthat Obadiah took an hundred prophets off from, &c. Bat this rendering, ancl [This would lead us to suppose that the still more that of the text, misinterprets great majority escaped. But seever. 19 and the force of the Hiphil n17;;,~- The literal eh. :nii. 6. That we find so large o. number still in the lo.nd, notwithstanding the exodus translation is," That ,re m111: not have to cut (2 Cbron. ri. 16), and the steady growth of off from (i.e., a. portio.i of, Jr;> partitive, impiety, shows that God had not left Him- as in ver. 13 below, ,~,:;i~~). What Ahab self without witnesses], and hid them. by means is that, unless they.soon find fodder, !lfty [Keil would insert a second C't:;'t;)!J they will have to sln.ughter e. portion of as do some MSS. (Gardiner), and as in their animals. So Diihr, Und nicht van dem ver. 13. Such a word might easily be Vieh (einen Theil) umbringen mussen. Simi- omitted in transcription, it is true. But larly Keil.] "proclivi lectioni," &c.] 1n a cave [Heb. the Ver. 6.-So they divided the land between cave; but LXX. iv rrtrl]Auitp. Similnrly in them to pass throughout it [" This personal ver. 13. What iB the force of the article inspection by the king 11.nd one of his chief here it is somewhat di.filcult to say. It bas officers marks the extreme strnits to which been suggested that these eaves were in the the Israelites were now reduced" (Ro.wlin- sides of Mount Carmel ; there are large son ). The diJJerence, however, between an caves Ullder the western cliffs (Stanley); Eastern and au Europeap. monarch must more than two thousand, according to not be overlooked. "None (of the emirs of others; "often of great length and ex- Arabia or the chiefs of central Asia) think tremely tortuous" (Die. Bib. i. p. 278); but it beneath them to lead an expedition in this iB mere guesswork, as Palestine, being see.rob of grass or water" (Kitto)]: Ahal! on. XVIII. 1-40.] THE FIRST DOOK OF KINGS. 419