The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 412

hence concludes that the "hundred pro- and put no fire under [and fire I will not 11hets" of whom we read in vers. 4, 13 had set to]: been discovered in their hiding place and Ver. 24.-And ca.11 ye on the name of had been put to death. But this by no means your gods [As Elijah is still addressing the follows from Elijah's statement here or in people, not tlrn prophets of B!lal (see ver. eh. xix. lO (where see note); and we know 25), this change of person is significant. that the schools of the prophets had not He sorrowfully assumes that they have ceased to exist (2 Rings ii. 3, 5, 7 ; cf. 1 taken Baal and Astn.rte for their gods], and Rings xxii. 8). All that Elijah says is that I will call on the name of the Lord : and the he stood that day alone as a. prophet of God that answereth by fire, let him be God. Jehovah. "I only remain in the exercise of [Heb. he shall be the God, i.e., the true God the office of a prophet" (Rawlinson). The and their God. Cf. ver. 39. Not only was rest might well hesitate, after the fierce a "sign from heaven" (Mark viii. 11) ever persecution which they had undergone, to esteemed a more powerful and direct proof face the king and their bitter enemies, the of Divine energy-perhaps ns being less Ba.al prophets. It must be remembered liable to be counterfeited, and as excluding that Elijah had had no opportunity of com- the idea of the operation of inferno.I powers municating mth them, and he may have (Matt. xii. 24)-but it must be remembered been quite ignorant as to what numbn had that Baal claimed to be the Sun-god aud remained st.eadfast and true. One thing he Lord of the elements and forces of nature; knew, that be alone was left to prophesy, while J ehovo.h had already, according to the RJ1d to confront the whole hierarchy of the law, identified Himself with this token false God] ; but Ba.a.l's prophets a.re four (Levit. ix. 24; 1 Chron. xxi. 26 ; 2 Chron, hundred and fifty men. [It is clear, ncit vii. 1). Indeed, this sign had a double fit- only from the silence of this verse and of ness as a test of the true religion. It wonld ver. 25, respecting them, but still more from not only put the powers of the rivo.l deities the fact that they escaped in the general to the proof; it would also at the sa.me slaughter (vcr. 40), that the prophets of time decide which of the rival systems of Asta.rte were not present, and the naturnl worship was acceptable to the Supreme inference is that either Jezebel had for- B2ing. It is observable tho.t there is no bidden their presence or that they shrank mention of ro.in. We might have expected, from the ordeal The LXX. inserts " and after the long drought, that this would be the prophets of the gro,e, four hundred," the test. But that could not be promised but the worcls are evidently added from until the Lord had first been recognized as '\'er. 19. The Baal prophets would doubtless God.) And all the people answered and ha,e beeu only too glad to do the same, but said, It is well spoken. [Heb. Good the word. they were under the immediate command of They accepted Elijah's proposition, but whe- the king. It is not certain that they had ther engerly or reluctantly it is difficult to any forebodings of evil, or dreaded reprisals so.y. The Hebrew merely conveys that they on Elijah's part, but they bad had proof admitted its fairness nncl reasonableness. conclusive of his power and of their impo- Having gained the assent of the people, tence. We must remember that all through for whose verdict he and the Bo.al prophets the triennium prayers and sacrifices had, were now contending, and who were, con- no doubt, been constantly offered with a view to procure re.in. We learn from sequently, entitled to be consulted as to the Mene.nder (Jos., viii. 13. 2) that even in sign which would satisfy them, he turns to Phoenicie. supplication had been made for the band of 400 prophets, who, probably in rain by Ethbaal. all the bravery of their so.crificial vestments Ver. 23.-Let them therefore give us two (2 Rings x. 22), occupied a separate position bullocks; and let them choose one bullock on the hill top, between the king and the for themselves, and C'.lt lt 1n pieces [ea.me people, and repeats his proposal to them. word Exod. xxix. 17; Levit. i. (i, 12; Jndg. =· GJ, a.nd lay lt on wood [Heb. the woods], Ver. 25.-And Elijah said unto tho pro- phets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for and put no fire under [Ileb. and fire they shall not set toJ : and I will dress [Heb. yourselves, and dress [or o{fel', o.s in ver. 2il] it 11.rst; for ye are many [Heb. the make, i1o/P, like 7rou1v in the LXX., is con- many. Every pre-eminence and advantage stantly used in a sacrificial sense = offer. which he gives to them will make hiij Cf. Etod. xxix. 36, 38, 41 ; Levit. ix. 7 ; triumph, when it comes, nil the greater. It xv. 15; Judg. vi 19, &c. This is to be re- is quite possible that he meant again to hint membered in interpreting our Lord's roiiro at their immense superiority in point of 1"01,,Tc, tc.r.>-.. (Luke x.xii. 19)] the other numbers. But no doubt he was only too bullock, and lay lt on wood [the wood], glad to find a reason for their to.king the Ob. ll.Vlll. 1-46.) THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 423