The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 461

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers.1-8.-Elijah's Prayer for Death. How erratic have been the movements of this prophet I Our first introduction to him is at the court of Ahab, whence, as soon as he utters his prophecy, he is away to Cherith in the east, among the wilds of Gilead. Next we :find him in the north, at Zarephath of Zidon. Then he meets Obadiah, probably in the plain of Esdraelon, whence he passes over to Carmel in the west. From Carmel he runs before Ahab's horses to the entrance of J ezreel. The next dny :finds him on his way to Beersheba in the extreme south of Judah. The day following he is pushing his way into the wilderness of Sinai, where we now :find him under a shrub, requesting for himself that he may die. Let us consider- !. THE OCCASION OF TBIS PRAYER. 1. Jezebel had threatened his life. (1) Ahab had reported to his queen what Elijah had done at Carmel, and in particular recounted how he had slain all the prophets. In this statement we notice two capita.I faults. He did not recount what Jehovah ha.d done: he did not properly distinguish the " prophets " slain as idolatrous and false. The gospel may be variously preached. (2) Instead ofreflecting a.nd repenting, Jezobel wa.s filled with resentment, and resolved upon the destruction of Elijah. Miracles will not do more than reason with a corrupt and prejudiced hen.rt. (See Luke xvi. 31; Johu xii. 10, 11.) (3) She accordingly sent messengers to Elijah with an oath, declaring that within twenty-four hours she would revenge upon his life the slaughter of her priests. Wickedness is not always politic: by giving him this notice she gave him an opportunity to escape. 2. To aave his life lie fled. (1) Was this wrong I' Some have blamed him for it because he did not first ascertain the will of God. Had he no voice of God in the instinct of self-preservation I' Ha.d he no voice of God in the providence which apprised him of his peril? Would he not have tempted the Lord his God to have waited for another voice? Had he remained a.nd forfeited his life, would he not have been to blame I' God gives us our reason, and if we follow its light, together with that of an upright conscience, we shall do well. (2) But who can say that Elijah had no direction from the word of the Lord? Certainly there was a plan for his journey recognized by the angel with which he was fallliliar (see ver. 7). The distance from Beersheba to Horeb was about 150 miles. (3) In his flight he came first to Beersheba, where he was under tJ1e pro, tection of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who feo.reu the Lord. Thero ho left his Oil. XIX, 1--21.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 471