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■ 열왕기상 18장
1. 많은 날을 지내고 제삼년에 여호와의 말씀이 엘리야에게 임하여 가라사대 너는 가서 아합에게 보이라 내가 비를 지면에 내리리라
And it came to pass after many days , that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year , saying , Go , shew thyself unto Ahab ; and I will send rain upon the earth .
2. 엘리야가 아합에게 보이려고 가니 그 때에 사마리아에 기근이 심하였더라
And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab . And there was a sore famine in Samaria .
3. 아합이 궁내 대신 오바댜를 불렀으니 이 오바댜는 크게 여호와를 경외하는 자라
And Ahab called Obadiah , which was the governor of his house . (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly :
4. 이세벨이 여호와의 선지자들을 멸할 때에 오바댜가 선지자 일백 인을 가져 오십 인씩 굴에 숨기고 떡과 물을 먹였었더라
For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord , that Obadiah took an hundred prophets , and hid them by fifty in a cave , and fed them with bread and water .)
5. 아합이 오바댜에게 이르되 이 땅의 모든 물 근원과 모든 내로 가자 혹시 꼴을 얻으리라 그러면 말과 노새를 살리리니 짐승을 다 잃지 않게 되리라 하고
And Ahab said unto Obadiah , Go into the land , unto all fountains of water , and unto all brooks : peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive , that we lose not all the beasts .
6. 두 사람이 두루 다닐 땅을 나누어 아합은 홀로 이 길로 가고 오바댜는 홀로 저 길로 가니라
So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7. 오바댜가 길에 있을 때에 엘리야가 저를 만난지라 저가 알아보고 엎드려 말하되 내 주 엘리야여 당신이시니이까
And as Obadiah was in the way , behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face , and said , Art thou that my lord Elijah ?
8. 대답하되 그러하다 가서 네 주에게 고하기를 엘리야가 여기 있다 하라
And he answered him, I am: go , tell thy lord , Behold, Elijah is here.
9. 가로되 내가 무슨 죄를 범하였기에 당신이 당신의 종을 아합의 손에 붙여 죽이게 하려 하시나이까
And he said , What have I sinned , that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab , to slay me?
10. 당신의 하나님 여호와의 사심을 가리켜 맹세하노니 내 주께서 사람을 보내어 당신을 찾지 아니한 족속이나 나라가 없었는데 저희가 말하기를 엘리야가 없다 하면 그 나라와 그 족속으로 당신을 보지 못하였다는 맹세를 하게 하였거늘
As the Lord thy God liveth , there is no nation or kingdom , whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said , He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation , that they found thee not.
11. 이제 당신의 말씀이 가서 네 주에게 고하기를 엘리야가 여기 있다 하라 하시니
And now thou sayest , Go , tell thy lord , Behold, Elijah is here.
12. 내가 당신을 떠나간 후에 여호와의 신이 나의 알지 못하는 곳으로 당신을 이끌어 가시리니 내가 가서 아합에게 고하였다가 저가 당신을 찾지 못하면 내가 죽임을 당하리이다 당신의 종은 어려서부터 여호와를 경외하는 자라
And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab , and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth .
13. 이세벨이 여호와의 선지자들을 죽일 때에 내가 여호와의 선지자 중에 일백 인을 오십 인씩 굴에 숨기고 떡과 물로 먹인 일이 내 주께 들리지 아니하였나이까
Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord , how I hid an hundred men of the Lord’s prophets by fifty in a cave , and fed them with bread and water ?
14. 이제 당신의 말씀이 가서 네 주에게 고하기를 엘리야가 여기 있다 하라 하시니 그리하면 저가 나를 죽이리이다
And now thou sayest , Go , tell thy lord , Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
15. 엘리야가 이르되 내가 모시는 만군의 여호와의 사심을 가리켜 맹세하노니 내가 오늘날 아합에게 보이리라
And Elijah said , As the Lord of hosts liveth , before whom I stand , I will surely shew myself unto him to day .
16. 오바댜가 가서 아합을 만나 고하매 아합이 엘리야를 만나려 하여 가다가
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab , and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah .
17. 엘리야를 볼 때에 저에게 이르되 이스라엘을 괴롭게 하는 자여 네냐
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah , that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel ?
18. 저가 대답하되 내가 이스라엘을 괴롭게 한 것이 아니라 당신과 당신의 아비의 집이 괴롭게 하였으니 이는 여호와의 명령을 버렸고 당신이 바알들을 좇았음이라
And he answered , I have not troubled Israel ; but thou, and thy father’s house , in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord , and thou hast followed Baalim .
19. 그런즉 보내어 온 이스라엘과 이세벨의 상에서 먹는 바알의 선지자 사백오십 인과 아세라의 선지자 사백 인을 갈멜 산으로 모아 내게로 나오게 하소서
Now therefore send , and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel , and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty , and the prophets of the groves four hundred , which eat at Jezebel’s table .
20. 아합이 이에 이스라엘 모든 자손에게로 보내어 선지자들을 갈멜 산으로 모으니라
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel , and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel .
21. 엘리야가 모든 백성에게 가까이 나아가 이르되 너희가 어느 때까지 두 사이에서 머뭇머뭇 하려느냐 여호와가 만일 하나님이면 그를 좇고 바알이 만일 하나님이면 그를 좇을지니라 하니 백성이 한 말도 대답지 아니하는지라
And Elijah came unto all the people , and said , How long halt ye between two opinions ? if the Lord be God , follow him: but if Baal , then follow him. And the people answered him not a word .
22. 엘리야가 백성에게 이르되 여호와의 선지자는 나만 홀로 남았으나 바알의 선지자는 사백오십 인이로다
Then said Elijah unto the people , I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord ; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men .
23. 그런즉 두 송아지를 우리에게 가져오게 하고 저희는 한 송아지를 택하여 각을 떠서 나무 위에 놓고 불은 놓지 말며 나도 한 송아지를 잡아 나무 위에 놓고 불은 놓지 말고
Let them therefore give us two bullocks ; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, 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:
24. 너희는 너희 신의 이름을 부르라 나는 여호와의 이름을 부르리니 이에 불로 응답하는 신 그가 하나님이니라 백성이 다 대답하되 그 말이 옳도다
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 , let him be God . And all the people answered and said , It is well spoken .
25. 엘리야가 바알의 선지자들에게 이르되 너희는 많으니 먼저 한 송아지를 택하여 잡고 너희 신의 이름을 부르라 그러나 불을 놓지 말라
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal , Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first ; for ye are many ; and call on the name of your gods , but put no fire under.
26. 저희가 그 받은 송아지를 취하여 잡고 아침부터 낮까지 바알의 이름을 불러 가로되 바알이여 우리에게 응답하소서 하나 아무 소리도 없으므로 저희가 그 쌓은 단 주위에서 뛰놀더라
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon , saying , O Baal , hear us. But there was no voice , nor any that answered . And they leaped upon the altar which was made .
27. 오정에 이르러는 엘리야가 저희를 조롱하여 가로되 큰 소리로 부르라 저는 신인즉 묵상하고 있는지 혹 잠간 나갔는지 혹 길을 행하는지 혹 잠이 들어서 깨워야 할 것인지... 하매
And it came to pass at noon , that Elijah mocked them, and said , Cry aloud : for he is a god ; either he is talking , or he is pursuing , or he is in a journey , or peradventure he sleepeth , and must be awaked .
28. 이에 저희가 큰 소리로 부르고 그 규례를 따라 피가 흐르기까지 칼과 창으로 그 몸을 상하게 하더라
And they cried aloud , and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets , till the blood gushed out upon them.
29. 이같이 하여 오정이 지났으나 저희가 오히려 진언을 하여 저녁 소제 드릴 때까지 이를지라도 아무 소리도 없고 아무 응답하는 자도 없고 아무 돌아보는 자도 없더라
And it came to pass, when midday was past , and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice , that there was neither voice , nor any to answer , nor any that regarded .
30. 엘리야가 모든 백성을 향하여 이르되 내게로 가까이 오라 백성이 다 저에게 가까이 오매 저가 무너진 여호와의 단을 수축하되
And Elijah said unto all the people , Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down .
31. 야곱의 아들들의 지파의 수효를 따라 열두 돌을 취하니 이 야곱은 여호와께서 옛적에 저에게 임하여 이르시기를 네 이름을 이스라엘이라 하리라 하신 자더라
And Elijah took twelve stones , according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob , unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying , Israel shall be thy name :
32. 저가 여호와의 이름을 의지하여 그 돌로 단을 쌓고 단으로 돌아가며 곡식 종자 두 세아를 용납할만한 도랑을 만들고
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord : and he made a trench about the altar , as great as would contain two measures of seed .
33. 또 나무를 벌이고 송아지의 각을 떠서 나무 위에 놓고 이르되 통 넷에 물을 채워다가 번제물과 나무 위에 부으라 하고
And he put the wood in order , and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood , and said , Fill four barrels with water , and pour it on the burnt sacrifice , and on the wood .
34. 또 이르되 다시 그리하라 하여 다시 그리하니 또 이르되 세 번 그리하라 하여 세 번 그리하니
And he said , Do it the second time . And they did it the second time . And he said , Do it the third time . And they did it the third time .
35. 물이 단으로 두루 흐르고 도랑에도 물이 가득하게 되었더라
And the water ran round about the altar ; and he filled the trench also with water .
36. 저녁 소제 드릴 때에 이르러 선지자 엘리야가 나아가서 말하되 아브라함과 이삭과 이스라엘의 하나님 여호와여 주께서 이스라엘 중에서 하나님이 되심과 내가 주의 종이 됨과 내가 주의 말씀대로 이 모든 일을 행하는 것을 오늘날 알게 하옵소서
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice , that Elijah the prophet came near , and said , Lord God of Abraham , Isaac , and of Israel , let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel , and that I am thy servant , and that I have done all these things at thy word .
37. 여호와여 내게 응답하옵소서 내게 응답하옵소서 이 백성으로 주 여호와는 하나님이신 것과 주는 저희의 마음으로 돌이키게 하시는 것을 알게 하옵소서 하매
Hear me, O Lord , hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God , and that thou hast turned their heart back again .
38. 이에 여호와의 불이 내려서 번제물과 나무와 돌과 흙을 태우고 또 도랑의 물을 핥은지라
Then the fire of the Lord fell , and consumed the burnt sacrifice , and the wood , and the stones , and the dust , and licked up the water that was in the trench .
39. 모든 백성이 보고 엎드려 말하되 여호와 그는 하나님이시로다 여호와 그는 하나님이시로다 하니
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces : and they said , The Lord , he is the God ; the Lord , he is the God .
40. 엘리야가 저희에게 이르되 바알의 선지자를 잡되 하나도 도망하지 못하게 하라 하매 곧 잡은지라 엘리야가 저희를 기손 시내로 내려다가 거기서 죽이니라
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal ; let not one of them escape . And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon , and slew them there.
41. 엘리야가 아합에게 이르되 올라가서 먹고 마시소서 큰 비의 소리가 있나이다
And Elijah said unto Ahab , Get thee up , eat and drink ; for there is a sound of abundance of rain .
42. 아합이 먹고 마시러 올라가니라 엘리야가 갈멜 산 꼭대기로 올라가서 땅에 꿇어 엎드려 그 얼굴을 무릎 사이에 넣고
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink . And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel ; and he cast himself down upon the earth , and put his face between his knees ,
43. 그 사환에게 이르되 올라가 바다 편을 바라보라 저가 올라가 바라보고 고하되 아무 것도 없나이다 가로되 일곱번까지 다시 가라
And said to his servant , Go up now, look toward the sea . And he went up , and looked , and said , There is nothing . And he said , Go again seven times .
44. 일곱번째 이르러서는 저가 고하되 바다에서 사람의 손만한 작은 구름이 일어나나이다 가로되 올라가 아합에게 고하기를 비에 막히지 아니하도록 마차를 갖추고 내려가소서 하라 하니라
And it came to pass at the seventh time , that he said , Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea , like a man’s hand . And he said , Go up , say unto Ahab , Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down , that the rain stop thee not.
45. 조금 후에 구름과 바람이 일어나서 하늘이 캄캄하여지며 큰 비가 내리는지라 아합이 마차를 타고 이스르엘로 가니
And it came to pass in the mean while , that the heaven was black with clouds and wind , and there was a great rain . And Ahab rode , and went to Jezreel .
46. 여호와의 능력이 엘리야에게 임하매 저가 허리를 동이고 이스르엘로 들어가는 곳까지 아합 앞에서 달려갔더라
And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah ; and he girded up his loins , and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel .
■ 주석 보기
【왕상18:1 JFB】왕상18:1-16. Elijah Meets Obadiah.
1. the third year—In the New Testament, it is said there was no rain "for the space of three years and six months" [약5:17]. The early rain fell in our March, the latter rain in our October. Though Ahab might have at first ridiculed Elijah's announcement, yet when neither of these rains fell in their season, he was incensed against the prophet as the cause of the national judgment, and compelled him, with God's direction, to consult his safety in flight. This was six months after the king was told there would be neither dew nor rain, and from this period the three years in this passage are computed.
Go, show thyself unto Ahab—The king had remained obdurate and impenitent. Another opportunity was to be given him of repentance, and Elijah was sent in order to declare to him the cause of the national judgment, and to promise him, on condition of his removing it, the immediate blessing of rain.
【왕상18:1 CWC】[ELIJAH AND AHAB]
1. Elijah in Hiding, 17:1-24.
Nothing is known of Elijah's previous history, not even why he is called the "Tishbite" (v. 1) except, as suggested in the Septuagint translation, that the town of Tishbeh is meant, which was in the Gilead region east of the Jordan. A comparison of 신11:16, 17 shows that the judgment he announces (v. 1) was threatened by Jehovah for such iniquity as that now prevailing; but of course the divine impulse must have come upon him to apply it in this instance.
His hiding "by the brook Cherith" (v. 3) was necessary to preserve him from the wrath of Ahab when his words were fulfilled. His being fed by "the ravens" (v. 4) will raise no question in the minds of any who accept the supernatural in the Bible, and for those who do not this commentary can have little value. The theory of some that the Hebrew word translated "ravens" might be rendered "Arabians," and that he was normally provided for by passing merchants of that region, is not generally accepted by evangelical scholars and would be only less a miracle than the accepted text.
Zarephath, or Sarepta, was in the country whence Jezebel had come, and which was visited by the famine also. The cause for Elijah's removal there is stated in verses 7-9, but there was a deeper reason in the new testings that were to come to him for the strengthening of his faith in view of the climax later on. Nevertheless, we are not to forget the lesson God had to teach the widow also, and to us through her. See Christ's testimony in 눅4:25, 26.
2. Meeting with Ahab, 18:1-46.
"The third year" is spoken of here, while James says (v. 17) "three years and six months," a discrepancy which may be explained by saying that the drought had been experienced six months (the time between the early and latter rains in March and October respectively) before Ahab realized the situation and became incensed against the prophet.
Fire was the element over which Baal was supposed to preside, which explains verse 24. Observe the simplicity and faith of Elijah's prayer (vv. 36, 37). His command (v. 40) was justified as a magistrate of God (신13:51 and 18:20).
Description of Mt. Carmel.
"The natural features of Mt. Carmel exactly correspond with the details of this narrative. The conspicuous summit, 1,635 feet above the sea, presents an esplanade spacious enough for the king and the priests of Baal to stand on the one side, and Elijah on the other.
"It is a rocky soil, on which there is abundance of loose stones to furnish the twelve of which the altar was built -- a bed of thick earth in which a trench could be dug; and yet the earth not so loose that the water poured into it would be absorbed.
"Two hundred and fifty feet beneath the plateau there is a perennial fountain which might not have been accessible to the people, and whence, therefore, even in that season of drought, Elijah could procure those supplies of water which he poured over the altar.
"The distance between this spring and the site of the altar is so short as to make it perfectly possible to go thrice thither and back again: whereas, it must have been impossible once in an afternoon, to fetch water from the sea.
"The summit is 1,000 feet above the Kishon, which nowhere runs from the sea so close to the base of the mount as just beneath El-Mohhraka; so that the priests of Baal could, in a few minutes, be taken down "to the brook and slain there." -- Jamieson, Faussett and Brown.
3. The Results Following, 19:1-21.
There seems to be no explanation of Elijah's flight (vv. 1-4) except the natural one of great depression following great spiritual exaltation. God could have preserved him from this had He so willed, but it is good for all of us to know that we are but flesh (약5:17) and "that we have this treasure in earthen vessels" (고후4:7).
We are impressed with the condescension of God in the supernatural provision for Elijah's physical needs of which he himself had thought nothing (vv. 5-8); and the no less condescension in instructing and continuing to use him as indicated in the subsequent verses.
The exhibition of divine power (vv. 11-13) had the effect of restoring the prophet to a spiritual equilibrium where he could listen to further commands (vv. 15-17) and receive the rebuke his conduct merited (v. 18). It is notable that the three persons he is to anoint are all to be employed, though in different ways, as God's instruments of judgment upon idolatrous Israel. The 7,000 mentioned is not to be taken literally, but as meaning a certain complete number of faithful ones of whom God was cognizant though the prophet was not.
Elisha was one of these (v. 19) who had doubtless been educated in the schools of the prophets of which we shall hear more, and who recognized the falling of his master's mantle upon him as his divine call.
When Elijah says: "What have I done to thee" (v. 20)? he seems to mean: "Do not disregard it. Bid thy loved ones farewell, but remain faithful to thy call."
【왕상18:1 MHCC】The severest judgments, of themselves, will not humble or change the hearts of sinners; nothing, except the blood of Jesus Christ, can atone for the guilt of sin; nothing, except the sanctifying Spirit of God, can purge away its pollution. The priests and the Levites were gone to Judah and Jerusalem, 대하11:13, 14, but instead of them God raised up prophets, who read and expounded the word. They probably were from the schools of the prophets, first set up by Samuel. They had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, but taught the people to keep close to the God of Israel. These Jezebel sought to destroy. The few that escaped death were forced to hide themselves. God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; and that faith, fear, and love of his name, which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, will be accepted through the Redeemer. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times. Bread and water were now scarce, yet Obadiah will find enough for God's prophets, to keep them alive. Ahab's care was not to lose all the beasts; but he took no care about his soul, not to lose that. He took pains to seek grass, but none to seek the favour of God; fencing against the effect, but not inquiring how to remove the cause. But it bodes well with a people, when God calls his ministers to stand forth, and show themselves. And we may the better endure the bread of affliction, while our eyes see our teachers.
【왕상18:2 JFB】2. Elijah went—a marvellous proof of the natural intrepidity of this prophet, of his moral courage, and his unfaltering confidence in the protecting care of God, that he ventured to approach the presence of the raging lion.
there was a sore famine in Samaria—Elijah found that the famine was pressing with intense severity in the capital. Corn must have been obtained for the people from Egypt or the adjoining countries, else life could not have been sustained for three years; but Ahab, with the chamberlain of his royal household, is represented as giving a personal search for pasture to his cattle. On the banks of the rivulets, grass, tender shoots of grass, might naturally be expected; but the water being dried up, the verdure would disappear. In the pastoral districts of the East it would be reckoned a most suitable occupation still for a king or chief to go at the head of such an expedition. Ranging over a large tract of country, Ahab had gone through one district, Obadiah through another.
【왕상18:3 JFB】3. Obadiah feared the Lord greatly—Although he did not follow the course taken by the Levites and the majority of pious Israelites at that time of emigration into Judah (대하11:13-16), he was a secret and sincere worshipper. He probably considered the violent character of the government, and his power of doing some good to the persecuted people of God as a sufficient excuse for his not going to worship in Jerusalem.
【왕상18:4 JFB】4. an hundred prophets—not men endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the prophetic office, but who were devoted to the service of God, preaching, praying, praising, &c. (삼상10:10-12).
fed them with bread and water—These articles are often used to include sustenance of any kind. As this succor must have been given them at the hazard, not only of his place, but his life, it was a strong proof of his attachment to the true religion.
【왕상18:7 JFB】7-16. Obadiah was in the way … Elijah met him—Deeming it imprudent to rush without previous intimation into Ahab's presence, the prophet solicited Obadiah to announce his return to Ahab. The commission, with a delicate allusion to the perils he had already encountered in securing others of God's servants, was, in very touching terms, declined, as unkind and peculiarly hazardous. But Elijah having dispelled all the apprehensions entertained about the Spirit's carrying him away, Obadiah undertook to convey the prophet's message to Ahab and solicit an interview. But Ahab, bent on revenge, or impatient for the appearance of rain, went himself to meet Elijah.
【왕상18:17 JFB】17, 18. Art thou he that troubleth Israel—A violent altercation took place. Ahab thought to awe him into submission, but the prophet boldly and undisguisedly told the king that the national calamity was traceable chiefly to his own and his family's patronage and practice of idolatry. But, while rebuking the sins, Elijah paid all due respect to the high rank of the offender. He urged the king to convene, by virtue of his royal mandate, a public assembly, in whose presence it might be solemnly decided which was the troubler of Israel. The appeal could not well be resisted, and Ahab, from whatever motives, consented to the proposal. God directed and overruled the issue.
【왕상18:17 MHCC】One may guess how people stand affected to God, by observing how they stand affected to his people and ministers. It has been the lot of the best and most useful men, like Elijah, to be called and counted the troublers of the land. But those who cause God's judgments do the mischief, not he that foretells them, and warns the nation to repent.
【왕상18:19 JFB】19. gather … the prophets of Baal … the prophets of the groves—From the sequel it appears that the former only came. The latter, anticipating some evil, evaded the king's command.
which eat at Jezebel's table—that is, not at the royal table where she herself dined, but they were maintained from her kitchen establishment (see on 삼상20:25 and 왕상4:22). They were the priests of Astarte, the Zidonian goddess.
【왕상18:20 JFB】20. mount Carmel—is a bold, bluff promontory, which extends from the western coast of Palestine, at the bay of Acre, for many miles eastward, to the central hills of Samaria. It is a long range, presenting many summits, and intersected by a number of small ravines. The spot where the contest took place is situated at the eastern extremity, which is also the highest point of the whole ridge. It is called El-Mohhraka, "the Burning," or "the Burnt Place." No spot could have been better adapted for the thousands of Israel to have stood drawn up on those gentle slopes. The rock shoots up in an almost perpendicular wall of more than two hundred feet in height, on the side of the vale of Esdraelon. This wall made it visible over the whole plain, and from all the surrounding heights, where gazing multitudes would be stationed.
【왕상18:21 JFB】21-40. Elijah said unto all the people, How long halt ye?—They had long been attempting to conjoin the service of God with that of Baal. It was an impracticable union and the people were so struck with a sense of their own folly, or dread of the king's displeasure, that they "answered not a word." Elijah proposed to decide for them the controversy between God and Baal by an appeal, not to the authority of the law, for that would have no weight, but by a visible token from Heaven. As fire was the element over which Baal was supposed to preside, Elijah proposed that two bullocks should be slain and placed on separate altars of wood, the one for Baal, and the other for God. On whichever the fire should descend to consume it, the event should determine the true God, whom it was their duty to serve. The proposal, appearing every way reasonable, was received by the people with unanimous approval. The priests of Baal commenced the ceremony by calling on their god. In vain did they continue invoking their senseless deity from morning till noon, and from noon till evening, uttering the most piercing cries, using the most frantic gesticulations, and mingling their blood with the sacrifice. No response was heard. No fire descended. Elijah exposed their folly and imposture with the severest irony and, as the day was far advanced, commenced his operations. Inviting the people to approach and see the entire proceeding, he first repaired an old altar of God, which Jezebel had demolished. Then, having arranged the cut pieces of the bullock, he caused four barrels or jars of water to be dashed all over the altar and round in the trench. Once, twice, a third time this precaution was taken, and then, when he had offered an earnest prayer, the miraculous fire descended (레9:24; 유6:21; 13:20; 대상21:26; 대하7:1), and consumed not only the sacrifice, but the very stones of the altar. The impression on the minds of the people was that of admiration mingled with awe; and with one voice they acknowledged the supremacy of Jehovah as the true God. Taking advantage of their excited feelings, Elijah called on them to seize the priestly impostors, and by their blood fill the channel of the river (Kishon), which, in consequence of their idolatries, the drought had dried up—a direction, which, severe and relentless as it seems, it was his duty as God's minister to give (신15:5; 18:20). The natural features of the mount exactly correspond with the details of this narrative. The conspicuous summit, 1635 feet above the sea, on which the altars were placed, presents an esplanade spacious enough for the king and the priests of Baal to stand on the one side, and Elijah on the other. It is a rocky soil, on which there is abundance of loose stones, to furnish the twelve stones of which the altar was built—a bed of thick earth, in which a trench could be dug; and yet the earth not so loose that the water poured into it would be absorbed; two hundred fifty feet beneath the altar plateau, there is a perennial fountain, which, being close to the altar of the Lord, might not have been accessible to the people; and whence, therefore, even in that season of severe drought, Elijah could procure those copious supplies of water which he poured over the altar. The distance between this spring and the site of the altar is so short, as to make it perfectly possible to go thrice thither and back again, whereas it would have been impossible once in an afternoon to fetch water from the sea [Van De Velde]. The summit is one thousand feet above the Kishon, which nowhere runs from the sea so close to the base of the mount as just beneath El-Mohhraka; so that the priests of Baal could, in a few minutes, be taken down to the brook (torrent), and slain there.
【왕상18:21 MHCC】Many of the people wavered in their judgment, and varied in their practice. Elijah called upon them to determine whether Jehovah or Baal was the self-existent, supreme God, the Creator, Governor, and Judge of the world, and to follow him alone. It is dangerous to halt between the service of God and the service of sin, the dominion of Christ and the dominion of our lusts. If Jesus be the only Saviour, let us cleave to him alone for every thing; if the Bible be the world of God, let us reverence and receive the whole of it, and submit our understanding to the Divine teaching it contains. Elijah proposed to bring the matter to a trial. Baal had all the outward advantages, but the event encourages all God's witnesses and advocates never to fear the face of man. The God that answers by fire, let him be God: the atonement was to be made by sacrifice, before the judgment could be removed in mercy. The God therefore that has power to pardon sin, and to signify it by consuming the sin-offering, must needs be the God that can relieve from the calamity. God never required his worshippers to honour him in the manner of the worshippers of Baal; but the service of the devil, though sometimes it pleases and pampers the body, yet, in other things, really is cruel to it, as in envy and drunkenness. God requires that we mortify our lusts and corruptions; but bodily penances and severities are no pleasure to him. Who has required these things at your hands? A few words uttered in assured faith, and with fervent affection for the glory of God, and love to the souls of men, or thirstings after the Lord's image and his favour, form the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man, which availeth much. Elijah sought not his own glory, but that of God, for the good of the people. The people are all agreed, convinced, and satisfied; Jehovah, he is the God. Some, we hope, had their hearts turned, but most of them were convinced only, not converted. Blessed are they that have not seen what these saw, yet have believed, and have been wrought upon by it, more than they that saw it.
【왕상18:41 JFB】왕상18:41-46. Elijah, by Prayer, Obtains Rain.
【왕상18:41 MHCC】Israel, being so far reformed as to acknowledge the Lord to be God, and to consent to the execution of Baal's prophets, was so far accepted, that God poured out blessing upon the land. Elijah long continued praying. Though the answer of our fervent and believing supplications does not come quickly, we must continue earnest in prayer, and not faint or give over. A little cloud at length appeared, which soon overspread the heavens, and watered the earth. Great blessings often arise from small beginnings, showers of plenty from a cloud of span long. Let us never despise the day of small things, but hope and wait for great things from it. From what small beginnings have great matters arisen! It is thus in all the gracious proceedings of God with the soul. Scarcely to be perceived are the first workings of his Spirit in the heart, which grow up at last to the wonder of men, and applause of angels. Elijah hastened Ahab home, and attended him. God will strengthen his people for every service to which his commandments and providence call them. The awful displays of Divine justice and holiness dismay the sinner, extort confessions, and dispose to outward obedience while the impression lasts; but the view of these, with mercy, love, and truth in Christ Jesus, is needful to draw the soul to self-abasement, trust, and love. The Holy Spirit employs both in the conversion of sinners; when sinners are impressed with Divine truths, they should be exhorted to set about the duties to which the Saviour calls his disciples.
【왕상18:42 JFB】42. Ahab went up to eat and to drink—Ahab, kept in painful excitement by the agonizing scene, had eaten nothing all the day. He was recommended to refresh himself without a moment's delay; and, while the king was thus occupied, the prophet, far from taking rest, was absorbed in prayer for the fulfilment of the promise (왕상18:1).
put his face between his knees—a posture of earnest supplication still used.
【왕상18:43 JFB】43. Go up now, look toward the sea—From the place of worship there is a small eminence, which, on the west and northwest side, intercepts the view of the sea [Stanley; Van De Velde]. It can be ascended in a few minutes, and presents a wide prospect of the Mediterranean. Six times the servant went up, but the sky was clear—the sea tranquil. On the seventh he described the sign of approaching rain [왕상18:44].
【왕상18:44 JFB】44. Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand—The clearness of the sky renders the smallest speck distinctly visible; and this is in Palestine the uniform precursor of rain. It rises higher and higher, and becomes larger and larger with astonishing celerity, till the whole heaven is black, and the cloud bursts in a deluge of rain.
Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not—either by the river Kishon being suddenly so swollen as to be impassable, or from the deep layer of dust in the arid plain being turned into thick mud, so as to impede the wheels.
【왕상18:45 JFB】45. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel—now Zerin, a distance of about ten miles. This race was performed in the midst of a tempest of rain. But all rejoiced at it, as diffusing a sudden refreshment over all the land of Jezreel.
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