15 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Go, H3212 return H7725 on thy way H1870 to the wilderness H4057 of Damascus: H1834 and when thou comest, H935 anoint H4886 Hazael H2371 to be king H4428 over Syria: H758
And Elisha H477 came H935 to Damascus; H1834 and Benhadad H1130 the king H4428 of Syria H758 was sick; H2470 and it was told H5046 him, saying, H559 The man H376 of God H430 is come H935 hither. H2008 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Hazael, H2371 Take H3947 a present H4503 in thine hand, H3027 and go, H3212 meet H7125 the man H376 of God, H430 and enquire H1875 of the LORD H3068 by him, saying, H559 Shall I recover H2421 of this disease? H2483 So Hazael H2371 went H3212 to meet H7125 him, and took H3947 a present H4503 with him, H3027 even of every good thing H2898 of Damascus, H1834 forty H705 camels' H1581 burden, H4853 and came H935 and stood H5975 before H6440 him, and said, H559 Thy son H1121 Benhadad H1130 king H4428 of Syria H758 hath sent H7971 me to thee, saying, H559 Shall I recover H2421 of this disease? H2483 And Elisha H477 said H559 unto him, Go, H3212 say H559 unto him, Thou mayest certainly H2421 recover: H2421 howbeit the LORD H3068 hath shewed H7200 me that he shall surely H4191 die. H4191 And he settled H5975 his countenance H6440 stedfastly, H7760 until he was ashamed: H954 and the man H376 of God H430 wept. H1058 And Hazael H2371 said, H559 Why weepeth H1058 my lord? H113 And he answered, H559 Because I know H3045 the evil H7451 that thou wilt do H6213 unto the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 their strong holds H4013 wilt thou set H7971 on fire, H784 and their young men H970 wilt thou slay H2026 with the sword, H2719 and wilt dash H7376 their children, H5768 and rip up H1234 their women with child. H2030 And Hazael H2371 said, H559 But what, is thy servant H5650 a dog, H3611 that he should do H6213 this great H1419 thing? H1697 And Elisha H477 answered, H559 The LORD H3068 hath shewed H7200 me that thou shalt be king H4428 over Syria. H758 So he departed H3212 from Elisha, H477 and came H935 to his master; H113 who said H559 to him, What said H559 Elisha H477 to thee? And he answered, H559 He told H559 me that thou shouldest surely H2421 recover. H2421 And it came to pass on the morrow, H4283 that he took H3947 a thick cloth, H4346 and dipped H2881 it in water, H4325 and spread H6566 it on his face, H6440 so that he died: H4191 and Hazael H2371 reigned H4427 in his stead.
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 to me; Make H6213 thee bonds H4147 and yokes, H4133 and put H5414 them upon thy neck, H6677 And send H7971 them to the king H4428 of Edom, H123 and to the king H4428 of Moab, H4124 and to the king H4428 of the Ammonites, H1121 H5983 and to the king H4428 of Tyrus, H6865 and to the king H4428 of Zidon, H6721 by the hand H3027 of the messengers H4397 which come H935 to Jerusalem H3389 unto Zedekiah H6667 king H4428 of Judah; H3063 And command H6680 them to say H559 unto their masters, H113 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Thus shall ye say H559 unto your masters; H113 I have made H6213 the earth, H776 the man H120 and the beast H929 that are upon H6440 the ground, H776 by my great H1419 power H3581 and by my outstretched H5186 arm, H2220 and have given H5414 it unto whom it seemed H5869 meet H3474 unto me. And now have I given H5414 all these lands H776 into the hand H3027 of Nebuchadnezzar H5019 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 my servant; H5650 and the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 have I given H5414 him also to serve H5647 him. And all nations H1471 shall serve H5647 him, and his son, H1121 and his son's H1121 son, H1121 until the very time H6256 of his land H776 come: H935 and then many H7227 nations H1471 and great H1419 kings H4428 shall serve H5647 themselves of him. And it shall come to pass, that the nation H1471 and kingdom H4467 which will not serve H5647 the same Nebuchadnezzar H5019 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and that will not put H5414 their neck H6677 under the yoke H5923 of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 that nation H1471 will I punish, H6485 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 with the sword, H2719 and with the famine, H7458 and with the pestilence, H1698 until I have consumed H8552 them by his hand. H3027 Therefore hearken H8085 not ye to your prophets, H5030 nor to your diviners, H7080 nor to your dreamers, H2472 nor to your enchanters, H6049 nor to your sorcerers, H3786 which speak H559 unto you, saying, H559 Ye shall not serve H5647 the king H4428 of Babylon: H894 For they prophesy H5012 a lie H8267 unto you, to remove you far H7368 from your land; H127 and that I should drive you out, H5080 and ye should perish. H6 But the nations H1471 that bring H935 their neck H6677 under the yoke H5923 of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and serve H5647 him, those will I let remain still H3240 in their own land, H127 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 and they shall till H5647 it, and dwell H3427 therein. I spake H1696 also to Zedekiah H6667 king H4428 of Judah H3063 according to all these words, H1697 saying, H559 Bring H935 your necks H6677 under the yoke H5923 of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and serve H5647 him and his people, H5971 and live. H2421 Why will ye die, H4191 thou and thy people, H5971 by the sword, H2719 by the famine, H7458 and by the pestilence, H1698 as the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 against the nation H1471 that will not serve H5647 the king H4428 of Babylon? H894 Therefore hearken H8085 not unto the words H1697 of the prophets H5030 that speak H559 unto you, saying, H559 Ye shall not serve H5647 the king H4428 of Babylon: H894 for they prophesy H5012 a lie H8267 unto you. For I have not sent H7971 them, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 yet they prophesy H5012 a lie H8267 in my name; H8034 that I might drive you out, H5080 and that ye might perish, H6 ye, and the prophets H5030 that prophesy H5012 unto you. Also I spake H1696 to the priests H3548 and to all this people, H5971 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Hearken H8085 not to the words H1697 of your prophets H5030 that prophesy H5012 unto you, saying, H559 Behold, the vessels H3627 of the LORD'S H3068 house H1004 shall now shortly H4120 be brought again H7725 from Babylon: H894 for they prophesy H5012 a lie H8267 unto you. Hearken H8085 not unto them; serve H5647 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and live: H2421 wherefore should this city H5892 be laid waste? H2723 But if they be prophets, H5030 and if the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 be H3426 with them, let them now make intercession H6293 to the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 that the vessels H3627 which are left H3498 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and in the house H1004 of the king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and at Jerusalem, H3389 go H935 not to Babylon. H894 For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 concerning the pillars, H5982 and concerning the sea, H3220 and concerning the bases, H4350 and concerning the residue H3499 of the vessels H3627 that remain H3498 in this city, H5892 Which Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 took H3947 not, when he carried away captive H1540 Jeconiah H3204 the son H1121 of Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah H3063 from Jerusalem H3389 to Babylon, H894 and all the nobles H2715 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem; H3389 Yea, thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel, H3478 concerning the vessels H3627 that remain H3498 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and in the house H1004 of the king H4428 of Judah H3063 and of Jerusalem; H3389 They shall be carried H935 to Babylon, H894 and there shall they be until the day H3117 that I visit H6485 them, saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 then will I bring H5927 them up, and restore H7725 them to this place. H4725
And desired G154 of G3844 him G846 letters G1992 to G1519 Damascus G1154 to G4314 the synagogues, G4864 that G3704 if G1437 he found G2147 any G5100 of this way, G3598 whether G5037 they were G5607 men G435 or G2532 women, G1135 he might bring them G71 bound G1210 unto G1519 Jerusalem. G2419 And G1161 as he G846 journeyed, G4198 G1722 he came G1096 near G1448 Damascus: G1154 and G2532 suddenly G1810 there shined round about G4015 him G846 a light G5457 from G575 heaven: G3772
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Kings 19
Commentary on 1 Kings 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
1Ki 19:1-3. Elijah Flees to Beer-sheba.
3. he arose, and went for his life—He entered Jezreel full of hope. But a message from the incensed and hard-hearted queen, vowing speedy vengeance for her slaughtered priests, dispelled all his bright visions of the future. It is probable, however, that in the present temper of the people, even she would not have dared to lay violent hands on the Lord's servant, and purposely threatened him because she could do no more. The threat produced the intended effect, for his faith suddenly failed him. He fled out of the kingdom into the southernmost part of the territories in Judah; nor did he deem himself safe even there, but, dismissing his servant, he resolved to seek refuge among the mountain recesses of Sinai, and there longed for death (Jas 5:17). This sudden and extraordinary depression of mind arose from too great confidence inspired by the miracles wrought at Carmel, and by the disposition the people evinced there. Had he remained steadfast and immovable, the impression on the mind of Ahab and the people generally might have been followed by good results. But he had been exalted above measure (2Co 12:7-9), and being left to himself, the great prophet, instead of showing the indomitable spirit of a martyr, fled from his post of duty.
1Ki 19:4-18. He Is Comforted by an Angel.
4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness—on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb—a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his wants, enabled him, in a better but not wholly right frame of mind, by virtue of that supernatural supply, to complete his contemplated journey. In the solitude of Sinai, God appeared to instruct him. "What doest thou here, Elijah?" was a searching question addressed to one who had been called to so arduous and urgent a mission as his. By an awful exhibition of divine power, he was made aware of the divine speaker who addressed him; his attention was arrested, his petulance was silenced, his heart was touched, and he was bid without delay return to the land of Israel, and prosecute the Lord's work there. To convince him that an idolatrous nation will not be unpunished, He commissions him to anoint three persons who were destined in Providence to avenge God's controversy with the people of Israel. Anointing is used synonymously with appointment (Jud 9:8), and is applied to all named, although Jehu alone had the consecrated oil poured over his head. They were all three destined to be eminent instruments in achieving the destruction of idolaters, though in different ways. But of the three commissions, Elijah personally executed only one; namely, the call of Elisha to be his assistant and successor [1Ki 19:19], and by him the other two were accomplished (2Ki 8:7-13; 9:1-10). Having thus satisfied the fiery zeal of the erring but sincere and pious prophet, the Lord proceeded to correct the erroneous impression under which Elijah had been laboring, of his being the sole adherent of the true religion in the land; for God, who seeth in secret, and knew all that were His, knew that there were seven thousand persons who had not done homage (literally, "kissed the hand") to Baal.
16. Abel-meholah—that is, "the meadow of dancing," in the valley of the Jordan.
1Ki 19:19-21. Elisha Follows Elijah.
19. Elisha the son of Shaphat—Most probably he belonged to a family distinguished for piety, and for their opposition to the prevailing calf-worship.
ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen—indicating that he was a man of substance.
Elijah … cast his mantle upon him—This was an investiture with the prophetic office. It is in this way that the Brahmins, the Persian Sufis, and other priestly or sacred characters in the East are appointed—a mantle being, by some eminent priest, thrown across their shoulders. Elisha had probably been educated in the schools of the prophets.
20. what have I done to thee?—that is, Go, but keep in mind the solemn ceremony I have just performed on thee. It is not I, but God, who calls thee. Do not allow any earthly affection to detain you from obeying His call.
21. took a yoke of oxen—Having hastily prepared (2Sa 24:22) a farewell entertainment to his family and friends, he left his native place and attached himself to Elijah as his minister.