ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1Ki 18

1 Kings 18:1–46 In ch. 17 Elijah has lived privately, first in the Transjordanian wilderness and then in Zarephath. Now he reappears in public. The drought will end, but not before all Israel sees that it is the Lord who makes that happen.

1 Kings 18:1–16 Even though Elijah has been living only a few miles from Jezebel’s hometown of Sidon, he has remained hidden from Ahab. Obadiah, like the widow of Zarephath (17:18), mistakenly connects the prophet’s presence with the coming of punishment for his own sin.

1 Kings 18:17–18 you troubler of Israel. Ahab sees Elijah, the prophet who has pronounced God’s judgment, as the cause of the nation’s trouble. But Elijah rightly answers that Ahab, who has turned to other gods, is Israel’s true problem.

1 Kings 18:20 All Israel is now gathered on Mount Carmel. It is a hill near modern Haifa.

1 Kings 18:21 limping between . . . opinions. Compare v. 26, where the prophets of Baal “limped around the altar.” The worship of the people is no better than the worship of these prophets, as they refuse to choose between the Lord and Baal.

1 Kings 18:22 I, even I only, am left. Although there were other prophets of the Lord in Israel at this time (see vv. 4; 13; 20:35–43; 22:1–28), Elijah feels that he is the only one willing to take a public stand against the prophets of Baal.

1 Kings 18:24 the God who answers by fire, he is God. The Lord is often associated with fire in the OT (e.g., Lev. 9:24; 10:2; Num. 16:35). Other ancient sources suggest that Baal was thought to control fire and lightning. The question here is, who really controls the fire?

1 Kings 18:27 musing . . . relieving himself . . . on a journey . . . asleep and must be awakened. Elijah taunts the prophets of Baal with some disrespectful suggestions as to why he does not answer them. A real god would not be limited in such ways.

1 Kings 18:28–29 cut themselves. The desperate attempt to manipulate Baal into action involves self-mutilation.

1 Kings 18:30 he repaired the altar of the Lord. Sacrifices to the Lord were to take place only in Jerusalem, but the authors do not criticize Elijah for repairing this unauthorized altar. The Lord himself removes the altar after it has served its purpose (v. 38).

1 Kings 18:35 the water ran around the altar. The whole area is soaked with water so there is no possibility of natural combustion. If fire consumes this offering, it must be the Lord’s doing.

1 Kings 18:36–37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me. Elijah’s public prayer gives evidence of great faith and confidence that God will answer.

1 Kings 18:38–39 fire of the Lord. This cannot be the result of any natural phenomenon, since even lightning would not consume the stones. As all the people realize, this fire can only be a special work of God.

1 Kings 18:42 Elijah bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. The significance of this prophetic action, like that in 17:21, is unclear. He could be praying for rain, or he might simply be exhausted.

1 Kings 18:45–46 As the rains began, Ahab . . . went to Jezreel, where he had a palace (21:1) and where Jezebel was staying (19:1–2). That Elijah also went to Jezreel suggests he mistakenly thought his war with Baal worship was over.