John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And it came to pass after many days , etc.] When two years and more were gone from the time the drought and famine began; or rather from the time of the prophets departure to the brook Cherith, which might be six months after the famine began: that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year ; of his absence from Ahab: saying, go show thyself unto Ahab ; whom he had not seen so long, and who had been seeking for him, but to no purpose: and I will send rain upon the earth ; the term of three years and six months being almost expired, (see James 5:17).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-16 - The severest judgments, of themselves, will not humble or change the hearts of sinners; nothing, except the blood of Jesus Christ, can aton 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, 2Ch 11:13, 14, but instead of them God raised u 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 tha escaped death were forced to hide themselves. God has his remnant amon 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 minister and people, for their shelter in difficult times. Bread and water wer now scarce, yet Obadiah will find enough for God's prophets, to kee them alive. Ahab's care was not to lose all the beasts; but he took n 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 no inquiring how to remove the cause. But it bodes well with a people when God calls his ministers to stand forth, and show themselves. An we may the better endure the bread of affliction, while our eyes se our teachers.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 ימים3117 רבים7227 ודבר1697 יהוה3068 היה1961 אל413 אליהו452 בשׁנה8141 השׁלישׁית7992 לאמר559 לך1980 הראה7200 אל413 אחאב256 ואתנה5414 מטר4306 על5921 פני6440 האדמה׃127
