John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And he said, what have I sinned , etc.] Or in what have I offended God or his prophet, that revenge should be taken on me in this way: that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab to slay me ? for that he supposed would be the consequence of it, as he argues and more plainly expresses his sense in the following words.
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 ויאמר559 מה4100 חטאתי2398 כי3588 אתה859 נתן5414 את853 עבדך5650 ביד3027 אחאב256 להמיתני׃4191
