John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done , etc.] What miracles he had wrought, how that not only fire came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifice, but even the stones and dust of the altar, and licked up great quantities of water in the trench around it; and that it was at his prayer that rain came down from heaven in such abundance, of which she was sensible; by all which he got the people on his side, so that it was not in his power to seize him and slay him; and this he said to clear himself, and make her easy: and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword ; the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal he had gathered to Carmel; the Targum calls them false prophets, but Ahab would scarcely use that epithet to Jezebel; as for the four hundred prophets of the grove, they were not present, and so not included. Jezebel knew they were safe, being with her, she not suffering them to go to Carmel.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Jezebel sent Elijah a threatening message. Carnal hearts are hardene and enraged against God, by that which should convince and conque them. Great faith is not always alike strong. He might be serviceabl to Israel at this time, and had all reason to depend upon God' protection, while doing God's work; yet he flees. His was not the deliberate desire of grace, as Paul's, to depart and be with Christ God thus left Elijah to himself, to show that when he was bold an strong, it was in the Lord, and the power of his might; but of himsel he was no better than his fathers. God knows what he designs us for though we do not, what services, what trials, and he will take car that we are furnished with grace sufficient.
Original Hebrew ויגד5046 אחאב256 לאיזבל348 את853 כל3605 אשׁר834 עשׂה6213 אליהו452 ואת853 כל3605 אשׁר834 הרג2026 את853 כל3605 הנביאים5030 בחרב׃2719
