John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And he looked, and, behold, [there was] a cake baked on the coals , etc.] Just took off the coals, quite hot. Bochart thinks it should be rendered, “baked on hot stones”; and such was the way of baking cakes in some of the eastern countries, (see Gill on “ Genesis 18:6”), the stones hereabout might be heated by a supernatural power, and the cake baked on them by an angel; these sort of cakes are in Hebrew called “huggoth”, as some pronounce the word, and are said to be now common in Bulgaria, where they are called “hugaces” f413 : and a cruse of water at his head ; to drink of in eating the cake; which cruse or pot a learned man thinks was Elijah’s, not brought by the angel, only water put into it by him; (see 1 Samuel 26:11), and he did eat and drink; but not all that was set before him: and laid him down again ; to take some more sleep for his greater refreshment.
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 ויבט5027 והנה2009 מראשׁתיו4763 עגת5692 רצפים7529 וצפחת6835 מים4325 ויאכל398 וישׁת8354 וישׁב7725 וישׁכב׃7901
