John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there , etc.] This cave, some travellers say f416 , is to be seen at this day, not far from a church dedicated to the prophet Elijah, and that the cave itself has the appearance of a chapel; but a more particular account of it is given in a journal f417 lately published, which says, this cave exists to this very day, and is situated at the foot of Mount Sinai, and is now enclosed in a church built of red and white granite marble, the entrance into which is from the west; the dimensions of this cave are in length five feet, in depth four feet, and in height four and a half. The Jewish writers are of opinion that this was the cleft of the rock in which Moses was put, when the Lord passed before him; but, if so, there would have been no need of Elijah to have gone forth to and stand upon the mount when the Lord passed by, ( 1 Kings 19:11), and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him ; an articulate voice was heard by him: and he said unto him, what dost thou here, Elijah ? this is not a proper place for a prophet to be in, in a wilderness, in a mountain, in a cave in it: what work could he do for God? or what service to his people? in the land of Israel he might bear his testimony against idolatry, and so be a means of reclaiming backsliders, and of establishing those that were in the true religion; but of what usefulness could he be here? Abarbinel takes it to be a reproof of Elijah, for going into a place so holy as it was, and in which Moses, the chief of the prophets, had been, and that it did not become such a man as he was to be in such a place.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-13 - The question God put, What doest thou here, Elijah? is a reproof. I concerns us often to ask whether we are in our place, and in the way of our duty. Am I where I should be? whither God calls me, where m business lies, and where I may be useful? He complained of the people and their obstinacy in sin; I only am left. Despair of success hinder many a good enterprise. Did Elijah come hither to meet with God? he shall find that God will meet him. The wind, and earthquake, and fire did not make him cover his face, but the still voice did. Graciou souls are more affected by the tender mercies of the Lord, than by his terrors. The mild voice of Him who speaks from the cross, or the mercy-seat, is accompanied with peculiar power in taking possession of the heart.
Original Hebrew ויבא935 שׁם8033 אל413 המערה4631 וילן3885 שׁם8033 והנה2009 דבר1697 יהוה3068 אליו413 ויאמר559 לו מה4100 לך פה6311 אליהו׃452
