1 Kings 18:41

18:41-46 Israel, being so far reformed as to acknowledge the Lord to be God, and to consent to the execution of Baal's prophets, was so far accepted, that God poured out blessing upon the land. Elijah long continued praying. Though the answer of our fervent and believing supplications does not come quickly, we must continue earnest in prayer, and not faint or give over. A little cloud at length appeared, which soon overspread the heavens, and watered the earth. Great blessings often arise from small beginnings, showers of plenty from a cloud of span long. Let us never despise the day of small things, but hope and wait for great things from it. From what small beginnings have great matters arisen! It is thus in all the gracious proceedings of God with the soul. Scarcely to be perceived are the first workings of his Spirit in the heart, which grow up at last to the wonder of men, and applause of angels. Elijah hastened Ahab home, and attended him. God will strengthen his people for every service to which his commandments and providence call them. The awful displays of Divine justice and holiness dismay the sinner, extort confessions, and dispose to outward obedience while the impression lasts; but the view of these, with mercy, love, and truth in Christ Jesus, is needful to draw the soul to self-abasement, trust, and love.

And Elijah said unto Ahab, get thee up,.... From the brook and valley where the execution of the prophets had been made; either up to his chariot, or to the tent or pavilion erected on the side of the mount, where the whole scene of things was transacted; eat and drink; which he had no leisure for all the day, from the time of the morning sacrifice to the evening sacrifice, which was taken up in attending to the issue of the several sacrifices; but now he is bid to eat and refresh himself, and that in token of joy and gladness, as became him, both for the honour of the true God, which had been abundantly confirmed, and for the near approach of rain, of which he assures him: for there is a sound of abundance of rain; the wind perhaps began to rise, and blow pretty briskly, which was a sign of it (f); besides, according to the Tyrian annals (g), there were loud claps of thunder at this time, at least when the heavens became very black, as in 1 Kings 18:45. (f) "Fit fragor, hinc densi----nimbi", Ovid. Metamorph. l. 1. Fab. 8. v. 269. (g) Apud Joseph, Antiqu. l. 8. c. 13. sect. 2.

1 Kings 18:41 . Get thee up — From the river, (where he had been present at the execution of Baal’s priests,) to thy tent; which probably was pitched on the side of Carmel. Eat, &c. — Take comfort, and refresh thyself: for neither the king nor any of the people could have leisure to eat, being wholly intent upon the decision of the great controversy. For there is a sound of abundance of rain — The rain is as certainly and speedily coming, as if you did actually see it, or hear the noise which it makes.

(41) Get thee up, eat and drink. —There seems a touch of scorn in these words. Ahab, remaining passive throughout, had descended to the place of slaughter in the valley, looking on silent—if not unmoved—while the priests, whose worship he had openly or tacitly sanctioned, were slain by hundreds. Now Elijah bade him get up to his palace, taking it for granted that, fresh from that horrible sight, he is yet ready to feast, and rejoice over the approaching removal of the judgment, which alone had told on his shallow nature. The king goes to revel, the prophet to pray.

41–46 . The prophecy of rain. Elijah awaits its approach on Mount Carmel and then goes to Jezreel (Not in Chronicles) 41 . Elijah said unto Ahab ] The king had been present through all the events of the day, but had been powerless to stay the slaughter of the false prophets. Ahab was overpowered by what he had seen, and Jezebel was not at hand to prompt him to oppose either the prophet or the people. Get thee up, eat and drink ] There was probably preparation made for the king’s refreshment on the top of Carmel, where the offerings had been made, and the words of the prophet apply to Ahab’s return from the Kishon, which was at a lower level. The expression ‘eat and drink’ has been taken by some to be spoken in mockery or uttered as if to one who was callous even after such a scene of butchery. It would rather seem as if Elijah had not yet despaired of Ahab, and was giving the king, who must have been paralysed by the scene, the best advice for his present need, after the long and tragic day. The words may also imply that now there was no longer any fear of want, for the rain was coming at once. Thus they would form a fit introduction for the announcement which follows. for there is a [R.V. the ] sound of abundance of rain ] The expression is definite in the original. The LXX. has a very poetical paraphrase ὅτι φωνὴ τῶν ποδῶν τοῦ ὑετοῦ , ‘for there is the sound of the feet of the rain.’

Get thee up, eat and drink - Ahab had descended the hill-side with Elijah, and witnessed the slaughter of the priests. Elijah now bade him ascend the hill again, and partake of the feast which was already prepared, and which always followed upon a sacrifice. There is a sound of abundance of rain - Either the wind, which in the East usually heralds rain, had begun to rise, and sighed through the forests of Carmel - or perhaps the sound was simply in the prophet's ears, a mysterious intimation to him that the drought was to end, and rain to come that day.

Get thee up from the river, where the king and he had been present at the slaughter of Baal’s priests, to thy tent; which probably was pitched on the side of Carmel. Eat and drink; take comfort, and refresh thyself; for neither the king nor any of the people could have any leisure to eat, being wholly intent upon the decision of the great controversy. There is a sound of abundance of rain; the rain is as certainly and speedily coming, as if I did actually see it, or hear the noise which it makes. God’s wrath is now appeased, and thou shalt have no cause to repent of this day’s work.

Verse 41. - And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up [It is clear from the word עֲלֵה that the king had gone down with the crowd to the Kishon. Curiosity had perhaps impelled him to witness the slaughter which he was powerless to prevent. And no doubt he had been profoundly awed by the portent he had just witnessed], eat and drink [It is hardly likely that there was aught of derision in these words. It is extremely probable that the excitement of the ordeal was so intense that the king had barely tasted food all day long. Elijah now bids him eat if he can, after what he has witnessed. There is now, he suggests, no further cause for anxiety or alarm. The people being repentant (vers. 39, 40), and the men who have brought a curse on the land being cut off, the drought can now be abated (cf. 2 Samuel 21:1, 6, 14 ). The next words assign the reason why he should eat and drink. It is a mistake, however (Ewald, Rawlinson), to suppose that he was bidden to "eat of the feast which always followed a sacrifice," for this was a whole burnt offering and had been entirely consumed (ver. 38). It is probable that the attendants of the king had spread a tent for him upon the plateau, and had brought food for the day along with them]; for there is a sound of abundance of rain [Heb. for a voice of a noise - הָמון ; cf. hum , an onomatopoetic word - of rain . Gesenius and Keil think that the prophet could already hear the sound of the drops of rain, but if so, it was only in spirit (cf. ver. 45)