Six commands in this section. 1 Kings 18:1, 11, 25, 30 (5th miracle), 33, 34.
16th prophecy in 1 Kings 18:4; 15th 18:1 (17:9 fulfilled). The one prediction here was that a widow would sustain Elijah during the remainder of the famine.
KEY TERMS and WORDS
Eliyahu/Elijah = “my God is Jehovah” or “Yah(u) is God”.
Ach’av/Ahab = “father’s brother”
1) king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel
2) false prophet executed by Nebuchadrezzar, time of Jeremiah
Ovadyah/Obadiah = “servant of Jehovah”
The 4th of the 12 minor prophets.
Izevel/Jezebel = “Baal exalts” or “Baal is husband to” or “unchaste”
Wife of Ahab, 1 Ki 16:31. Daughter of Ethbaal. With Baal, a king of Sidon (B.C. 940) father of Jezebel. He is said to have been also a priest of Astarte, whose worship was closely allied to that of Baal, and this may account for his daughter’s zeal in promoting idolatry in Israel. The marriage to Ahab was fatal to both Israel and Judah.
18:19 Asherah fertility goddess. A goddess of the Phoenicians and Syrians. Worship was lewd and associated with that of Baal (Ex 34:13; 1 Kings 16:29-33). Unfortunately was taken over by the Israelites when they fell into idolatry. Asherah was wrongly translated “grove” in the KJV.
Karmel/Carmel = “garden-land”. A mountain on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel, just below Haifa.
18:24 fire אשׁ esh pronounced aysh.
18:27 ridiculing/mocking התל hathal pronounced haw-thal
18:28 Among the ANE (Ancient Near East) it was customary to make lacerations in the flesh, not only as a mark of mourning for the dead (Lev 19:28), but also as an act of idolatrous worship. The custom originated in Syria, and is still practiced among some in different countries.
With and in faith Elijah prayed and trusted God’s response. 18:36, 37. The consumable fire burnt from top down. Normally a fire will burn from bottom up.
Proverbs 10:17 says, “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life”. But he who refuses reproof goes astray”.
The hebrew word for astray is תעה ta‘ah pronounced taw-aw.
The word for correction שׁבט shebet pronounced shay’-bet, can be taken as positive or negative word.
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
Looking ahead, Yeshua left the 99 to retrieve the one.
At the altar of our heart, purity is revealed and inner motives exposed. In key moments of our life, we have corrective opportunities to set our heart straight to be able to grow and be restored. We must cultivate our character through reproof. The Greek word for correction is El-eng-kho. If we don’t willingly purify our heart, a person and/or circumstance will be provided, a life changing experience.