1 Kings 17:2

And the worde of the Lord came vnto him, saying,
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

The word of the LORD came to him, saying,
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying,
- American Standard Version (1901)

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
- Basic English Bible

And the word of Jehovah came to him saying,
- Darby Bible

And the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
- Webster's Bible

The word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
- World English Bible

And the word of Jehovah is unto him, saying,
- Youngs Literal Bible

And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying:
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Wesley's Notes for 1 Kings 17:2

17:1 Elijah - The most eminent of the prophets, who is here brought in,like Melchisedek, without any mention of his father, or mother, orbeginning of his days; like a man dropt out of the clouds, and raised byGod's special providence as a witness for himself in this most degeneratetime that by his zeal, and courage and miracles, he might give some check,to their various and abominable idolatries, and some reviving to that smallnumber of the Lord's prophets, and people, who yet remained in Israel.He seems to have been naturally of a rough spirit. And rough spirits arecalled to rough services. His name signifies, my God Jehovah is he: hethat sends me, and will own me, and bear me out. Said to Ahab - Havingdoubtless admonished him of his sin and danger before; now upon hisobstinacy in his wicked courses, he proceeds to declare, and execute thejudgment of God upon him. As the Lord, &c. - I Swear by the God ofIsrael, who is the only true and living God; whereas the gods whom thouhast joined with him, or preferred before him, are dead and senseless idols.Before whom - Whose minister I am, not only in general, but especially inthis threatening, which I now deliver in his name and authority.There shall not, &c. - This was a prediction, but was seconded with hisprayer, that God would verify it, #James 5:17|, And this prayer wastruly charitable; that by this sharp affliction, God's honour, and the truthof his word (which was now so horribly and universally contemned) might bevindicated; and the Israelites (whom impunity had hardened in theiridolatry) might be awakened to see their own wickedness, and the necessityof returning to the true religion. Those years - That is, These followingyears, which were three and an half, #Luke 4:25 James 5:17|.My word - Until I shall declare, that this judgment shall cease, and shallpray to God for the removal of it.

17:3 Hide thyself - Thus God rescues him from the fury of Ahab andJezebel, who, he knew, would seek to destroy him. That Ahab did notseize on him immediately upon these words must be ascribed to God'sover - ruling providence.

17:4 Have commanded - Or, I shall command, that is, effectuallymove them, by instincts which shall be as forcible with them, as a law orcommand is to men. God is said to command both brute creatures, andsenseless things; when he causeth them to do the things which he intends toeffect by them. The ravens - Which he chuseth for this work; to shew hiscare and power in providing for the prophet by those creatures, which arenoted for their greediness, that by this strange experiment he might betaught to trust God in those many and great difficulties to which he was tobe exposed. God could have sent angels to minister to him. But he chosewinged messengers of another kind to shew he can serve his own purposes aseffectually, by the meanest creatures as by the mightiest. Ravens neglecttheir own young, and do not feed them: yet when God pleaseth, they shallfeed his prophet.