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1 KINGS 19

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:1-8
  ¹Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ²Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." ³And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. ⁴But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." ⁵He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise, eat." ⁶Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. ⁷The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you." ⁸So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

19:1 "killed all the prophets" Surprisingly the Bible only mentions "the prophets of Ba'al," but does not tell us what happened to the prophets of Asherah (1 Kgs. 18:19).

19:2 "Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying" Even after a powerful demonstration of YHWH's power she refused to believe (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4)! She was a very powerful personality, as was her daughter, Athaliah (2 Kgs. 8:11; 2 Chronicles 21; Psalm 45).

The term "messenger" (BDB 521) is the same term translated "angel" in v. 5. This is probably why Josephus, Antiq. 8.13.7, says "somebody" in v. 5.

▣ "gods" This was a curse formula (i.e., Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam. 14:44; 1 Kgs. 2:23; 20:10; 2 Kgs. 6:31). Fertility worship was a form of polytheism. It involved a family of male and female gods. Here, called elohim.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C.

▣ "life" This is the Hebrew word nephesh. It is used several times in this context. I have included below my thoughts on this word from my Genesis and Leviticus commentaries online.

Gen. 35:18 "her soul was departing" "Soul" is the Hebrew word nephesh (BDB 659). We must be careful that we do not mix Greek philosophy with Hebrew Scripture. The OT does not say that we have a soul, but that we are a soul (cf. Gen. 2:7). The word "soul" comes from the Akkadian word napishtu, which signifies the place of breathing or the throat (cf. Ps. 69:2). Humanity's uniqueness is not in the fact that they have a nephish, for in the early parts of Genesis the animals also had a nephish (cf. Gen. 1:21, 24; 2:19; Lev. 11:46; 24:18). This is simply a Hebrew idiom that one's physical life on earth ceased when breath departed.

Lev. 17:11 The Hebrew root, שׁפנ (BDB 659, KB 711), is used three times in this verse (also note Lev. 17:14 and Gen. 9:3-7).

1. "life of the flesh" (BDB 659 CONSTRUCT BDB142)
2. "your souls"
3. "life"

KB lists six different ways this general word for life/person is used.

1. "gullet," "throat," or "wind pipe" (Ps. 107:9; Isa. 5:14)
2. "neck" (Ps. 69:1)
3. "breath" (i.e., creatures of this planet that breathe air)
   1. humans (Gen. 2:7)
   2. animals (Gen. 1:20)
4. a living, breathing creature (Gen. 2:19
5. people (Lev. 24:17)
6. personality
   1. YHWH (Lev. 26:11)
   2. covenant person (Lev. 26:15)
7. life (Gen. 9:5; 19:17; Lev. 17:11,14)
8. soul (Exod. 23:9)
9. dead soul (Lev. 19:28)

Some of these are overlapping and it is hard to distinguish a difference. See further notes online at Ezek. 18:4.

The MT has "and he saw" (BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERFECT with waw), but most MSS change the Hebrew roots, "and he was afraid."

1. MT (see) ‒ וירא
2. suggested root (fear) ‒ רירא (from ירא, BDB 431, KB 432)

The UBS Text Project supports the second root with a "B" rating. Josephus, Antiq. 8.13.7, says "At this Elijah was frightened."

▣ "ran for his life" In James 5:17 it says "Elijah is a man like us." Does it not help to know that fear and discouragement are common experiences, even of God's great saints?!

▣ "Beersheba" This is literally "well of Sheba" (BDB 92). It is the southern most city of Judah, about 70-90 miles from Jezreel.

▣ "left his sevant there" This is apparently the servant mentioned in 1 Kgs. 18:43. He is not mentioned again.

19:4 "the wilderness" The "wilderness" (BDB 184) was a region where there was not enough water to support human life but enough food for some animals (sheep, camels).

▣ "juniper tree" There is uncertainty to exactly which type of plant/tree this refers. Trees are rare in wildernesses unless there is surface water available. The UBS's Helps for Translators," p. 100, assumes it is the "broom" or "box shrub" bush (cf. Job 30:4; Ps. 120:4).

▣ "he requested. . .that he die" If he really wanted to die he could have saved himself this 95 mile run in the mud!

▣ "I am not better than my fathers" Elijah's self-righteousness and discouragement over the results of his ministry are showing. Notice this time of depression came after a great spiritual victory. "Poor-me's" get us all!

19:5 "slept" Sometime the most spiritual thing we can do is rest!

▣ "there was an angel touching him" This messenger from YHWH is called "the angel of the Lord "in v. 7.

As ravens (or Arabs) fed him in 1 Kgs. 17:4,6, now an angel provides Elijah's physical needs. Josephus, Antiq. 8.13.7, says "somebody awakened him."

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANGEL OF THE Lord

19:8 "forty days" The trip should not have taken that long. Either the "forty" is a round number of indefinite time or there is meant to be a parallel with Israel's wilderness wanderings.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE EXODUS (uncertainties), #IV

SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #7

▣ "to Horeb" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LOCATION OF MT. SINAI, D.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:9-10
  ⁹Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁰He said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

19:9 "to a cave" The "cave" is

1. where Moses received the Law Elijah is so passionate about
2. possibly where Moses saw God (cf. Exod. 33:22)

The NOUN "cave" (BDB 792) has the DEFINITE ARTICLE (i.e., "the well known cave").

▣ "What are you doing here, Elijah?" YHWH knew why he was there but he wanted the prophet to say it out loud!

19:10 Elijah explains his flight from Jezebel.

1. "I have been very zealous" (this is an intensified form repeated in v. 14; an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a PERFECT VERB from the same root; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 937-939).
2. "The sons of Israel have forsaken the Mosaic law."
3. The sons of Israel have torn down YHWH's worship sites.
4. They have killed the prophets of YHWH.
5. I alone am left.
6. They want to kill me.

Elijah is having a terrible "woe is me!" party. He does not understand why YHWH has allowed all of this to occur. He feels alone and ineffective!

▣ "the Lord, the God of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord OF HOSTS.

▣ "covenant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT.

▣ "killed Your prophets" In 1 Kgs. 18:4, it states Jezebel killed most of the prophets (i.e., all she could find) but here and v. 14 state her actions were possible because of the back-slidden condition of the covenant people of Israel. They corporately shared the guilt.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:11-14
  ¹¹So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁴Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

19:11-12 "the Lord was passing by" This is similar to Moses' experience in Exod. 33:19; 34:6. The same VERB also occurs in Exod. 33:22; 43:6. This refers to YHWH's personal presence (i.e., a theophany, see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1247-1249).

Notice the powerful natural phenomena that were present, like at Moses' receiving the Law on Mt. Sinai (cf. Exod. 19:16; Deut. 5:23-26).

1. a great and strong wind
2. an earthquake
3. a fire

However, the true presence of YHWH was "a sound of a gentle blowing." Nature is a creation and a servant, not God!

The MT has two nouns in a construct state and one adjective.

1. BDB 876 ‒ a voice, a noise, an echo
2. BDB 199 ‒ a whisper, silence (BDB 198)
3. BDB 201 ‒ thin like a knife; small, fine like manna or incense or dust

Possibly the gentle voice of God on Elijah's conscience or the peace of heaven amidst turmoil on earth!

Josephus, Antiq. 8.13.7, says there was a silence then a small voice. The IVP Bible Background Commentary (OT) asserts the same, p. 380.

19:13 "he wrapped his face in his mantle" This hairy, shepherds mantle was the characteristic dress of a prophet.

This mantle or cloak (BDB 12) can be understood as

1. a hairy shepherd's garment, Gen. 25:25
2. a hairy man with a leather cloak, 2 Kgs. 1:8 and possibly Heb. 11:37
3. a prophet's characteristic attire, Zech. 13:4
4. a camel hair cloak with a leather belt, Matt. 3:4

It is surprising that the basic meaning of the Hebrew root is "magnificent" or "majestic." Possibly it was a beautiful garment.

Apparently seeing YHWH meant death. I am including my exegetical note from Exod. 33:17-24.

Exod. 33:17-23 Moses wants to visibly see YHWH. Already he has a unique, intimate relationship (cf. Exod. 33:11; Num. 12:8; Deut. 34:10), but he wants more. Apparently Moses

1. did not think seeing YHWH meant death
2. did not fully grasp Exod. 20:4
3. wanted another experience like Exod. 24:10,11, but this time just for him

There is uncertainty about the fear of seeing God, which was thought to cause death because of God's holiness.

1. some did see God (in the Angel of the Lord) and live
   1. Gen. 16:13 ‒ Hagar, as the Angel of the Lord
   2. Gen. 32:30 ‒ Jacob in a vision
   3. Exod. 24:10-11 ‒ 70 elders and Moses in a theophany
   4. Deut. 5:24 ‒ Israel sees the glory of YHWH as the Angel of the Lord
   5. Jdgs. 6:22-23 ‒ Gideon
   6. Jdgs. 13:21-22 ‒ Samson's parents as the Angel of the Lord
   7. Isa. 6:1,5 (cf. John 12:41) ‒ Isaiah in a vision
   8. Ezek. 1:26-27 ‒ Ezekiel in a vision of YHWH's chariot/throne
   9. Dan. 7:9-14 ‒ Daniel in a vision as the Ancient of Days
2. no one has seen God and lived
   1. Exod. 3:6; 19:21; 33:20,23
   2. Lev. 16:2
   3. Num. 4:20
   4. 1 Kgs. 19:13
   5. even angels hid their faces, Isa. 6:2
   6. John 1:18; 5:37; 6:46
   7. 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16
   8. 1 John 4:12,20
3. no one has heard God and lived
   1. Exod. 20:19
   2. Deut. 4:33; 5:24-26; 18:16
   3. 2 Cor. 12:1-4
4. believers can see God in Jesus ‒ John 12:45; 14:9
5. one day believers will see God
   1. Matt. 5:8
   2. 1 Cor. 13:12
   3. Heb. 12:14
   4. Rev. 22:4
   5. note Job 42:5; Ps. 17:15; 42:2

▣ "What are you doing here, Elijah?" This is exactly the question of v. 9 and Elijah responds in exactly the same way (v. 14).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:15-18
  ¹⁵The Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; ¹⁶and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. ¹⁷It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. ¹⁸Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."

19:15-17 YHWH's response to depressed Elijah is new ministry assignments. There was still work for him to do.

1. anoint Hazael king over Syria (MT. "Aram")
2. anoint Nimshi king over Israel
3. anoint Elisha as prophet in your place

Numbers 1 and 2 were symbolic tasks which later involved Elisah. YHWH wanted Elijah to feel he was still useful.

SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED MONARCHY

19:15 "the wilderness of Damascus" This was north of Israel. It was very far from Mt. Horeb.

▣ "anoint" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE.

19:16 "Abel-meholah" This was a location in Gilead, which was Elijah's home area. I wonder if Elijah knew, or knew of, Elisha.

▣ "anoint as prophet" Usually this symbolic act of YHWH's call and equipping His servants is limited for kings and priests, but here is a rare example of a prophetic anointing (cf. Isa. 61:1).

19:17 The temporal consequences of idolatry will surely come to pass. YHWH used contemporary events and persons for His purposes!

19:18 YHWH still had many faithful followers (not just Elijah). This faithfulness is described as

1. have not bowed to Ba'al
2. have not kissed his idol (here, probably the golden calves of Jeroboam, cf. Hos. 13:2)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:19-21
  ¹⁹So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. ²⁰He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" ²¹So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

19:19-21 This is the call of Elisha to be Elijah's helper and successor. This must have surprised Elisha.

Elisha was a wealthy farmer.

1. He was plowing and was in charge of the servants (i.e., killed oxen and fed his family and servants a good meal).
2. twelve pairs of oxen

He had no prophetic background or orientation. This highlights YHWH's choice of him.

19:19 "threw his mantle on him" This was a symbolic act of calling Elisha to prophetic office. The hairy mantle was a visible sign of the prophetic office.

19:20 Elisha felt culturally obligated to help his parents. He was asking more than a quick and simple "good bye." He wanted to stay until they died.

19:21 Elisha made a clean break with his family and cultural expectations. This was not a sacrificial setting but a good-bye meal with family and servants.

The VERB (BDB 1058, KB 1661, Piel IMPERFECT with waw) basically means to serve (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 256-257).

1. domestic stewards ‒ Gen. 39:4; 40:4; 2 Sam. 13:17-18; here
2. prophetic servants ‒ 2 Kgs. 4:43; 6:15
3. royal servants ‒ 2 Sam. 13:17-18; 1 Kgs. 10:5; 2 Chr. 9:4; Esther 2:6; 6:3
4. royal officers ‒ 1 Chr. 27:1; 28:1; 2 Chr. 17:19; 22:8; Esther 1:10; Prov. 29:12
5. special leaders
   1. Joshua to Moses ‒ Exod. 24:13; 23:11; Josh 1:1
   2. Elisha to Elijah ‒ here
6. of angels ‒ Ps. 103:21; 104:4

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why was Elijah afraid of Jezebel?
2. Where did Elijah go and why?
3. Why did YHWH reveal Himself in a still small voice?
4. Was Elisha's slaughter of two oxen a sacrifice to God or a family meal?

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