4 But 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 ." 5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree ; and behold , there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise , eat ." 6 Then 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 . 7 The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said , "Arise , eat , because the journey is too great for you." 8 So 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 .
9 Then 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 ?" 10 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." 11 So 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 . 12 After the earthquake a fire , but the Lord was not in the fire ; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing . 13 When 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 ?" 14 Then 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." 15 The 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 ; 16 and 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 . 17 "It 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 . 18 " Yet I will leave 7,000 e in Israel , all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 19:4-18
Commentary on 1 Kings 19:1-8
(Read 1 Kings 19:1-8)
Jezebel sent Elijah a threatening message. Carnal hearts are hardened and enraged against God, by that which should convince and conquer them. Great faith is not always alike strong. He might be serviceable to Israel at this time, and had all reason to depend upon God's protection, while doing God's work; yet he flees. His was not the deliberate desire of grace, as Paul's, to depart and be with Christ. God thus left Elijah to himself, to show that when he was bold and strong, it was in the Lord, and the power of his might; but of himself he was no better than his fathers. God knows what he designs us for, though we do not, what services, what trials, and he will take care that we are furnished with grace sufficient.
Commentary on 1 Kings 19:9-13
(Read 1 Kings 19:9-13)
The question God put, What doest thou here, Elijah? is a reproof. It 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 my 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 hinders 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. Gracious 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.
Commentary on 1 Kings 19:14-18
(Read 1 Kings 19:14-18)
God repeated the question, What doest thou here? Then he complained of his discouragement; and whither should God's prophets go with their complaints of that kind, but to their Master? The Lord gave him an answer. He declares that the wicked house of Ahab shall be rooted out, that the people of Israel shall be punished for their sins; and he shows that Elijah was not left alone as he had supposed, and also that a helper should at once be raised up for him. Thus all his complaints are answered and provided for. God's faithful ones are often his hidden ones, Psalm 83:3, and the visible church is scarcely to be seen: the wheat is lost in chaff, and the gold in dross, till the sifting, refining, separating day comes. The Lord knows them that are his, though we do not; he sees in secret. When we come to heaven we shall miss many whom we thought to have met there; we shall meet many whom we little thought to have met there. God's love often proves larger than man's charity, and far more extended.