ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Kings 17

1 Kings 17:1–22:40 Elijah and Ahab. Other prophets had addressed earlier kings (see 14:7–13; 16:1–4). Until now no one had addressed the house of Omri. But now Elijah is introduced. His first task is to tackle the problem of the Baal worship that Ahab has introduced into Israel (16:31–32). He demonstrates beyond all doubt that Baal is no more a god than are Jeroboam’s bull calves. His announcement of doom on the house of Omri will be delayed, however, until 21:21–24.

1 Kings 17:1–24 Chapter 17 provides the context—a divinely ordained drought—in which the climactic demonstration of the truth about God and the “gods” will take place (18:16–40).

1 Kings 17:1 neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. According to Canaanite religion, Baal had authority over rain and fertility. The absence of rain meant that Baal was submitting to the god of death; he would revive later and, once again, water the earth. The true God of Israel, by contrast, is a God who lives and can either provide or deny the rain.

1 Kings 17:5 Elijah hides in a harsh area east of the Jordan, where there is no normal food supply. God is nevertheless able to provide for him.

1 Kings 17:9 Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon. The heartland of Baal worship is in Sidon, a region over which some thought Israel’s God had no authority. Yet the Lord is God of all lands. He even commanded a widow of the region to feed Elijah. (“Command” here might mean “ordained.”)

1 Kings 17:13 first make me a little cake. Against all parental instinct, the woman is asked to give Elijah something to eat, even before feeding herself and her son. This would be a great step of faith for her.

1 Kings 17:18–20 The widow appears convinced of the truth of Elijah’s religion by seeing God’s power in vv. 8–16. When death comes, she knows it must be the Lord’s doing. She blames God’s prophet for reminding God of her sin. Elijah agrees with her about who is the ultimate cause (have you brought calamity . . . by killing her son?), but in his prayer he makes no comment on whether the widow’s sin was the human cause.

1 Kings 17:21 he stretched himself upon the child three times. The purpose of this action is not made clear. Biblical prophets often “act out” their messages (e.g., Ezekiel 4), and Elijah’s actions here appear to be part of his prayer. When faced with the “god of death,” the Lord, unlike Baal, does not need to submit to him (see note on 1 Kings 17:1).