the Lord GOD of hosts; it is not out of indifference to his cause, or for want of zeal, but I find that all is to no purpose: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, [even] I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away; there is no one left to stand by me, and they are seeking my life, I despair therefore of doing any good; and this is the cause of my flight. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD, that I may give thee some extraordinary token that I will be with thee. And, behold, the LORD passed by, there was the appearance of the Shekinah, or glory of the Lord, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 earth12 quake: And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] 13 not in the fire :* and after the fire a still small voice. And it was [so,] when Elijah heard [it,] the distinct and gentle voice of God speaking to him, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, to express his reverence, and, not daring to look on the divine glory, he went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, [there came] a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? repeating the former question, to which he 14 returned the same answer. And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord GoD of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, [even] I only, am left: 15 and they seek my life to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus : and when thou comest, anoint Hazael [to be] king over Syria, 16 by whom I will punish this idolatrous and obstinate people : And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint [to be] king over Israel and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, shalt thou anoint [to be] prophet in thy room; or, thou shalt take care 17 that they be anointed. And it shall come to pass, [that] him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay and him that es18 capeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. This was designed to encourage him; though Israel was degenerate, it was not so bad as he imagined; there were seven thousand who had not worshipped idols, who were ready to second his attempts, and declare against idolatry; this gave him fresh vigour. So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, 19 According to the accounts we have of volcanos and fiery eruptions, this appearance was exactly the operation of nature on such occasions. There was a violent storm of wind, then an earthquake, and then fire broke out; nature was suffered to do its office without interrup tion. God was in the still, small voice, which followed this dreadful procession. This was intended to usher in the Shekinah, and prepare the prophet's mind for the instructions of the great author of nature. These three in their turn were to bring judgments on the land; Hazael in battle, Jehu in destroving Jezebel and the idola rous priests, and Elisha by denouncing divine judginenta slaying the Children, and perhaps bringing a famine, 2 Kings vi. 24, &c. who [was] ploughing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth, being a great farmer, and a man of considerable wealth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him, his prophetic habit, which was a kind of inauguration into 20 the office. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? there is nothing in such a ceremony to incline thee to follow me; that instigation is froman higher power. Or rather, what I have done need be no hindrance to a decent and prudent regard to thy relations and worldly affairs, (Luke v. 29.) 21 And he returned back from him, to take a friendly farewel of his relations and servants : and in token of joy at his new calling, and as a farewel feast to his family, he took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him; he was ready to serve him in a lower station, to pour water on his hands, till he was called out to extraordinary services as a prophet. 1. W REFLECTIONS. E hence learn, how incorrigible the hearts of sinners are under the most sensible demonstrations of the divine presence and power. We might have thought that Jezebel, bad as she was, could not have sent such a message to a prophet; espe cially after he had given such proofs of favour to her country by procuring rain. But nothing affected her mind. So sad a thing is a hard heart, and so difficult is it to be renewed and softened. So true it is, that God alone can take away a heart of stone, and give us a heart of flesh. 2. Learn what need the best of men have to guard their hearts against irregular sallies; especially under ill usage for doing their duty. Behold the prophet under the juniper tree, pouring out impatient wishes that he may die! Let us lament the weakness of this excellent man. He, who was so bold before Ahab, who raised the dead child, opened and shut heaven and brought fire from above, and rain on the earth; to fear the threats of a woman, and wish to die for fear of dying! Is this then my lord Elijah? A melancholy instance of what we are when left to ourselves. He was a man of like passions with us. May we learn therefore to guard our hearts, and to rule our spirits, for this was written for our admonition. 3. Let us so behave ourselves, as to be able to answer in the sight of God what business we have in the places where we are. What doest thou here, Elijah? was a just and gentle reproof; Is this a time for good men, for prophets, to retire, when their service is so much needed? Let us often put the question to ourselves, What if we should hear God's voice saying to us when at alehouses, assemblies, or in bad company, working or journeying on sabbath days, What doest thou here? how should we answer it? Let us often say to ourselves, Does God call me to this? Am I in the way of duty? Can I be useful here? Is this my proper place? In such instances let us act with holy caution and fear, remembering that we are accountable to God. 4. This appearance to Elijah, is an emblem of God's manner of dealing with men in bringing them to himself. He is not in the wind, in an earthquake, &c. but by the terrors of the law, and alarms of conscience, he makes way for the gospel. In religious matters there is not always the greatest fervency and devotion, and the most of God, where there is the greatest noise: God makes way for himself by terrible things in righteousness. But he speaks powerfully and sweetly to the heart in his still small voice of mercy and peace. 5. In times of great degeneracy there may be more good men than we think there are, reserved by God for himself. This is applicable to the present day. Rom. xi. 4, 5. But what says the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then, ut this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. The great zeal of good men makes them overlook many, who are often ashamed to be seen when persecuted, reproached, and bantered; yet they may be more than we imagine. It is a comfort that God discerns them; the Lord knoweth them that are his. Let us rejoice in this, and take encouragement in our resolute attempts to promote religion. If we stand up for God, others may join us, or at least thousands may pray for us. 6. See how effectually God can stir up men to undertake his work, even amidst great discouragements. Behold how readily Elisha goes after Elijah. If he had consulted flesh and blood, he would have been very unwilling to be in Elijah's situation, when thus hunted, in these dangerous times, when there was nothing to be expected but persecution. Yet Elisha chose to be servant to a prophet, rather than master of a large farm; and cheerfully resigned all for God. The power of divine grace can conquer every prejudice, and remove every objection. Those are not worthy of God's service, who do not esteem it the highest honour and preferment; yet many decline it, especially in public characters, and particularly in degenerate days. When the harvest is great, and the labourers are few, this story should encourage our prayers to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send more labourers into it. CHAP. XX. We hear nothing of Elijah in this or the next chapter; he was probably eking out some of the seven thousand who lied not bowed the knee to Baal, and was founding and instructing some of the schools of the prophets. In this chapter is an account of Benhadad besieging Samaria; the defeat of his army by the Israelites; he renews the attack, and is again defeated; Ahab makes a foolish treaty with Benhadad, and is reproved for his folly. ND Benhadad the king of Syria (the son of that Benhadad mentioned before) gathered all his host together and [there were] thirty and two kings with him, petty kings, who were tributary to him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it, for what reason does 2 not appear. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel 3 into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad, Thy silver and thy gold [is] mine; thy wives also and thy children, [even] the goodliest, [are] mine; he expected every thing to be 4 delivered at discretion. And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I [am] thine, and all that I have; he was willing to become tributary to him, if he $ would raise the siege. And the inessengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy 6 gold, and thy wives, and thy children; Yet I will send my servants unto thee tomorrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, [that] whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put [it] 7 in their hand, and take [it] away. Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this [man] seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; 8 and I denied him not. And all the elders and all the people said 9 unto him, Hearken not [unto him,] nor consent. Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first, I will do but this thing I may not do; I will stand to the first concession, and no more. And the messengers departed, and 10 brought him word again. And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me; he would bring such an army as would destroy the whole city, and carry away the dust of it; so many, that there would be but 11 an handful for every one. And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him,] Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that putteth it off. Ahab being encouraged by the zeal and unanimity of his council, sent him a very just reproof, 12 not to triumph before he had gained the victory. And it came to pass, when [Benhadad] heard this message, as he [was] drinking, he and the kings in the pavillions, that he said unto his servants, Set [yourselves in array,] and attack the city immediately. And they set [themselves in array] against the city. 13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel; it does not appear who he was, but he came boldly, not being afraid, as he had a good message; saying, thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? probably he had been viewing them from the towers of Samaria; behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD, Finding Ahab so submissive, he enlarged his demands; and now he shall not only become his vassal, but he would take away his royal treasures, and the treasures of his subjects, and every valuable thing that Ahab was fond of, to mortify him. 14 that Jehovah, and not Baal, hath given thee the victory. And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, [even] by the young men of the princes of the provinces; by the pages and servants of the princes; young, raw persons, who knew nothing of military affairs, who lived in ease and luxury, and therefore were very unfit for the business. Then he said, Who shall order the battle, who shall head them? And he answered, Thou. It was rather a mortifying circumstance to be the leader of so small 13 an army. Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two; these were to begin the assault: and after them he numbered all the people, [even] all the children of Israel, [being] seven thousand; these were all he could immediately muster to go in the rear; if 16 the young men succeeded, these were to join in the pursuit. And they went out at noon. But Benhadad [was] drinking himself drunk in the pavillions, he and the kings, the thirty and two 17 kings that helped him. And the young men of the princes of the provinces, went out first; and Benhadad hearing a bustle, sent out to inquire the cause, and they told him saying, There are men come out of Samaria, a small party is coming out of the city. 18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive; he thought it beneath him to fight with so few, and therefore orders 19 them to be taken alive. So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed 20 them; they led the way, and the small army followed them. And they slew every one his man who came to apprehend him and the Syrians fled, being struck with a panic, supposing the army to be much greater than it was: and Israel pursued them and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horse-21 men. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter; he totally routed them. 22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest, make the best preparation against another attack; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee: 23 And the servants of the king of Syria came to consult with him about the next campaign, and said unto him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills, their's is an hilly country, therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they; there our chariots and horses will be more useful, and their gods cannot help them. 24 And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: the kings will not fight well, as it is not for their own country; and they are too delicate and effeminate; your own experienced captains will obey orders 25 and fight better. And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot and we will fight against them in the plain, [and] surely we shall be : |