1 Kings 18:44 NIV,NKJV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 18:44

1 Kings 18:44. There ariseth a little cloud like a man’s hand Which presently overspread the heavens, and watered the earth. Great blessings often rise from small beginnings, and showers of plenty from a cloud of a span long: let us therefore never despise the day of small things, but hope and wait for greater things from it. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-46

Elijah and the prophets of Baal (18:1-46)After three years unbroken drought, God told Elijah that the time had come to make Ahab and Israel decide clearly whether they would follow him or Baal (18:1-2). Ahab was concerned about the effect of the drought on Israel’s trade and defence (for he was in danger of losing his valuable transport animals), but he was not so concerned about the religious condition of the country. He still tried to serve both God and Baal. While his queen attacked God’s... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 18:44

44. Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand—The clearness of the sky renders the smallest speck distinctly visible; and this is in Palestine the uniform precursor of rain. It rises higher and higher, and becomes larger and larger with astonishing celerity, till the whole heaven is black, and the cloud bursts in a deluge of rain. Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not—either by the river Kishon being suddenly so swollen as to be... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 18:41-46

The end of the drought 18:41-46Evidently thunder accompanied the falling of the fire (lightning?) from heaven (1 Kings 18:41). [Note: John Ruthven, "A Note on Elijah’s ’Fire from Yahweh,’" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 12:2 (1969):111-15.] Elijah told Ahab, who had personally witnessed the contest, that he could celebrate by eating (1 Kings 18:41). Perhaps he had been fasting to end the drought. Ahab evidently went up Mount Carmel from the Jezreel Valley below to eat, but... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:1-46

Jehovah or Baal?1. In the third year] in Luke 4:2-5; James 5:17 the duration of the famine is given as 3 years and 6 months. 3. The governor of his house] The same office as that alluded to in 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 16:9. Feared the Lord greatly] His name (’Servant of Jehovah’) was a true index of his character. 4. Cut off the prophets] Nothing is related of this beyond what is implied in 1 Kings 19:10. 12. The Spirit.. thee] cp. 2 Kings 2:16: the prophet’s movements being directed toward... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Kings 18:1-46

Obadiah A Palm in the Desert 1 Kings 18:3 The name Obadiah means 'servant of Jehovah,' and it will appear that his life and character answer to his sacred name. I. Obadiah is an Example of Early Piety. 'But I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth' was his meek avowal to Elijah, the stern Tishbite, as he confronted him in the way. It was a splendid thing to say. Yet a man who so speaks assumes an immense responsibility. I wish each youthful reader would take the words 'my youth' and ponder... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:41-46

THE RAIN1 Kings 18:41-46"Are there any of the vanities of the nations that can cause rain?"- Jeremiah 14:22BUT the terrible excitement of the day was not vet over, nor was the victory completely won. The fire had flashed from heaven, but the long desired rain on which depended the salvation of land and people still showed no signs of falling. And Elijah was pledged to this result. Not until the drought ended could he reach the culmination of his victory over the sun-god of Jezebel’s worship.But... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 18:1-46

2. Elijah on Carmel: The Answered Prayer CHAPTER 18 1. The command to see Ahab (1 Kings 18:1 ) 2. Elijah’s response (1 Kings 18:2 ) 3. Ahab and Obadiah (1 Kings 18:3-6 ) 4. Elijah and Obadiah (1 Kings 18:7-15 ) 5. Elijah meets Ahab (1 Kings 18:16-18 ) 6. Elijah’s demand (1 Kings 18:19-20 ) 7. The events on Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40 ) 8. The answered prayer (1 Kings 18:41-46 ) The judgment of God as announced by Elijah continued its allotted time. A Greek historian, Menander of... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 18:1-46

ELIJAH'S RETURN TO FACE AHAB (vs.1-20) The famine lasted three and a half years (James 5:17), the same length of time the Great Tribulation will last. But the rain would not be sent until Elijah gave the word. The Lord then sent Elijah to present himself to Ahab (v.1). Meanwhile Ahab was desperately occupied with finding some means to relieve the results of the famine. Obadiah was a prominent man in charge of Ahab's affairs. In contrast to Ahab, he feared the Lord greatly, so that it was... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 18:1-46

ELIJAH AND AHAB ELIJAH IN HIDING (1 Kings 17:1-24 ) Nothing is known of Elijah’s previous history, not even why he is called the Tishbite (1 Kings 17:1 ) except, as suggested in the Septuagint translation, that the town of Tishbeh is meant, which was in the Gilead region east of the Jordan. A comparison of Deuteronomy 11:16-17 shows that the judgment he announces (1 Kings 17:1 ) was threatened by Jehovah for such iniquity as that now prevailing; but of course the divine impulse must have... read more