1 Kings 17:14

For thus saith the Lord God of Israel [The words, "God of Israel," if anything, favour the supposition that he was speaking to one who was not of Israel. See on 1 Kings 17:1 . There the words were addressed to one who was denying the God of Israel] The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fall, until the day that the Lord sendeth [Heb. giveth . For תִּתֵן see note on 1 Kings 6:19 ] rain upon the earth. [Heb. on the face of the ground . Like expression 1 Kings 18:1 ; Genesis 2:5 . It has been said that there is not a syllable here to imply a miracle, and it has been contended that this Sareptan household was sustained for over two years simply by the blessing of God on the use of natural means. But clearly, if there was nothing else, there was supernatural knowledge on Elijah's part. And it cannot be denied that the literal construction of the words points to a "supernatural and inexplicable multiplication of food" (Rawlinson), similar to those of which the Gospels tell. It is just possible that this was a figure of speech, which practically meant no more than the necessaries of life should somehow be provided, directly or indirectly, by God. Nor is this view effectually negatived, as Bähr contends, by Luke 4:26 ; but, in view of 2 Kings 4:44 , Matthew 14:15-21 , Matthew 15:32-38 , it is extremely improbable. It is curious how many miracles of Elijah and Elisha foreshadowed those of our blessed Lord.