Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Elias . . . like passions as we--therefore it cannot be said that he was so raised above us as to afford no example applicable to common mortals like ourselves.
prayed earnestly--literally, "prayed with prayer": Hebraism for prayed intensely. Compare Luke 22:15, "With desire I have desired," that is, earnestly desired. ALFORD is wrong in saying, Elias' prayer that it might not rain "is not even hinted at in the Old Testament history." In 1 Kings 17:1 it is plainly implied, "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." His prophecy of the fact was according to a divine intimation given to him in answer to prayer. In jealousy for God's honor (1 Kings 19:10), and being of one mind with God in his abhorrence of apostasy, he prayed that the national idolatry should be punished with a national judgment, drought; and on Israel's profession of repentance he prayed for the removal of the visitation, as is implied in 1 Kings 18:39-42; compare Luke 4:25.
three years, etc.--Compare 1 Kings 18:1, "The third year," namely, from Elijah's going to Zarephath; the prophecy (James 5:1) was probably about five or six months previously.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 Kings 18:1
1 Kings 19:3
2 Kings 8:1
Daniel 9:24
Daniel 12:7
Amos 7:3
Zechariah 4:11-12
Malachi 4:5
Luke 4:25-27
1 John 5:17
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