Kings I 18:3-16

3

4

5

6 And there came out women in dances to meet David out of all the cities of Israel, with timbrels, and with rejoicing, and with cymbals.

7 And the women began , and said, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And it seemed evil in the eyes of Saul concerning this matter, and he said, To David they have given ten thousands, and to me they have given thousands.

9

10

11

12 And Saul was alarmed on account of David.

13 And he removed him from him, and made him a captain of a thousand for himself; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David was prudent in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.

15 And Saul saw that he was very wise, and he was afraid of him.

16 And all Israel and Juda loved David, because he came in and went out before the people.

Kings I 18:3-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 18

In this chapter Elijah has an order from the Lord to show himself to Ahab, who, going first, and meeting with a servant of his, Obadiah, charges him to tell his master where he was, that he might meet him, 1Ki 18:1-16, and, upon meeting him, desires that all Israel, and the prophets of Baal, might be convened, which was accordingly done, 1Ki 18:17-20, when he expostulated with the people of Israel for their idolatry, mocked and confounded the prophets of Baal, and gave the strongest proofs, to the conviction of the people, that Jehovah is the true God, 1Ki 18:21-39, on which all the prophets of Baal were slain, 1Ki 18:40, and rain in great abundance was given at the prayer of the prophet, 1Ki 18:41-46.

Footnotes

• [a]. See Jno 21.
• [b]. was wise.
• [c]. From this point to the end of v 11. is read from
• [d]. vv 17-19 are not in the Vatican codex. They are here read from