Melachim Alef 19:18

18 Yet I have left me shivat alafim in Yisroel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Ba’al, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Melachim Alef 19:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 19:18

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel
From perishing by the sword of either of them:

all the knees which have not bowed to Baal;
that is, had not worshipped him, which was signified by this gesture:

and every mouth which hath not kissed him;
either the image of Baal itself, or the hand, in reverence of him; which rites, one or other, or both, were used by his worshippers; (See Gill on Hosea 13:2). This either refers, as some think, to the present time, and so is an answer to Elijah, who thought he was the only worshipper left with which seems to agree ( Romans 11:2-4 ) , or to the times to come, when destruction should be made by the above persons, and when God would have some faithful worshippers, and would take care of them; so some render the words, "I will reserve" ^F25.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (ytravhw) "reservabo vel servabo", Vatablus; so V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version.

Melachim Alef 19:18 In-Context

16 And Yehu ben Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be Melech over Yisroel; and Elishah ben Shaphat of Avel Mecholah shalt thou anoint to be navi in thy place.

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the cherev of Chatzael shall Yehu slay; and him that escapeth from the cherev of Yehu shall Elishah slay.

18 Yet I have left me shivat alafim in Yisroel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Ba’al, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

19 So he departed from there, and found Elishah ben Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth; and Eliyahu passed by him, and cast his aderet (cloak, mantle) upon him.

20 And he left the bakar (oxen), and ran after Eliyahu, and said, Let me now kiss Avi and Immi, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Shuv (go back again): for what have I done to thee?