But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 4. Desert. It seems, towards Horeb. Calmet.—Tree. Hebrew Rothem, which term the Septuagint retain, “Rathmen.” Sym. has, “a shade.” Bible.—Die. Elias requested to die, not out of impatience or pusillanimity, but out of zeal against sin; and that he might no longer be witness of the miseries of his people, and the war they were waging against God and his servants. See verse 10. Challoner.—He does not wish to fall into the hands of Jezabel, lest the idolaters should triumph: but he is willing to die, if God so order it. Calmet.—Mathathias entertained the like sentiments. 1 Maccabees 2:7.—Fathers: that I should live longer than they did. Menochius. Sirach 30:17.—If he had been weary of life, why did he flee? His answer to Achab shews that he was by no means timid. Calmet.