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Then Elijah arose, the prophet like fire. His word burned like a torch.
Verse 1. Torch. He was animated with a burning zeal, ( Menochius.) like John the Baptist, admonishing kings, and so forth John 5:35. Lu. 1:17. Calmet.
He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal made them few in number.
Verse 2. And they. Greek “and by his zeal he diminished them. By,” and so forth Bible.—He slew the priests of Baal, and many perished by famine. 4 Kennicott. 18. Grot. Calmet.
By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens. He brought down fire three times.
Verse 3. Heaven. That it should not rain for three years and a-half. 3 Kennicott. 17:1.—Thrice. First upon his sacrifice, and twice to destroy fifty soldiers. Ib. 18 and 4 Kennicott. 1:10. Calmet. Worthington.
How you were glorified, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is like yours?
You raised up a dead man from death, from Hades, by the word of the Most High.
Verse 5. Man. The son of the widow of Sarepta.
You brought down kings to destruction, and honorable men from their sickbeds.
Verse 6. Destruction. The prophets are said to perform what they foretell; to indicate the certainty of the event. Elias denounced death to Achab, Jezabel, Ochozias, and the two Jorams. 4 Kennicott. 9:12 and 2 Chronicles 21:12. and so forth Calmet.—Brokest. Greek “those in honour from,” and so forth alluding to ( Bible.) Ochozias and Joram. 4 Kennicott. 1:16 and 1 Chronicles 21:15. Calmet.
You heard rebuke in Sinai, and judgments of vengeance in Horeb.
Verse 7. Judgment. Greek “the reprimand of the Lord,” for betraying fear, (3 Kennicott. 19:3. 9. 12. Bible.) or the reprimand regarded Israel. Calmet.
You anointed kings for retribution, and prophets to succeed after you.
Verse 8. Penance. Greek “reward,” ( Bible.) or punish the guilty. Hazael and Jehu were anointed by Eliseus, though by order of Elias.—Thee. Eliseus was called from the plough, and adhered to his master, who governed the sons of the prophets in large communities.
You were taken up in a tempest of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.
You were recorded for reproofs in their seasons, to pacify anger, before it broke out into wrath, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
Verse 10. Jacob. Prot. reject the authority of this book, partly ( Bible.) on account of this ( Worthington.) ancient tradition. Enoch and Elias will appear in the days of antichrist, to convert many. The Jews will then agree with the Patriarchs, and embrace the religion of Christ. Calmet.—Elias came in the person of John the Baptist, at the first coming of our Saviour, but he will come in person before his second appearance. Bible.—The application which Christ makes of the prediction of Malachy (4:6) to the Baptist, does not exclude this more distant accomplishment. Elias is still alive in some part of the world, as well as Enoch, whom Saint Augustine styled “the first-born (primogenitor) of our resurrection.” De Civ. Dei. xv. 19. 4 Kennicott. 2:11.
Blessed are those who saw you, and those who have been beautified with love; for we also shall surely live.
Verse 11. Friendship. Like Eliseus, or the disciples of both. Calmet.—Greek “who slept in love, for we also shall live indeed; (13.) Elias,” and so forth Bible.—When we shall witness thy return, if we prove faithful, we may expect an immortal name, and not otherwise. Calmet.—He speaks in the person of those who shall live at that time. Bible.
Elijah was wrapped in a whirlwind. Elisha was filled with his spirit. In his days he was not moved by the fear of any ruler, and no one brought him into subjection.
Nothing was too hard for him. When he was buried, his body prophesied.
Verse 13. Eliseus. Who received his double spirit, with his garment. 4 Kennicott. 2:15.—Prince. Joram. 4 Kennicott. 3:14 and 6:32.
As in his life he did wonders, so his works were also marvelous in death.
Verse 14. Overcome. Or “escape.” Greek Syr. He knew what Giezi and the Syrians were doing, at a distance. 4 Kennicott. 5:26 and 6:12.—Prophesied. Or raised the dead to life. 4 Kennicott. 13:21. Calmet.—On his death-bed (verse 15) he also foretold the victory of Joas. Ib. 14. Vatab. and so forth—The miracle wrought by his relics ( Bible.) shewed that he was a true prophet. Worthington.
For all this the people didn’t repent. They didn’t depart from their sins, until they were carried away as a plunder from their land, and were scattered through all the earth. The people were left very few in number, but with a ruler from the house of David.
Some of them did that which was right, but some multiplied sins.
Hezekiah fortified his city, and brought water into its midst. He tunneled through rock with iron, and built cisterns for water.
In his days Sennacherib invaded, and sent Rabshakeh, and departed. He lifted up his hand against Zion, and boasted great things in his arrogance.
Then their hearts and their hands were shaken, and they were in pain, as women in labor.
Verse 19. Thereof. From Gehon, a fountain on the west. 2 Chronicles 32:30. Calmet.
But they called upon the Lord who is merciful, spreading out their hands to him. The Holy One quickly heard them out of Heaven, and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah.
Verse 20. Lifted. Greek “removed from Lachis, and, “&chapter 4 Kennicott. 18. and so forth
He struck the camp of the Assyrians, and his angel utterly destroyed them.
For Hezekiah did that which was pleasing to the Lord, and was strong in the ways of his ancestor David, which Isaiah the prophet commanded, who was great and faithful in his vision.
In his days the sun went backward. He prolonged the life of the king.
Verse 23. He was. Greek “and he purified ( Bible. or redeemed, Calmet.) them by the hand (ministry) of Isaias. (24.) He,” and so forth Bible.—Prayer prevailed when troops were insufficient. 4 Kennicott. 19. Worthington.
He saw by an excellent spirit what would come to pass in the future; and he comforted those who mourned in Zion.
He showed the things that would happen through the end of time, and the hidden things before they came.
Verse 25. Sight. Greek “vision.” All his predictions were verified. Calmet.