1 Kings Chapter 17

Commentary

Ravens Feed Elijah

1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, 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. 2And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

The Widow of Zarephath

8And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

Elijah Raises the Widow's Son

17And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 24And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Ravens Feed Elijah

1 Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” 2 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 3 “Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 4 It shall be, that you shall drink of the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 It happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

The Widow of Zarephath

8 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, “Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 She said, “As Yahweh your God lives, I don’t have a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the jar. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. 14 For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.’” 15 She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 16 The jar of meal didn’t empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Elijah.

Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son

17 It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. 18 She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!” 19 He said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed. 20 He cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I stay, by killing her son?” 21 He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, please let this child’s soul come into him again.” 22 Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, “Behold, your son lives.” 24 The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth.”

The Ravens Feed Elijah

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, a said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

2 Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. b 4 And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

5 So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he would drink from the brook. 7 Some time later, however, the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

The Widow of Zarephath

8 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 9 “Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.”

12 But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.”

13 “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, 14 for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’ ”

15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household. 16 The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Elijah.

Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son

17 Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him. 18 “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”

19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.”

So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!”

22 And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Then Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive,” Elijah declared.

24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is truth.”

 

Footnotes:

1 a Or who was from Tishbe in Gilead
3 b Or the Cherith Ravine, near the Jordan ; also in verse 5

Ravens Feed Elijah

1And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, saith unto Ahab, 'Jehovah, God of Israel, liveth, before whom I have stood, there is not these years dew and rain, except according to my word.' 2And the word of Jehovah is unto him, saying, 3Go from this place; and thou hast turned for thee eastward, and been hidden by the brook Cherith, that is on the front of the Jordan, 4and it hath been, from the brook thou dost drink, and the ravens I have commanded to sustain thee there.' 5And he goeth and doth according to the word of Jehovah, yea, he goeth and dwelleth by the brook Cherith, that is on the front of the Jordan, 6and the ravens are bringing to him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and of the brook he drinketh. 7And it cometh to pass, at the end of days, that the brook drieth up, for there hath been no rain in the land,

The Widow of Zarephath

8and the word of Jehovah is unto him, saying, 9Rise, go to Zarephath, that is to Zidon, and thou hast dwelt there; lo, I have commanded there a widow woman to sustain thee.' 10And he riseth, and goeth to Zarephath, and cometh in unto the opening of the city, and lo there, a widow woman gathering sticks, and he calleth unto her, and saith, 'Bring, I pray thee, to me, a little water in a vessel, and I drink.' 11And she goeth to bring it, and he calleth unto her and saith, 'Bring, I pray thee, to me a morsel of bread in thy hand.' 12And she saith, 'Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but the fulness of the hand of meal in a pitcher, and a little oil in a dish; and lo, I am gathering two sticks, and have gone in and prepared it for myself, and for my son, and we have eaten it -- and died.' 13And Elijah saith unto her, 'Fear not, go, do according to thy word, only make for me thence a little cake, in the first place, and thou hast brought out to me; and for thee and for thy son make -- last; 14for thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, The pitcher of meal is not consumed, and the dish of oil is not lacking, till the day of Jehovah's giving a shower on the face of the ground.' 15And she goeth, and doth according to the word of Elijah, and she eateth, she and he, and her household -- days; 16the pitcher of meal was not consumed, and the dish of oil did not lack, according to the word of Jehovah that He spake by the hand of Elijah.

Elijah Raises the Widow's Son

17And it cometh to pass, after these things, the son of the woman, mistress of the house, hath been sick, and his sickness is very severe till that no breath hath been left in him. 18And she saith unto Elijah, 'What -- to me and to thee, O man of God? thou hast come unto me to cause mine iniquity to be remembered, and to put my son to death!' 19And he saith unto her, 'Give to me thy son;' and he taketh him out of her bosom, and taketh him up unto the upper chamber where he is abiding, and layeth him on his own bed, 20and crieth unto Jehovah, and saith, 'Jehovah my God, also on the widow with whom I am sojourning hast Thou done evil -- to put her son to death?' 21And he stretcheth himself out on the lad three times, and calleth unto Jehovah, and saith, 'O Jehovah my God, let turn back, I pray Thee, the soul of this lad into his midst;' 22and Jehovah hearkeneth to the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the lad turneth back into his midst, and he liveth. 23And Elijah taketh the lad, and bringeth him down from the upper chamber of the house, and giveth him to his mother, and Elijah saith, 'See, thy son liveth!' 24And the woman saith unto Elijah, 'Now, this I have known, that a man of God thou art, and the word of Jehovah in thy mouth is truth.'

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of 1 Kings 17?
2Introduction to 1 Kings 17
3Context of 1 Kings 17
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
61 Kings 17 Unique Insights
71 Kings 17 Connections to Yeshua
81 Kings 17 Scriptural Echoes
91 Kings 17 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of 1 Kings 17?

Introduction to 1 Kings 17

1 Kings 17 marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s history with the dramatic entrance of Elijah the Tishbite onto the biblical stage. This chapter introduces one of the most dynamic prophets in Scripture during the reign of the wicked King Ahab, when Israel had largely abandoned worship of Yahweh for Baal worship. Through supernatural provision, divine authority, and miraculous power, this chapter establishes Elijah as Yahweh’s representative against the darkness of idolatry that had enveloped the northern kingdom of Israel.

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The narrative unfolds through three distinct scenes – the proclamation of drought, provision at the Brook Cherith, and the miracle at Zarephath – each demonstrating God’s sovereign power over nature, provision, and even death itself. This chapter sets the stage for an epic confrontation between the forces of paganism and the one true God of Israel.

Context of 1 Kings 17

The immediate context of 1 Kings 17 follows the spiritual deterioration of the northern kingdom under Ahab, who “did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him” (1 Kings 16:30). Ahab had married Jezebel, a Sidonian princess who aggressively promoted Baal worship throughout Israel. The worship of Yahweh had been largely supplanted by the Canaanite storm god Baal, who was believed to control rain and fertility. This sets up the theological significance of the drought pronounced by Elijah – a direct challenge to Baal’s supposed power over rain.

Within the broader biblical narrative, this chapter initiates a major prophetic movement in Israel’s history. The period of Elijah and Elisha represents a crucial phase in God’s relationship with His people, where prophetic ministry takes center stage in calling Israel back to covenant faithfulness. This era of prophetic ministry would eventually culminate in the writing prophets whose messages would address similar themes of covenant loyalty versus idolatry.

The chapter also fits into the larger pattern of God preserving a faithful remnant even in times of widespread apostasy. Just as God preserved Noah during the flood and kept a remnant during the Babylonian exile, here He sustains Elijah and the widow of Zarephath during a time of judgment, pointing forward to the remnant theme that runs throughout Scripture.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • Tishbite (תִשְׁבִּי): This term likely refers to Elijah’s hometown of Tishbe in Gilead. The root שוב (return) may carry prophetic significance, as Elijah’s ministry was about calling Israel to return to Yahweh. His identity as a Gileadite also connects him to Israel’s pastoral and wilderness traditions.
  • Word (דְבַר): More than just spoken communication, דָּבָר carries the sense of an active, dynamic force. When used in the prophetic formula “the word of the LORD came,” it indicates divine revelation with purpose and power to accomplish God’s will (Isaiah 55:11).
  • Lives (חַי): The oath formula “As the LORD lives” (חַי־יְהוָה) appears frequently in the Elijah narratives. This declaration not only contrasts with the dead idols of Baal worship but also emphasizes Yahweh’s active presence and power in contrast to Baal’s impotence.
  • Ravens (עֹרְבִים): These unclean birds become divine agents of provision, demonstrating God’s sovereignty over creation and His ability to use unexpected means. The word shares a root with evening (עֶרֶב), possibly suggesting God’s provision even in dark times.
  • Widow (אַלְמָנָה): In ancient Near Eastern culture, widows represented the most vulnerable members of society. The term carries connotations of emptiness and abandonment. God’s choice of a Gentile widow as His instrument demonstrates His sovereignty and care for the marginalized.
  • Flask (צַפַּחַת): This specific term for a small jar appears rarely in Scripture. Its root suggests something hidden or preserved, perhaps symbolizing God’s hidden provision during the drought.
  • Life/Soul (נֶפֶשׁ): When the widow’s son dies, the text says his נֶפֶשׁ (life-breath) left him. This word represents not just biological life but the essential person. Its return through Elijah’s prayer demonstrates God’s power over both physical and spiritual death.
  • Truth (אֱמֶת): The widow’s final confession about the “truth” of God’s word connects to the Hebrew concept of אֱמֶת as both factual reality and faithful reliability. It represents the dependable character of God’s promises.

Compare & Contrast

  • The phrase “according to the word of the LORD” appears multiple times, emphasizing divine authority rather than human initiative. The Hebrew construction דְבַר־יְהוָה specially emphasizes that these events unfold according to God’s sovereign plan, not random chance or natural causes.
  • Elijah’s declaration “there shall not be dew nor rain” directly challenges Baal’s supposed domain over weather and fertility. The Hebrew uses emphatic forms to stress the totality of the drought, showing Yahweh’s complete control over what was supposedly Baal’s realm.
  • The command to the ravens uses the imperative צִוִּיתִי (“I have commanded”), the same word used for God’s creative commands in Genesis. This linguistic choice emphasizes God’s continuing sovereign authority over creation.
  • The description of the widow’s gathering sticks uses the Hebrew root קשׁשׁ, which often appears in contexts of gleaning – the last resort of the destitute. This word choice emphasizes her desperate situation before God’s intervention.
  • The phrase “the barrel of meal wasted not” employs כָלָה (to complete/finish) in the negative, creating a wordplay with כִּלְכֵּל (to sustain) used earlier. This linguistic connection emphasizes God’s sustaining power against natural depletion.
  • In the resurrection account, the Hebrew text emphasizes the physical nature of the miracle by saying literally “the child’s soul returned within him,” using עַל־קִרְבּוֹ to stress the actual return of life to the body.
  • The final confession uses the Hebrew construction אָמֵן (“truth”) which carries stronger connotations than mere factual accuracy, suggesting complete reliability and faithfulness – a direct contrast to the unreliability of Baal.
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1 Kings 17 Unique Insights

The chapter presents a carefully structured narrative that moves from public proclamation to increasingly intimate demonstrations of God’s power. This progression – from national drought to personal provision to resurrection – reveals increasingly profound aspects of God’s character and power. The movement from public to private spheres also mirrors the biblical pattern of God often working most powerfully in hidden places with seemingly insignificant people.

Ancient Jewish commentators noted the significance of the three-fold repetition of God’s provision (ravens, meal/oil, resurrection), seeing it as a pattern of increasing revelation of God’s life-giving power. The Midrash Rabbah draws particular attention to the progression from sustaining life (food provision) to restoring life (resurrection), viewing it as a prophetic pattern pointing toward ultimate redemption.

Several early church fathers, including Origen and Augustine, saw in the widow of Zarephath a prophetic type of the Gentile church, noting how God’s provision moves beyond Israel’s borders during a time of national judgment. This foreshadows the New Testament pattern where Israel’s rejection of the Messiah leads to the gospel going to the Gentiles. The widow’s initial gathering of “two sticks” was seen by some as a prophetic picture of the cross where the greatest provision would come.

The location of Zarephath itself carries theological significance, being in Jezebel’s home territory of Sidon. God demonstrates His sovereignty by providing for His prophet in the very heartland of Baal worship, using a widow from Baal’s territory to shame the false god’s impotence. This also establishes a pattern seen throughout Scripture where God often works through the most unlikely sources to demonstrate His power.

1 Kings 17 Connections to Yeshua

The miraculous provision of food in this chapter foreshadows Yeshua’s feeding miracles and His declaration of being the Bread of Life. Just as God provided endless flour and oil for the widow, Yeshua provides endless spiritual sustenance for those who trust in Him (John 6:35). The emphasis on “not running out” points to the inexhaustible nature of God’s provision in the Messiah.

The resurrection of the widow’s son presents clear parallels to Yeshua’s power over death. Elijah’s actions of stretching himself over the child three times can be seen as prophetically pointing to the three days the Messiah would spend in the tomb. Furthermore, this miracle established a pattern that would be repeated through Elisha (2 Kings 4:34-35) and ultimately fulfilled in Yeshua’s resurrection power.

1 Kings 17 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical themes and patterns. The provision of food in a time of famine echoes God’s provision of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16) and anticipates Yeshua’s feeding miracles. The widow’s hospitality parallels the widow of Zarephath with the Shunammite woman who would later host Elisha (2 Kings 4).

The resurrection miracle establishes a pattern that would be repeated through Elisha and ultimately fulfilled in Yeshua’s ministry. This connection is explicitly drawn in Luke’s Gospel, where Yeshua references this account (Luke 4:25-26). The theme of God’s care for widows becomes a recurring motif throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Testament church’s ministry to widows (Acts 6:1-7).

1 Kings 17 Devotional

This chapter powerfully demonstrates that God’s provision often comes in unexpected ways and through unlikely sources. Just as He used ravens – unclean birds – and a Gentile widow to provide for Elijah, God may use surprising means to meet our needs today. This challenges us to look beyond our preconceptions about how God should work and remain open to His sovereign provision.

The widow’s obedience in giving her last meal to Elijah teaches us about sacrificial faith. In our own moments of scarcity, we’re challenged to trust God’s promises even when circumstances seem desperate. Her story reminds us that God often tests our faith not to deplete us but to position us for greater blessing.

Did You Know

  • The brook Cherith’s name means “cutting” or “separation,” symbolically representing Elijah’s separation from the apostate nation for God’s purposes.
  • Zarephath was located between Tyre and Sidon in modern-day Lebanon, showing God’s sovereignty in sending His prophet into the heart of Baal worship territory.
  • Ravens were considered unclean birds under Mosaic law, making God’s use of them as providers particularly striking to the original audience.
  • The widow’s gathering of two sticks has been seen by some ancient commentators as a prophetic picture of the cross, where the greatest provision would come through apparent scarcity.
  • The phrase “according to the word of the LORD” appears three times in this chapter, establishing a pattern that would characterize Elijah’s entire ministry.
  • The resurrection of the widow’s son is the first explicit account of resurrection in Scripture, though hints of resurrection hope appear earlier.
  • Elijah’s name means “My God is Yahweh,” making his very identity a challenge to Baal worship.
  • The location of Zarephath means “place of refinement,” fitting the spiritual refinement both Elijah and the widow underwent there.
  • This account is specifically referenced by Yeshua in Luke 4:25-26 to demonstrate God’s heart for Gentiles.
  • The widow’s confession of God’s truth marks one of the earliest Gentile conversions in Scripture.

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