1 Kings 17:1

1 Kings 17:1

And 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.

a. ASV: And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

b. YLT: And 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.'

c. Amplified Bible Classic: Elijah the Tishbite, of the temporary residents of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years but according to My word.

d. Septuagint: And Eliu the prophet, the Thesbite of Thesbae of Galaad, said to Achaab, As the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be these years dew nor rain, except by the word of my mouth.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Elijah the Tishbite, a resident of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As HASHEM. God of Israel, lives, before Whom i stand, [I swear that] there will not be dew nor rain during these years, except by my word.”

1. “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead…”

a. [And] Elijah [Strong: 452 ʼÊlîyâh, ay-lee-yaw'; or prolonged אֵלִיָּהוּ ʼÊlîyâhûw; from H410 and H3050; God of Jehovah; Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites:—Elijah, Eliah.] [The KJV translates Strong's H452 in the following manner: Elijah (69x), Eliah (2x).]

b. [the] Tisbite [Strong: 8664 Tishbîy, tish-bee'; patrial from an unused name meaning recourse; a Tishbite or inhabitant of Tishbeh (in Gilead):—Tishbite.] [The KJV translates Strong's H8664 in the following manner: Tishbite (6x).]

c. [who was of the] inhabitants [Strong: 8453 tôwshâb, to-shawb'; or תֹּשָׁב tôshâb; (1 Kings 17:1), from H3427; a dweller but not outlandish [H5237]; especially (as distinguished from a native citizen [active participle of H3427] and a temporary inmate [H1616] or mere lodger [H3885]) resident alien:—foreigner, inhabitant, sojourner, stranger.] [The KJV translates Strong's H8453 in the following manner: sojourner (9x), stranger (3x), foreigner (1x), inhabitant (1x).]

d. [of] Gilead [Strong: 1568 Gilʻâd, ghil-awd'; probably from H [1567; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites:—Gilead, Gileadite.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1568 in the following manner: Gilead (101x), Ramothgilead (with H7433) (18x), Jabeshgilead (with H3003) (12x), Gileadites (2x).]

2. “...said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand,

a. said [Strong: 559 ʼâmar, aw-mar'; a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):—answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, ×expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.] [The KJV translates Strong's H559 in the following manner: said (4,874x), speak (179x), answer (99x), command (30x), tell (29x), call (7x), promised (6x), miscellaneous (84x).]

b. unto [Strong: 413 'el ale (but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).]

c. Ahab [Strong: 256 ʼAchʼâb, akh-awb'; once (by contraction) אֶחָב ʼEchâb (Jeremiah 29:22); from H251 and H1; brother (i.e. friend) of (his) father; Achab, the name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon:—Ahab.]

d. [As the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.] [The KJV translates Strong's H3068 in the following manner: LORD (6,510x), GOD (4x), JEHOVAH (4x), variant (1x).]

e. God [Strong: 430 ʼĕlôhîym, el-o-heem'; plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:—angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.] [The KJV translates Strong's H430 in the following manner: God (2,346x), god (244x), judge (5x), GOD (1x), goddess (2x), great (2x), mighty (2x), angels (1x), exceeding (1x), God-ward (with H4136) (1x), godly (1x).]

f. [of] Israel [Strong: 3478 Yisrâʼêl, yis-raw-ale'; from H8280 and H410; he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:—Israel.] [The KJV translates Strong's H3478 in the following manner: Israel (2,489x), Israelites (16x).]

g. liveth [Strong: 2416 chay, khah'-ee; from H2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively:— age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, merry, multitude, (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.] [The KJV translates Strong's H2416 in the following manner: live (197x), life (144x), beast (76x), alive (31x), creature (15x), running (7x), living thing (6x), raw (6x), miscellaneous (19x).]

h. before [Strong: 6440 pânîym, paw-neem'; plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה pâneh; from H6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):— accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, × as (long as), at, battle, because (of), beseech, countenance, edge, employ, endure, enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, × him(-self), honourable, impudent, in, it, look(-eth) (-s), × me, meet, × more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), × on, open, out of, over against, the partial, person, please, presence, prospect, was purposed, by reason of, regard, right forth, serve, × shewbread, sight, state, straight, street, × thee, × them(-selves), through ( -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), upon, upside ( down), with(-in, -stand), × ye, × you.] [The KJV translates Strong's H6440 in the following manner: before (1,137x), face (390x), presence (76x), because (67x), sight (40x), countenance (30x), from (27x), person (21x), upon (20x), of (20x), ...me (18x), against (17x), ...him (16x), open (13x), for (13x), toward (9x), miscellaneous (195x).]

i. whom [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

j. [I] stand [Strong: 5975 ʻâmad, aw-mad'; a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive):—abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.] [The KJV translates Strong's H5975 in the following manner: stood (171x), stand (137x), (raise, stand...) up (42x), set (32x), stay (17x), still (15x), appointed (10x), standing (10x), endure (8x), remain (8x), present (7x), continue (6x), withstand (6x), waited (5x), establish (5x), miscellaneous (42x).]

3. “...there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

a. [there shall] not [Strong: 518  'im eem a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, + more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, + save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more, none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when, whereas, whether, while, + yet.]

b. be [Strong: 1961 hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

c. dew [Strong: 2919 ṭal, tal; from H2926; dew (as covering vegetation):—dew.] [The KJV translates Strong's H2919 in the following manner: dew (31x).]

d. [nr] rain [Strong: 4306 mâṭar, maw-tawr'; from H4305; rain:—rain.] [The KJV translates Strong's H4306 in the following manner: rain (36x), great (1x), small (1x).]

e. these [Strong: 428 'el-leh ale'-leh prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m).]

f. years [Strong: 8141 shâneh, shaw-neh'; (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה shânâh; from H8138; a year (as a revolution of time):— whole age, × long, old, year(× -ly).] [The KJV translates Strong's H8141 in the following manner: year (797x), not translated (55x), yearly (3x), yearly (with H8141) (2x), year (with H1121) (1x), live (with H2416) (1x), old (with H2416) (with H3117) (1x), miscellaneous (4x).]

g. but [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

h. [Stong: 518 'im eem a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, + more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, + save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more, none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when, whereas, whether, while, + yet.]

i. according [Strong: 6310 peh, peh; from H6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to:—accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), × eat, edge, end, entry, file, hole, × in, mind, mouth, part, portion, × (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, × spoken, talk, tenor, × to, two-edged, wish, word.] [The KJV translates Strong's H6310 in the following manner: mouth (340x), commandment (37x), edge (35x), according (22x), word (15x), hole (6x), end (3x), appointment (2x), portion (2x), tenor (2x), sentence (2x), miscellaneous (32x).]

j. [to my] word [Strong: 1697 dâbâr, daw-baw'; from H1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:—act, advice, affair, answer, × any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, chronicles, commandment, × commune(-ication), concern(-ing), confer, counsel, dearth, decree, deed, × disease, due, duty, effect, eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, glory, harm, hurt, iniquity, judgment, language, lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, × ought, × parts, pertaining, please, portion, power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, × (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, sign, so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, song, speech, × spoken, talk, task, that, × there done, thing (concerning), thought, thus, tidings, what(-soever), wherewith, which, word, work.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1697 in the following manner: word (807x), thing (231x), matter (63x), acts (51x), chronicles (38x), saying (25x), commandment (20x), miscellaneous (204x).]

1). This is the first mention of Elijah in the Scriptures. He seems to just appear out of nowhere. We know nothing of his birth, life or anything before this mention. His name means, “My God Jehovah “. There is an interesting Jewish tradition that attempts to fill in the blanks with some information that gives an explanation on the ending of chapter 16 and the beginning of chapter 17.

a). “Elijah’s first appearance in the Bible is as a messenger to Ahab, considered the most sinful of Israel’s kings. He proclaims “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, for whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17: 1).  In the Midrash version, we see that Elijah initially objects to meeting Ahab. The Midrash version states, “Elijah at first refused to seek out the sinner who had violated the Divine Injunction against rebuilding Jericho, for he said that the blasphemous talk of such evil-doers always called for his rage” (Ginzberg 4).  The Midrash also claims that Ahab mocked Elijah, saying “Was not Moses greater than Joshua, and did he not say that God would let no rain descend upon the earth, if Israel served and worshipped idols? There is not an idol to which I do not pay homage, and yet we enjoy all that is goodly and desirable” (Ginzberg 4). Elijah agrees and states “there shall be no dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (Ginzberg 4). www.maryadams.net/classpages/bible/.../example_paper3_ midrash_a.doc

2). Could this be where James 5:17 comes into play?  Perhaps agitated by Ahab’s bold unrighteousness, Elijah prayed for the drought.  

a).  James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

3). We know this for sure. The drought occurred because Elijah prayed and the drought ended because Elijah prayed. The prayer for drought took place before 1 Kings 17:1 and the prayer for rain took place before 1 Kings 18:1.