Elijah Announces the Drought and Is Fed by Ravens
1 Kings 17:1-6
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1 K.17.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- התשבי: NOUN,adj,m,sg,def
- מתשבי: PREP+NOUN,adj,m,sg,abs
- גלעד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עמדתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- השנים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- טל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומטר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- לפי: PREP
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 18:1 (structural): Narrative continuation/fulfillment: after the long drought announced in 1 Kgs 17:1, this verse introduces the end of that drought when God tells Elijah rain will come.
- James 5:17-18 (quotation): Direct New Testament citation of Elijah's withholding and restoring of rain — explicitly links Elijah's action/prayer with the three years and six months drought.
- Luke 4:25-26 (allusion): Jesus alludes to the drought of Elijah's day and God's sending of Elijah to a widow (Zarephath), echoing the historical setting and consequences of the drought announced in 1 Kgs 17:1.
- Deuteronomy 11:16-17 (thematic): Law/curse motif: warns that God will withhold rain (turning heavens to iron) as punishment for disobedience, paralleling drought as divine judgment in 1 Kgs 17:1.
- Amos 4:7 (thematic): Prophetic description of God withholding rain from Israel as a disciplinary act, thematically resonant with Elijah's announcement of no dew or rain.
Alternative generated candidates
- Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, before whom I stand, lives—there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
- Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives—before whom I stand—there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.'
1 K.17.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- 1 Kings 18:1 (structural): Same prophetic formula applied to Elijah later in the narrative: 'the word of the LORD came to Elijah, saying…', continuing divine directives to the prophet.
- Jeremiah 1:4 (verbal): The call formula appears: 'Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying…'—a standard prophetic commissioning statement.
- Ezekiel 1:3 (verbal): Uses the same wording: 'the word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest…', framing Ezekiel's visions as direct divine communication.
- Hosea 1:1 (thematic): Begins the book with 'the word of the LORD that came unto Hosea…', reflecting the prophetic genre's opening formula and the theme of received revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
- And the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
1 K.17.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- מזה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ופנית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- קדמה: ADV
- ונסתרת: VERB,hithpael,perf,2,m,sg
- בנחל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const
- כרית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kings 19:3-8 (thematic): Elijah again flees into the wilderness and receives divine care while isolated (sleeping under a broom tree and fed by an angel), paralleling the theme of God protecting and sustaining the prophet in a remote place.
- Luke 4:25-26 (allusion): Jesus alludes to Elijah’s ministry (including his sending to a widow after time at Cherith), directly invoking the story of Elijah’s movements and divine provision.
- Luke 4:1-2 (thematic): Jesus is led into the wilderness and experiences a period of testing/withdrawal, echoing the motif of prophetic solitude and reliance on God in desolate places.
- Mark 6:31-32 (structural): Jesus and his disciples withdraw “to a secluded place” for rest and protection, a parallel narrative move of withdrawing from danger or public exposure into a solitary refuge.
Alternative generated candidates
- "Go from here and turn eastward; hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan.
- Go from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan.
1 K.17.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- מהנחל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- תשתה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- הערבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- צויתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- לכלכלך: PREP+VERB,qal,inf,.,.,.,+PRON,2,m,sg
- שם: ADV
Parallels
- 1Kgs.17.6 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel in the same episode—describes the ravens bringing bread and meat to Elijah, completing the command of v.4.
- Ps.147:9 (verbal): Explicitly states that God gives food to beasts and to the young ravens that cry, echoing the motif of God providing for ravens to sustain his servant.
- Job 38:41 (verbal): God rhetorically asks who prepares food for the raven when its young cry—parallel theme of divine provision for birds.
- Luke 12:24 (thematic): Jesus points to the ravens (birds of the air) as examples of God’s care—argues that if God feeds birds, he will provide for people, echoing the providential theme in 1 Kgs 17:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there."
- You shall drink from the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to supply you there.
1 K.17.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ויעש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בנחל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const
- כרית: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kgs. 17:6 (structural): Immediate continuation: describes how Elijah lived at the brook Cherith and was miraculously fed (ravens brought him food), directly following his obedience in v.5.
- 1 Kgs. 19:5-8 (thematic): Later episode in Elijah's life where, after flight into the wilderness, he is supernaturally sustained (sleeping, fed and given water by an angel) — parallels God's provision for Elijah in a remote place.
- Exod. 17:1-7 (thematic): Narrative of God's provision of water for Israel in the wilderness (Moses striking the rock) — comparable theme of divine care and supply in a desolate/wilderness setting.
- Isa. 58:11 (thematic): Promise that the LORD will guide and satisfy in parched places, making 'your bones strong' and 'watering your heritage' — echoes the motif of God leading and sustaining his servant beside water.
- Ps. 23:2 (thematic): Imagery of the Lord leading the believer 'beside still waters' and providing rest and sustenance — resonates with Elijah's being sent to dwell by the brook Cherith under God's care.
Alternative generated candidates
- So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan.
- So he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan.
1 K.17.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והערבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- מביאים: VERB,hif,ptc,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובשר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בבקר: PREP
- ולחם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובשר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בערב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- הנחל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ישתה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kgs.17.4 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same narrative: God tells Elijah to hide by the brook and that he will drink from it—same episode of provision (brook and later ravens).
- Exod.16.21 (verbal): Manna was gathered 'morning by morning' and 'at evening'—the twice-daily rhythm of provision (bread in the morning and in the evening) parallels the wording and pattern here.
- 1 Kgs.19.5-7 (thematic): A later provision episode in Elijah's life: an angel prepares food and water to sustain him—another instance of miraculous divine sustenance for the prophet.
- Luke 12:24 (thematic): Jesus points to the ravens (which neither sow nor reap) to illustrate God's care in feeding creatures—echoes the motif of God providing food via ravens and caring for his servants.
Alternative generated candidates
- The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and from the brook he drank.
- The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives—before whom I stand—there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” And the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
“Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.