1 Kings 17 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Within the overall story of the kings of Israel and Judah, the author describes in detail how prophets challenged the kings and people of those kingdoms to stop worshiping idols and to become devoted to Yahweh once again. This chapter begins the story of one of those prophets, Elijah.

1. Elijah tells Ahab that Yahweh will punish Israel with drought (17:1)
2. Elijah stays for safety by the wadi of Cherith, and ravens feed him (17:2–7)
3. Elijah stays for safety with a widow in Zarephath, and he multiplies her food (17:8–16)
4. The widow’s son dies, but Elijah raises him back to life (17:17–24)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Why did Yahweh punish Israel with drought for worshiping Baal?

Ahab had led the Israelites to worship of Baal, and people thought that Baal was a god who caused rain. When Elijah identified himself as a prophet and servant of Yahweh and said that it would not rain until he said it would, and then it did not rain for three years, this proved that Yahweh was the true God and that Baal really had no power at all.

Why did Elijah stretch himself over the widow’s child three times?

The author says in 17:21 that when Elijah raised the widow’s child from the dead, just before he called out to Yahweh, “he stretched himself out over the child three times.” It is not certain why Elijah did this, but one possibility is that the number three represented completeness and divine action. It may have emphasized Elijah’s complete reliance on God to restore the child’s life. While the text itself does not explicitly state the meaning of Elijah stretching himself out three times, the possible symbolic significance is supported by the wider biblical use of the number three and the context of divine miracles. The threefold action may serve to emphasize the power of God, the earnestness of Elijah’s prayer, and the completeness of the miraculous restoration of life.