2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria,
2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.
2 Elijah set out to present himself to Ahab. The drought in Samaria at the time was most severe.
2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria.
2 So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:2
Commentary on 1 Kings 18:1-16
(Read 1 Kings 18:1-16)
The severest judgments, of themselves, will not humble or change the hearts of sinners; nothing, except the blood of Jesus Christ, can atone for the guilt of sin; nothing, except the sanctifying Spirit of God, can purge away its pollution. The priests and the Levites were gone to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 11:13,14, but instead of them God raised up prophets, who read and expounded the word. They probably were from the schools of the prophets, first set up by Samuel. They had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, but taught the people to keep close to the God of Israel. These Jezebel sought to destroy. The few that escaped death were forced to hide themselves. God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; and that faith, fear, and love of his name, which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, will be accepted through the Redeemer. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times. Bread and water were now scarce, yet Obadiah will find enough for God's prophets, to keep them alive. Ahab's care was not to lose all the beasts; but he took no care about his soul, not to lose that. He took pains to seek grass, but none to seek the favour of God; fencing against the effect, but not inquiring how to remove the cause. But it bodes well with a people, when God calls his ministers to stand forth, and show themselves. And we may the better endure the bread of affliction, while our eyes see our teachers.