191 And Ahab declareth to Jezebel all that Elijah did, and all how he slew all the prophets by the sword, 2 and Jezebel sendeth a messenger unto Elijah, saying, 'Thus doth the gods, and thus do they add, surely about this time to-morrow, I make thy life as the life of one of them.' 3 And he feareth, and riseth, and goeth for his life, and cometh in to Beer-Sheba, that 'is' Judah's, and leaveth his young man there, 4 and he himself hath gone into the wilderness a day's Journey, and cometh and sitteth under a certain retem-tree, and desireth his soul to die, and saith, 'Enough, now, O Jehovah, take my soul, for I 'am' not better than my fathers.' 5 And he lieth down and sleepeth under a certain retem-tree, and lo, a messenger cometh against him, and saith to him, 'Rise, eat;' 6 and he looketh attentively, and lo, at his bolster a cake 'baken on' burning stones, and a dish of water, and he eateth, and drinketh, and turneth, and lieth down.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 19:1-6
Commentary on 1 Kings 19:1-8
(Read 1 Kings 19:1-8)
Jezebel sent Elijah a threatening message. Carnal hearts are hardened and enraged against God, by that which should convince and conquer them. Great faith is not always alike strong. He might be serviceable to Israel at this time, and had all reason to depend upon God's protection, while doing God's work; yet he flees. His was not the deliberate desire of grace, as Paul's, to depart and be with Christ. God thus left Elijah to himself, to show that when he was bold and strong, it was in the Lord, and the power of his might; but of himself he was no better than his fathers. God knows what he designs us for, though we do not, what services, what trials, and he will take care that we are furnished with grace sufficient.