Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 18:5

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

5. Go into [R.V. through ] the land ] The change gives a clearer idea of what is meant, and the preposition is the same which in 1Ki 18:6 is rendered ‘throughout.’ In the next clause, as both nouns are definite in the original, the R.V. has ‘ the fountains’ and ‘ the brooks.’ In their neighbourhood grass would remain longest.

grass to save ] R.V. ‘grass and save,’ which is literal and equally good English with A.V.

that we leese not all the beasts ] They might have to kill some, but the discovery of grass might save a part. The LXX. gives . ‘Leese’ is the old English form of ‘lose.’ Cf. Shakspeare, Sonn. 1Ki 18:14, ‘Flowers distilled leese but their show.’

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Unto all fountains of water and unto all brooks – Rather, to all springs of water and to all torrent-courses. The former are the perennial streams; the latter are the torrent-courses which become dry in an ordinary summer.

All the beasts – Rather, some, or, a portion of our beasts.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 5. Unto all fountains of water] All marshy or well-watered districts, where grass was most likely to be preserved.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks; about which grass was most probably to be found in that great drought.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks,…. To observe in what condition they were, and the places adjoining to them, the meadows and valleys:

peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive; particularly those which belonged to the king’s stables, to find provisions for which it was found difficult:

that we lose not all the beasts; many of them, doubtless, were lost through the drought already, and there was great danger of the rest, and so, in time, of there being none to procreate and preserve their species, and to prevent which Ahab proposed to take this method.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

1Ki 18:5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

Ver. 5. And Ahab said unto Obadiah. ] Goodness carrieth away trust, where it cannot have imitation.

Peradventure we may find grass. ] Which groweth best in locis irriguis, in low and moist places that lie by water sides.

To save the horses and mules alive. ] These were his delight and confidence; and for this more care is taken than for those “precious sons of Zion,” the prophets, whom he suffered to be cut off by his wicked wife Jezebel.

That we lose not all the beasts. ] The loss of their souls, meanwhile, is never thought on; though our Saviour – who only went to the price of souls – showeth that the loss of a soul is, (1.) incomparable, (2.) irreparable. Mat 16:26

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Go into = Septuagint and Syriac read “Go and let us pass through”.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

grass: Psa 104:14, Jer 14:5, Jer 14:6, Joe 1:18, Joe 2:22, Hab 3:17, Rom 8:20-22

we lose not all the beasts: Heb. we cut not off ourselves from the beasts

Reciprocal: Gen 46:32 – their trade hath been to feed cattle Gen 47:13 – so that Deu 11:15 – And I will 1Ki 10:25 – and mules Psa 107:33 – watersprings Jer 14:3 – their nobles Joe 1:20 – the rivers Amo 4:8 – two

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1Ki 18:5-6. Go unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks About which grass was most probably to be found in that great drought; that we lose not all the beasts Many, it appears, were already dead for want of grass, which he hoped they might find in such moist places, sufficient to preserve, at least, a part of the rest. Ahab went one way by himself Not daring to trust any other, Obadiah excepted; lest, being bribed by such as had grass for their own use, they should not give him a true account.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments