Author: Administrador

“Do not be afraid.” So say angels in Scripture when they encounter human beings, presumably because the immediate presence of an angel is a terrifying thing to experience. “Do not be afraid.”So also says Elijah today; Elijah, who is a crusty sort of angel, a messenger (which is the root meaning of mal’ak, the Hebrew … Continue reading “1 Kings 17:8-16 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

On the surface, 1 Kings 17:8-16 tells a familiar story of a prophet who performs miracles. A widow and her son, on the brink of starvation, are provided with an oil jug that will not run dry and a stash of grain that will never be empty. Such a surface reading misses the import of … Continue reading “1 Kings 17:8-16 Commentary by Corrine Carvalho”

The literary shifts that bring us to chapter 17 in the book of Kings make Elijah the central character of this narrative. The chapter interrupts the flow of the royal narratives allowing Elijah to literarily and literally crash Ahab’s time in the sun. Despite this focus on Elijah, this lectionary passage offers more when considered … Continue reading “1 Kings 17:8-16 Commentary by Steed Davidson”

The widow of Zarephath labors under a death sentence. This shapes her words and her behaviors: “I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die” (1 Kings 17:12). Like Hagar before her (Genesis 21:16), the … Continue reading “1 Kings 17:8-16 Commentary by Michael J. Chan”

Elijah and a Phoenician widow find themselves in serious trouble. Ancient Near Eastern histories were written by elites, for elites. With limited literacy and restricted access to writing resources and technologies, only royalty had the capabilities to write lengthy historical narratives. For this reason, ancient historiography served to support and legitimize royal rule. But biblical … Continue reading “1 Kings 17:1-16 (or 17:1-24) Commentary by Roger Nam”

It is much easier to talk about trust — confidence in God’s goodness and provision in the face of despair and doubt — than it is to live it. This chapter contains three related stories about how God’s provision is not ultimate. The brook dries up. The jar of oil is about to run out. … Continue reading “1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24] Commentary by Sara Koenig”

Power. Oppression. Rivalry. These interrelated themes are universal across time. Pretty much every known culture develops such narratives couched in royal settings. These themes emerge most dramatically during periods of monarchic succession. For ancient Israel, the installation of their fourth king, Rehoboam, was expectedly tortuous matching the inaugurations of Saul, David and Solomon. Jeroboam begins … Continue reading “1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29 Commentary by Roger Nam”

Last year’s lectionary cycle included longer selections from 1 Kings 8, at the heart of which is Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Jerusalem temple (1 Kings 8:[1, 6, 10-11] 22-30, 41-43). In this week’s reading, only five verses are appointed: verses 22-23 present a sliver of Solomon’s opening address in the prayer, and … Continue reading “1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43 Commentary by Cameron B.R. Howard”

The lectionary reading of this week forms part of a very long section in 1 Kings 8 that comprises Solomon’s dedicatory prayer in the newly constructed temple. As only a few verses are chosen from this chapter and hence one really only gets a snippet view of the prayer as a whole, it also may … Continue reading “1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43 Commentary by Juliana Claassens”

Having been introduced to King Solomon in last week’s reading, we meet him now eleven years later, as he finishes the work for which he is perhaps best remembered: building of the Temple in Jerusalem. Our text for today is Solomon’s prayer at the Temple’s dedication. The previous chapters in 1 Kings speak of the … Continue reading “1 Kings 8:[1, 6, 10-11] 22-30, 41-43 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”