1 Kings Chapter 17 Summary - Key Points & Themes

Read 1 Kings Chapter 17 Summary

Elijah the Tishbite declares to Ahab there will be no dew or rain except by his word. The LORD sends him to the brook Cherith east of Jordan, where ravens bring bread and meat morning and evening. When the brook dries, the LORD sends him to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon who has only a handful of flour and a little oil for a final meal before death. Elijah promises her flour and oil will not fail until rain returns; she feeds him, and the jar of flour and jug of oil miraculously continue. When her son dies, she accuses Elijah of exposing her sin; he stretches himself three times over the child and prays until life returns. The widow declares, 'Now I know you are a man of God and the LORD's word in your mouth is truth.'

Original

Characters in This Chapter

Solomon

David's son, wisest and wealthiest king, builder of the temple, but later fell into idolatry

Elijah

Prophet who confronted Baal worship and demonstrated God's power on Mount Carmel

Ahab

Wicked king of Israel who promoted Baal worship through his wife Jezebel

Jezebel

Ahab's Phoenician wife who promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets

Rehoboam

Solomon's son whose harsh policies caused the kingdom to divide

Places in This Chapter

Jerusalem

Capital of the united kingdom and later Judah, site of Solomon's temple

Mount Carmel

Site of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal

Bethel

One of Jeroboam's unauthorized worship sites with golden calves

Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai (Horeb) where Elijah fled and encountered God

Gilead

Gilead was a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, known for its healing balm and rich pastures. It was home to the prophet Elijah and the judge Jephthah. Jacob and Laban made their covenant at a cairn of stones they named Galeed (Gilead). The region was allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.

Brook Cherith

The Brook Cherith was a seasonal stream east of the Jordan River where God commanded Elijah to hide during the drought he had prophesied. Ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook until it dried up.

Zarephath

Zarephath was a Phoenician town between Tyre and Sidon. During a famine, God sent Elijah here to be fed by a widow. Her flour and oil miraculously never ran out. When her son died, Elijah raised him back to life—the first recorded resurrection in Scripture.

Position in Book

Solomon's ReignChapters 1-11

The Kingdom DividesChapters 12-14

Kings of Israel and JudahChapters 15-16

Elijah's MinistryChapters 17-22

Elijah confronts Baal worship, defeats prophets of Baal on Carmel, flees from Jezebel, Ahab's wars.