Study note

1 Kings 19:15–17

  • Go back … and go: With loving patience, God renewed his prophet's mission (see John 21:15–19). God told Elijah to return to where he had left God's mission; from there, he could move forward.

  • Hazael and Jehu became instruments of God's judgment (2 Kings 8:7–15; 9:14–37).

  • Elisha, who succeeded Elijah, would bring spiritual insight and further judgment to Israel (2 Kings 3:10–19; 8:7–15; 9:1–10:31; 13:3, 15–19).

  • Abel-meholah was south of Beth-shan, where the Jezreel Valley and the Jordan Valley meet (see 1 Kings 4:12; Judges 7:22).