Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
Ahab and the people expected that Elijah would, in this solemn assembly, bless the land, and pray for rain; but he had other work to do first. The people must be brought to repent and reform, and then they may look for the removal of the judgment, but not till then. This is the right method.
Commenting on 1 Kings 18:21-40
And call ye on the name of your gods,.... The Baalim, the many lords and gods they served: and I will call on the name of the Lord; the one true Jehovah and God of Israel, whom I serve: and the God that answereth by fire; by causing fire to come down upon the sacrifice, and consume it: let him be God; accounted, owned, and...
I only, remain a prophet of the Lord - That is, I am the only prophet of God present, and can have but the influence of an individual; while the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men! It appears that the queen's prophets, amounting to four hundred, were not at this great assembly; and these are they whom we meet with Kg1 22:6...