Luke Chapter 4, Verse 25
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25: επ αληθειας δε λεγω υμιν πολλαι χηραι ησαν εν ταις ημεραις ηλιου εν τω ισραηλ οτε εκλεισθη ο ουρανος επι ετη τρια και μηνας εξ ως εγενετο λιμος μεγας επι πασαν την γην
25: But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the
days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six
months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
25: In truth I say to You, there were many widows in the days of Elias
in Israel, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, when
there was a great famine throughout all the earth.
Of a truth. Truly, and therefore worthy of your credit. He calls
attention to two cases where acknowledged prophets had so little
honour in their own nation that they bestowed their favours on
foreigners. So, says he, such is the want of faith in my own country,
that I shall work no miracles here, but shall give the evidence of my
divine mission to others.
In Israel. In the land of Israel, or Judea. It was therefore the more remarkable, since there were so many in his own country whom he might have helped, that the prophet should have gone to a heathen city and aided a poor widow there.
The days of Elias. The days of Elijah. See the account of this in 1 Kg 17:8ff.
Three years and six months. From 1 Kg 18:1, 1 Kg 18:45, it would seem that the rain fell on the third year -- that is, at the end of the third year after the rain had ceased to fall at the usual time. There were two seasons of the year when rains fell in Judea -- in October and April, called the early and latter rain; consequently there was an interval between them of six months. To the three years, therefore, when rain was withheld at the usual times, are to be added the previous six months, when no rain fell as a matter of course, and consequently three years and six months elapsed without rain.
A great famine. A great want of food, from long-continued and distressing drought.
