state shapes the behavior of the nation. The people’s commitment on Mt. Carmel (18:39) is annulled by Ahab’s failure to witness to the LORD’s victory, by his lack of support for Elijah, and by his yielding to Jezebel. Elijah no longer speaks of Ahab and his father’s house as forsaking the LORD’s covenant (v. 18) but of the people who do so. It is the people, not Ahab or Jezebel, who throw down the LORD’s altars (cf. v. 30), slay the LORD’s prophets (cf. vv. 4, 13), and seek Elijah’s life (19:1).
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