Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa 1 Mga Hari 19:1

Following the events of Har HaCarmel, Achav tells Izevel everything that Eliyahu HaNavi has done (Melachim I 19:1). At this point, Izevel issues a threat against Eliyahu HaNavi. In response, Eliyahu HaNavi runs away to Har Choreiv, otherwise known as Har Sinai. It would be understandable if Eliyahu HaNavi flees in his time of crisis to the Beit HaMikdash or perhaps to the Me’arat HaMachpeilah, as does Kaleiv ben Yefuneh, according to Chazal (Sotah 34b; cited by Rashi to BeMidbar 13:22). Why does Eliyahu HaNavi, out of all places, run to Har Choreiv?

When we read Melachim I 19:1, we are left wondering about Achav’s intentions. Does he try to incite Izevel to take revenge on Eliyahu HaNavi? Perhaps he is afraid to do so himself, and therefore lets Izevel do the “dirty work” for him, as he does in Melachim I 21, in the context of the story with Navot HaYizraeili.

On the other hand, it is possible that Achav intends to inspire Izevel to recognize Hashem, as he himself apparently does during the Har HaCarmel episode. The Malbim seems to adopt this second approach. TABC students, however, were skeptical, noting that there is no mention of Hashem in Melachim I 19:1, leading one to question as to whether there is an intention for Kiruv.