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Jam_5:17-18. James, wishing to show in the example of Elias the power of prayer, observes beforehand on the objection that, owing to his peculiar greatness (see Sir_48:1-15), the example of Elias was inapplicable to ordinary men, that Ἐλίας ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν .
ἄνθρωπος ] is not here pleonastic (Schneckenburger), but denotes the point on which James insists, which is still more strengthened by ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν . This idea contains no reference to the sufferings which Elias had to endure (Laurentius, Schneckenburger, Bouman), but signifies only of like disposition and nature; see Meyer on Act_14:15; comp. also Wisd. of Son_8:3, and Grimm on 4Ma_12:13. Lange inappropriately explains it “similarly conditioned.” Gebser assumes a contrast to δίκαιος , strangely explaining it: “having the same sentiments and passions as we; James inferred how much more will the prayer of a δικαίου avail.”
The history, to which James refers, is contained in 1Ki_17:1; 1Ki_18:1; 1Ki_18:41 ff. The account of James differs in two points from the O. T. narrative; first, the point on account of which James appeals to Elias, namely his twofold prayer, is not mentioned; and, secondly, it is stated that it began to rain in the third year. Both in 1Ki_17:1 and in 1Ki18:41, Elias only announces what will take place; in the first passage, that it will not rain these years, and in the second passage, that it will soon rain. Neither in what Elias says of himself in 1Ki_17:1 : àÂùÑÆø òÈîÇãÀúÌÄé ìÀôÈðÈéå , nor in what is related in 1Ki_18:41, is it stated that Elias offered up such a prayer as James mentions; for although in 5:42 Elias is represented as praying, yet it is not hinted that the rain took place in consequence of his prayer, since rather the promise of rain (Jam_5:1) preceded the prayer. Yet those statements, and particularly the word of Elias in 1Ki_17:2 : ëÌÄé àÄñÎìÀôÄé ãÀáÈøÄé , are to be considered as the foundation of the statement of James, whether he followed a tradition (see Sir_48:2-3) or a view peculiar to himself.
With regard to the second deviation, the same statement concerning the duration of the drought is found in Luk_4:25 (see Meyer in loco), and in the Jalkut Schimoni on 1 Kings 16, where it is said: Anno xiii. Achabi fames regnabit in Samaria per tres annos et dimidum anni. It is certainly correct, as Benson remarks, that if the rain, according to the word of Elias, was stayed at the beginning of the rainy season, and it again began to rain in the third year at the end of the summer season, the drought would continue in all three and a half years; but according to the statement of James, the drought began with the prayer of Elias, and continued from that three and a half years. Accordingly, Wiesinger is wrong in finding in the remark of Benson a sufficient reconciliation of the difference.[247]
προσευχῇ προσηύξατο ] the same construction as ΘΑΝΆΤῼ ἈΠΟΘΑΝΕῖΣΘΕ , Gen_2:17, LXX., as the Greek rendering of the Hebrew union of the infinite absolute with the finite tense, which the LXX. usually express by the union of the participle with the finite tense (see Winer, p. 317 f. [E. T. 427]). This addition of the substantive serves to bring out the verbal idea (de Wette), not to denote that the prayer of Elias was earnest (Schneckenburger, Wiesinger, Lange), but that nothing else than his prayer produced the long drought.
τοῦ μὴ βρέξαι ] the genitive of design after ΠΡΟΣΗΎΞΑΤΟ , because the contents of the prayer agreed with its object. This construction corresponds to the frequent use of ἽΝΑ with verbs of asking in the N. T.; see Winer, p. 292 [E. T. 410].
ΒΡΈΧΕΙΝ ] is here used, as in the later classics, impersonally; otherwise in Mat_5:45; Gen_2:5; Gen_19:24. Baumgarten incorrectly supplies Ὁ ΘΕΌς as the subject.
ΚΑῚ ΟὐΚ Κ . Τ . Λ .] the result of the prayer. Schneckenburger: quis non sentit pondus dictionis ΤΟῦ ΜῊ ΒΡΈΞΑΙ , ΚΑῚ ΟὐΚ ἜΒΡΕΞΕΝ ; comp. Gen_1:3, fiat lux, et facta est lux.
ἘΠῚ Τῆς Γῆς ] not on the land, i.e. Palestine (Grotius, Wolf, Baumgarten, Stolz, Lange, and others), but on the earth (Luther); comp. Luk_4:25 (Gen_7:12).
[247] It is otherwise with regard to Luk_4:25, where the simple duration of time during which it would not rain is stated. has erred in making the prayer of Elias mentioned by him precede this whole period; whereas what is mentioned in 1Ki_17:1, is that it commenced after the summer during which it had not rained. According to Lange, the reconciliation consists in this, that in 1 Kings 18 only the duration of the real famine is stated, which did not begin until one year after the announcement of the drought; but there is no indication of this statement.