Eliyahu haTishbi said. From a land (Other texts: The name of the city) named Toshav.

As Adonoy lives. Why was this placed here? For Eliyahu and Achov went to console Chieil in his mourning. Achov said to Eliyahu, “Is it possible that the student’s curse was fulfilled while Moshe our teacher’s curse was not fulfilled, as it is stated, “And you turn away and serve other gods, and bow down to them, Adonoy’s wrath will be aroused against you, and He will restrain the skies [and there will be no rain].”¹ Now, all Yisroel are worshiping idols, yet, the rains are not being withheld. Immediately, Eliyahu said, etc.² ³

footnotes: ¹ Devarim 11:17,18. ² Maseches Sanhedrin 113a. ³ Eliyahu intended that by withholding the rain and dew, some or all of the people would repent from their idol worship.—Radak

And hide. From Achov and Ezevel.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ No one should know where you are.—Radak

The brook dried up. In order that he realize the need for rain and trouble himself to go into exile, for it was displeasing to the Holy One Blessed Is He, that Yisroel should be living in hunger.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ See Maseches Sanhedrin 113a and Rashi there.

To Tzorphas. [Tzorphas was] the name of the city.

I have commanded there. In My retinue, that a widow will feed you there.

Please bring me a little water. He was unable to identify the widow⁶ about whom the Holy One Blessed Is He, had told him. But he learned from Eliezer, the servant of Avrohom, and he said, “The one who gives me water to drink, she is the widow.”

footnotes: ⁶ According to the Midrash, this widow was the mother of Yonah the son of Amitai, the prophet.—Radak

Cake. [מעוג means] the same as עוגה [=cake].

A handful. [Targum] Yonoson rendered, “the palm of a handful.”

In a bottle. Bouteille, in O.F., as it is stated regarding Shaul, “the flask of water that was at [Shaul’s] head.”⁷

footnotes: ⁷ I Shmuel 26:12.

We will die. From then on,⁸ we will die of hunger.

footnotes: ⁸ I.e., because after we eat it there is nothing else left for us to eat so ultimately we will die of hunger.

A small cake first. There is a Midrash Aggdah in Bereishis Rabboh⁹ (why he wanted it first) on [the verse], “And Leah said, ‘Unexpected success has come.’”¹⁰

footnotes: ⁹ The Midrash cited by Rashi is not found in our texts of Midrash Rabboh on this verse. ¹⁰ Bereishis 30:11.

Illness struck the son of the woman. So that he should need the Key of Resurrection of the Dead, as stated at the end of the Aggadah of [the chapter entitled] “Cheilek.”¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ Maseches Sanhedrin 113a.

To cause my sins to be remembered. Before you came, they would weigh my deeds and the deeds of my city, and I was worthy of a miracle. But since you came here, I am not reckoned with as [being worthy of] anything and my righteousness is not noticeable.¹² ¹³ (Other texts: Remembered) And similarly, concerning Lot it states, “I cannot escape to the mountain,”¹⁴ [i.e., referring] to Avrohom, for my merit will not be remembered next to his.¹⁵

footnotes: ¹² Before you came I was no worse than my neighbors, but compared to you I am a sinner.—Ralbag ¹³ Alternatively, she said that her sins were being remembered because she had not properly served Eliyahu, and that is why her son died.—Radak ¹⁴ Bereishis 19:19. ¹⁵ Bereishis Rabboh 50:11.

He spread himself out. [ויתמודד is] an expression of מדה, [i.e.,] he spread himself upon him.¹⁶

footnotes: ¹⁶ Eliyahu prostrated himself in the same manner as Elisha did, in the case of Shunamis’ son. He placed his eyes on the youth’s eyes, and his mouth on the youth’s mouth, in II Melochim 4:34.—Radak