Ephrem the Syrian, on 1Kgs 18:22

“And Elias said again to the people: I only remain a prophet of the Lord: but the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men.”

“When Elijah said, "I alone am left as a prophet to the Lord," he was not speaking against the just, because they were no [longer] to be found. Rather he was denouncing sinners, because they had done away with [the just]. He did not wish it to be, therefore, that he alone be found just, and for this reason, he could not be found by them for three years, for he had discovered that they were not worthy of being visited by God.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.