John Gill Commentary 1 Kings 18:28

"And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, till the blood gushed out upon them." — 1 Kings 18:28 (ASV)

And they cried aloud Trying to make him hear, if possible: and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them; so the priests of Heathen deities used to slash themselves on their shoulders, arms, and thighs, in their devotions to them, as many writers observe ^F26, fancying their gods were delighted with human blood; particularly the priests of Bellona {a}, and the worshippers of the Syrian goddess ^F2, and of the Egyptian Isis ^F3.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F26: Vid. Kipping. Antiqu. Roman. l. 1. c. 10. p. 202.
• F2: Apulei Metamorph. l. 8.
• F3: Herodot. Euterpe, c. 61. Manetho. Apotelesm. l. 1. ver. 243, 244. Seneca de vita beata, c. 27.