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'''Elijah''' ([[Hebrew]], "[[YHWH]] is [[God]]") ([[floruit|fl.]] 918-896 BC according to [[James Ussher|Ussher]], or 874-852 BC as may be inferred from [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]) is the best-known and probably the greatest [[prophet]] of [[God]] of the [[Old Testament]] era—and certainly the greatest prophet of the era of the Divided Kingdoms [[Northern Kingdom|Northern]] and [[Southern Kingdom|Southern]]. Ironically, he holds this distinction even though he does not have a book of the [[Bible]] to his name. He is a by-word for courage-under-fire and for willingness to challenge the established order. His record is by no means perfect, but even the one episode of failure-of-nerve is an instructive example.

[[Elijah]] ([[Hebrew]], "[[YHWH]] is [[God]]") (fl. 918-896 BC according to [[James Ussher|Ussher]], or 874-852 BC as may be inferred from [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]) is the best-known and probably the greatest [[prophet]] of [[God]] of the [[Old Testament]] era--and certainly the greatest prophet of the era of the Divided Kingdoms [[Northern Kingdom|Northern]] and [[Southern Kingdom|Southern]]. Ironically, he holds this distinction even though he does not have a book of the [[Bible]] to his name. He is a by-word for courage-under-fire and for willingness to challenge the established order. His record is by no means perfect, but even the one episode of failure-of-nerve is an instructive example.

Elijah holds another distinction, of being the only man who ever lived (aside from [[Enoch]]) to enter into the next life without directly tasting death. Prophecy holds that he will return by a specific gate of the [[Temple of Jerusalem]]. The contemporaries of [[John the Baptist]] once asked him whether he himself was Elijah (he denied this). Students of [[eschatology]], or at least those who hold to a [[Futurism|futuristic]] interpretation of end-times prophecies, hold that Elijah will return again to this world, in the company of [[Moses]] (or [[Enoch]]), to give a pivotal testimony in [[Jerusalem]].

Elijah holds another distinction, of being the only man who ever lived (aside from [[Enoch]]) to enter into the next life without directly tasting death. Prophecy holds that he will return by a specific gate of the [[Temple of Jerusalem]]. The contemporaries of [[John the Baptist]] once asked him whether he himself was Elijah (he denied this). Students of [[eschatology]], or at least those who hold to a [[Futurism|futuristic]] interpretation of end-times prophecies, hold that Elijah will return again to this world, in the company of [[Moses]] (or [[Enoch]]), to give a pivotal testimony in [[Jerusalem]].

The [[Bible]] says nothing of Elijah's origins, other than describing him as a "Tishbite." This presumably means that he was born in the city of [[Tishbe]] in [[Gilead]].

The [[Bible]] says nothing of Elijah's origins, other than describing him as a "Tishbite." This presumably means that he was born in the city of [[Tishbe]] in [[Gilead]].

Some have suggested that ''Elijah'' was not the name that this man was born with, but was one that he chose himself, to express the all-encompassing importance of his mission. That mission was to speak the truth of [[God]] to a power on earth—specifically, that of King [[Ahab]] of the Northern Kingdom, and Ahab's even more wicked queen [[Jezebel]].

Some have suggested that ''Elijah'' was not the name that this man was born with, but was one that he chose himself, to express the all-encompassing importance of his mission. That mission was to speak the truth of [[God]] to a power on earth--specifically, that of King [[Ahab]] of the Northern Kingdom, and Ahab's even more wicked queen [[Jezebel]].

== Career ==

== Career ==

Shortly thereafter, God ordered Elijah to hide by the brook called [[Cherith]], and drink from it, and to eat the morsels that the [[raven]]s brought him. Elijah did so for at least one day, until the brook dried up from the [[drought]] that he had earlier pronounced.

Shortly thereafter, God ordered Elijah to hide by the brook called [[Cherith]], and drink from it, and to eat the morsels that the [[raven]]s brought him. Elijah did so for at least one day, until the brook dried up from the [[drought]] that he had earlier pronounced.

God's next command to Elijah was to go to [[Zarephath]] and there seek lodging from a widow and her son. He found this widow despairing over the failing food in their household, and announcing that she was about to prepare her and her son's last meal. Elijah asked her to feed him first, and then herself and her son—because God had promised that her provisions would not give out until the day that God saw fit to cause rain to fall again. True to Elijah's word, the widow lacked for no provision during the next several days that Elijah lodged in her house.

God's next command to Elijah was to go to [[Zarephath]] and there seek lodging from a widow and her son. He found this widow despairing over the failing food in their household, and announcing that she was about to prepare her and her son's last meal. Elijah asked her to feed him first, and then herself and her son--because God had promised that her provisions would not give out until the day that God saw fit to cause rain to fall again. True to Elijah's word, the widow lacked for no provision during the next several days that Elijah lodged in her house.

But at length her son fell sick and died—and the widow, now very frightened, asked Elijah whether he had come to visit punishment on her for her sins by killing her son. Elijah asked her to entrust her son to his care, which she did. Elijah then prayed earnestly to God to allow the boy to live again—and the boy did. The widow then declared that she trusted Elijah implicitly as a man of God.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=17|verses=1-24|version=KJV}}</ref>

But at length her son fell sick and died--and the widow, now very frightened, asked Elijah whether he had come to visit punishment on her for her sins by killing her son. Elijah asked her to entrust her son to his care, which she did. Elijah then prayed earnestly to God to allow the boy to live again--and the boy did. The widow then declared that she trusted Elijah implicitly as a man of God.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=17|verses=1-24|version=KJV}}</ref>

=== The Mount Carmel Demonstration ===

=== The Mount Carmel Demonstration ===

Ahab met Elijah and at first asked him, "Are you the man who has troubled [[Israel]]?" Elijah answered, in effect, that if either man had troubled the Northern Kingdom, Ahab had, with his [[Baal]] worship. He then issued the king a challenge: that everyone in the kingdom should come to [[Mount Carmel]], together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of [[Asherah]]. There Elijah would prepare a demonstration.

Ahab met Elijah and at first asked him, "Are you the man who has troubled [[Israel]]?" Elijah answered, in effect, that if either man had troubled the Northern Kingdom, Ahab had, with his [[Baal]] worship. He then issued the king a challenge: that everyone in the kingdom should come to [[Mount Carmel]], together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of [[Asherah]]. There Elijah would prepare a demonstration.

At the appointed time and place, Elijah said that the people must stop worshiping two different gods—that they must either follow God, or follow Baal. He then challenged a side-by-side test of the efficacy of these two gods—that the Baalists would prepare a sacrifice of a [[bullock]], and Elijah would do likewise; they would put no fire underneath the altars, but each would call on his respective god to light the fire.

At the appointed time and place, Elijah said that the people must stop worshiping two different gods--that they must either follow God, or follow Baal. He then challenged a side-by-side test of the efficacy of these two gods--that the Baalists would prepare a sacrifice of a [[bullock]], and Elijah would do likewise; they would put no fire underneath the altars, but each would call on his respective god to light the fire.

The Baalists and Asherists prepared their sacrifice and cried out incessantly to Baal from morning until noon. Elijah then mocked them and suggested that they cry more loudly. They did, and even cut themselves so that they bled profusely. All of this was to no avail. Evening came, and Baal had provided no fire.

The Baalists and Asherists prepared their sacrifice and cried out incessantly to Baal from morning until noon. Elijah then mocked them and suggested that they cry more loudly. They did, and even cut themselves so that they bled profusely. All of this was to no avail. Evening came, and Baal had provided no fire.

Instantly the onlookers cried out, "Yahweh is God!" Now Elijah ordered the spectators to arrest the Baalists (and, presumably, the Asherists, too). This they did, and Elijah had them brought to the [[Kishon]] brook and summarily executed.

Instantly the onlookers cried out, "Yahweh is God!" Now Elijah ordered the spectators to arrest the Baalists (and, presumably, the Asherists, too). This they did, and Elijah had them brought to the [[Kishon]] brook and summarily executed.

Finally, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, prostrated himself on the summit, and prayed again. He then asked his servant to look toward the sea seven times, and on the seventh the servant reported seeing a rain cloud. Elijah then had the servant advise Ahab to get back into his chariot and ride back to his capital, if he didn't want to be overtaken by a sudden flood. Ahab did so—with Elijah actually running ahead of him on the way back to [[Jezebel]]'s house—and the skies turned black with [[thunderhead]]s, which discharged a torrential rainfall.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=18|verses=1-46|version=KJV}}</ref>

Finally, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, prostrated himself on the summit, and prayed again. He then asked his servant to look toward the sea seven times, and on the seventh the servant reported seeing a rain cloud. Elijah then had the servant advise Ahab to get back into his chariot and ride back to his capital, if he didn't want to be overtaken by a sudden flood. Ahab did so--with Elijah actually running ahead of him on the way back to [[Jezebel]]'s house--and the skies turned black with [[thunderhead]]s, which discharged a torrential rainfall.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=18|verses=1-46|version=KJV}}</ref>

=== Flight to Sinai ===

=== Flight to Sinai ===

Jezebel, when she heard the story, reacted in cold fury. She sent a message to Elijah, saying coldly that she hoped that her own gods would execute ''her'', in just such a demeaning manner, if she did not have Elijah executed in the same fashion as he had executed the Baalists. Faced with this brazen defiance, Elijah's nerve failed him. He fled to [[Beersheba]], left his servant in that city, and went a day's journey further into the desert. He actually prayed to [[God]] to take his life—because, quite simply, he thought himself a failure.

Jezebel, when she heard the story, reacted in cold fury. She sent a message to Elijah, saying coldly that she hoped that her own gods would execute ''her'', in just such a demeaning manner, if she did not have Elijah executed in the same fashion as he had executed the Baalists. Faced with this brazen defiance, Elijah's nerve failed him. He fled to [[Beersheba]], left his servant in that city, and went a day's journey further into the desert. He actually prayed to [[God]] to take his life--because, quite simply, he thought himself a failure.

Twice an angel provided him food and drink, so that Elijah journeyed for forty days and forty nights to the foot of [[Mount Sinai]] (or ''Horeb''). He hid in a cave, and there God asked him, "What are you doing here?" In reply, Elijah protested that the people of the Northern Kingdom had broken their covenant with God, killed his prophets, and now sought to kill him. God told him to climb the mountain, and when Elijah did, God provided three separate demonstrations of great power.

Twice an angel provided him food and drink, so that Elijah journeyed for forty days and forty nights to the foot of [[Mount Sinai]] (or ''Horeb''). He hid in a cave, and there God asked him, "What are you doing here?" In reply, Elijah protested that the people of the Northern Kingdom had broken their covenant with God, killed his prophets, and now sought to kill him. God told him to climb the mountain, and when Elijah did, God provided three separate demonstrations of great power.

Then God asked him again, "What are you doing here?" Elijah gave the same answer as before. Now God gave Elijah specific instructions and a reassurance. The instructions were to travel to [[Damascus]] and there anoint with oil three specific persons: [[Hazael]] of [[Syria]], who would eventually succeed the present king, [[Benhadad]]; [[Jehu]] son of [[Nimshi]], who would eventually take over the Northern Kingdom; and [[Elisha]] son of [[Shaphat]], who would succeed Elijah himself as God's chief spokesman. The reassurance was that God still had a ''remnant'' of believers, seven thousand in all, who had not turned to the Baal worship that Ahab and Jezebel had brought to the Northern Kingdom.

Then God asked him again, "What are you doing here?" Elijah gave the same answer as before. Now God gave Elijah specific instructions and a reassurance. The instructions were to travel to [[Damascus]] and there anoint with oil three specific persons: [[Hazael]] of [[Syria]], who would eventually succeed the present king, [[Benhadad]]; [[Jehu]] son of [[Nimshi]], who would eventually take over the Northern Kingdom; and [[Elisha]] son of [[Shaphat]], who would succeed Elijah himself as God's chief spokesman. The reassurance was that God still had a ''remnant'' of believers, seven thousand in all, who had not turned to the Baal worship that Ahab and Jezebel had brought to the Northern Kingdom.

Elijah's next task was to find Elisha, who was plowing a field at the time. Elijah threw his mantle on the other man—a gesture Elijah would later repeat—and asked Elisha to follow him. Elisha asked permission to say good-bye to his family first; this Elijah granted. Eventually Elisha returned to Elijah, and between them they killed a team of oxen, fed the nearby workers, and went on their way.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=19|verses=1-21|version=KJV}}</ref>

Elijah's next task was to find Elisha, who was plowing a field at the time. Elijah threw his mantle on the other man--a gesture Elijah would later repeat--and asked Elisha to follow him. Elisha asked permission to say good-bye to his family first; this Elijah granted. Eventually Elisha returned to Elijah, and between them they killed a team of oxen, fed the nearby workers, and went on their way.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=19|verses=1-21|version=KJV}}</ref>

=== The Naboth Incident ===

=== The Naboth Incident ===

== Further appearances of the name Elijah in the Bible ==

== Further appearances of the name Elijah in the Bible ==

The prophet [[Malachi (prophet)|Malachi]] predicted that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the [[Messiah]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Malachi|chap=3|verses=1|version=KJV}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=Malachi|chap=4|verses=5-6|version=KJV}}</ref>

The prophet [[Malachi (prophet)|Malachi]] predicted that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the [[Messiah]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Malachi|chap=3|verses=1|version=KJV}}</ref> <ref>{{Bible ref|book=Malachi|chap=4|verses=5-6|version=KJV}}</ref>

The contemporaries of [[John the Baptist]] asked whether he himself was Elijah. John denied this.

The contemporaries of [[John the Baptist]] asked whether he himself was Elijah. John denied this.

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== See also ==

== See Also ==

* [[Ahab]]

* [[Ahab]]

* [[Jezebel]]

* [[Jezebel]]

[[Category:Biblical Persons]]

[[Category:Biblical Persons]]

[[Category:Jewish People]]

[[Category:Jewish People]]