Elijah

Who Elijah is

Elijah enters the story as the Tishbite associated with Gilead who confronts Ahab with drought. He receives food at Cherith and through a widow at Zarephath, whose son revives after his prayer. At Carmel, fire answers his appeal to the Lord; he then kills Baal's prophets. Fleeing Jezebel, he asks to die, receives food and hears a new commission at Horeb. He calls Elisha and later confronts Ahab over Naboth's vineyard. Under Ahaziah, fire consumes two companies sent to summon him before he goes with a third captain and delivers the word of the king's death. As Elisha watches, Elijah is taken into heaven by a whirlwind.

Cited passages: 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 17:2, 1 Kings 17:3, 1 Kings 17:4, 1 Kings 17:5, 1 Kings 17:6, 1 Kings 17:9, 1 Kings 17:10, 1 Kings 17:11, 1 Kings 17:12, 1 Kings 17:13, 1 Kings 17:14, 1 Kings 17:15, 1 Kings 17:16, 1 Kings 17:17, 1 Kings 17:18, 1 Kings 17:19, 1 Kings 17:20, 1 Kings 17:21, 1 Kings 17:22, 1 Kings 17:23, 1 Kings 17:24, 1 Kings 18:36, 1 Kings 18:37, 1 Kings 18:38, 1 Kings 18:39, 1 Kings 18:40, 1 Kings 19:2, 1 Kings 19:3, 1 Kings 19:4, 1 Kings 19:5, 1 Kings 19:6, 1 Kings 19:7, 1 Kings 19:8, 1 Kings 19:9, 1 Kings 19:10, 1 Kings 19:11, 1 Kings 19:12, 1 Kings 19:13, 1 Kings 19:14, 1 Kings 19:15, 1 Kings 19:16, 1 Kings 19:17, 1 Kings 19:18, 1 Kings 19:19, 1 Kings 19:20, 1 Kings 19:21, 1 Kings 21:17, 1 Kings 21:18, 1 Kings 21:19, 1 Kings 21:20, 1 Kings 21:21, 1 Kings 21:22, 1 Kings 21:23, 1 Kings 21:24, 2 Kings 1:9, 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:11, 2 Kings 1:12, 2 Kings 1:13, 2 Kings 1:14, 2 Kings 1:15, 2 Kings 1:16, 2 Kings 1:17, 2 Kings 2:9, 2 Kings 2:10, 2 Kings 2:11, 2 Kings 2:12

Historical setting

The narrative supplies neither Elijah's parents nor his age. His claim to be alone is set beside Obadiah's hundred hidden prophets and the Lord's seven thousand who have not bowed to Baal. In the departure scene, the fiery chariot separates Elijah and Elisha; the whirlwind is what carries Elijah up. Malachi later promises Elijah's coming before the day of the Lord. Matthew's Christian account places him with Moses at Jesus' transfiguration and records the disciples understanding Jesus' words about Elijah as referring to John the Baptist.

Cited passages: 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:3, 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 19:10, 1 Kings 19:11, 1 Kings 19:12, 1 Kings 19:13, 1 Kings 19:14, 1 Kings 19:15, 1 Kings 19:16, 1 Kings 19:17, 1 Kings 19:18, 2 Kings 2:9, 2 Kings 2:10, 2 Kings 2:11, 2 Kings 2:12, Malachi 4:5, Malachi 4:6, Matthew 17:1, Matthew 17:2, Matthew 17:3, Matthew 17:4, Matthew 17:5, Matthew 17:6, Matthew 17:7, Matthew 17:8, Matthew 17:9, Matthew 17:10, Matthew 17:11, Matthew 17:12, Matthew 17:13

How the story is told

Elijah's public authority stands alongside his dependence on food, shelter and the Lord's response to prayer. The stories retain his questions and distress as well as his confrontations with kings. Provision and restored life occur alongside deadly judgments, including the deaths at Kishon and the fire against Ahaziah's companies. The Lord's word directs his movements and confrontations. The mantle and Elisha's witness connect the closing scene with Elisha's work.

Cited passages: 1 Kings 17:2, 1 Kings 17:3, 1 Kings 17:4, 1 Kings 17:5, 1 Kings 17:6, 1 Kings 17:7, 1 Kings 17:8, 1 Kings 17:9, 1 Kings 17:10, 1 Kings 17:11, 1 Kings 17:12, 1 Kings 17:13, 1 Kings 17:14, 1 Kings 17:15, 1 Kings 17:16, 1 Kings 17:17, 1 Kings 17:18, 1 Kings 17:19, 1 Kings 17:20, 1 Kings 17:21, 1 Kings 17:22, 1 Kings 17:23, 1 Kings 17:24, 1 Kings 18:36, 1 Kings 18:37, 1 Kings 18:38, 1 Kings 18:39, 1 Kings 18:40, 1 Kings 19:4, 1 Kings 19:5, 1 Kings 19:6, 1 Kings 19:7, 1 Kings 19:8, 1 Kings 19:9, 1 Kings 19:10, 1 Kings 19:11, 1 Kings 19:12, 1 Kings 19:13, 1 Kings 19:14, 1 Kings 19:15, 1 Kings 19:16, 1 Kings 19:17, 1 Kings 19:18, 1 Kings 19:19, 1 Kings 19:20, 1 Kings 19:21, 2 Kings 1:9, 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:11, 2 Kings 1:12, 2 Kings 1:13, 2 Kings 1:14, 2 Kings 1:15, 2 Kings 2:8, 2 Kings 2:9, 2 Kings 2:10, 2 Kings 2:11, 2 Kings 2:12, 2 Kings 2:13, 2 Kings 2:14, 2 Kings 2:15

Story moments

1. Drought announced (1 Kings 17:1). Elijah announces the absence of rain and dew before Ahab.
2. The widow's son revived (1 Kings 17:22). The Lord hears Elijah's plea, and the child revives.
3. Fire on Carmel (1 Kings 18:38). The Lord's fire consumes the offering and its surroundings.
4. Baal's prophets killed (1 Kings 18:40). Elijah brings the seized prophets to Kishon and kills them.
5. Others remain faithful (1 Kings 19:18). The Lord speaks of seven thousand who have not bowed to Baal.
6. Naboth's death confronted (1 Kings 21:19). Elijah is sent to confront Ahab with killing and taking possession.
7. The third captain spared (2 Kings 1:15). The angel tells Elijah to go with the captain who has pleaded for their lives.
8. Taken by the whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). A fiery chariot separates the prophets, and Elijah goes up in a whirlwind.

Key passages

1 Kings 17:1

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

1 Kings 17:13

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

1 Kings 17:15

And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

1 Kings 17:16

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

1 Kings 17:18

And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

1 Kings 17:22

And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

King James Version. 63 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

What do Elijah's dependence and distress add to the account of his public authority?

Books Elijah appears in

• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings
• 2 Chronicles
• Malachi
• Luke

Related people

• Jacob
• Ahab
• Judah
• Elisha
• Jeroboam
• Jezebel
• Jehoshaphat
• Jehu