Elijah

Portrait of Elijah

Elijah was a powerful prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who actively promoted the worship of the Canaanite god Baal. He famously confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, where he called down fire from heaven to demonstrate that the Lord alone is God, resulting in the defeat of Baal's prophets and a temporary revival of faith in Yahweh. Elijah performed numerous miracles, including raising the dead and multiplying food, and at the end of his ministry, he was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by a chariot of fire, an event witnessed by his successor Elisha. His unique departure from earth and his prophetic role make him a significant figure in Scripture, often associated with the coming of the Messiah and appearing alongside Moses in the New Testament transfiguration of Jesus.

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Biography

Occupation
Prophet
Era
Divided Kingdom (c. 870-850 BC)
Nationality
Israelite
Old Testament Divided Kingdom Prophet 1 Kings

Did You Know?

1

Elijah's name, meaning "Yahweh is my God," directly challenged the Baal cult promoted by Queen Jezebel during the Omride dynasty's alliance with Phoenician interests in the mid-9th century BC.

2

While fleeing Ahab, Elijah was sustained at the Wadi Cherith by ravens delivering bread and meat twice daily, a detail underscoring divine provision outside the covenant land east of the Jordan.

3

After the Carmel contest, Elijah executed the 450 Baal prophets at the Kishon brook, fulfilling Deuteronomic commands against false prophets and temporarily restoring Yahwistic worship in the northern kingdom.

4

At Horeb, Elijah experienced the divine presence in a "still small voice" rather than storm theophany, receiving orders to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha, thereby setting in motion the fall of the Omride house.

5

Elijah parted the Jordan with his rolled-up mantle before his ascension, replicating the earlier crossing under Joshua and transferring prophetic authority to Elisha through the same symbol.

Key Passages

Challenge on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 18:30-39

Elijah's dramatic confrontation with 450 prophets of Baal forces Israel to choose between the Lord and false gods. God's fire from heaven decisively answers the question of who is truly God.

A30nd Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 18 โ†’

Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:9-18

After his greatest victory, Elijah collapses into despair and flees. God meets him not in wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper - revealing that God's presence is found in quiet intimacy.

A9nd he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 19 โ†’

Taken to Heaven

2 Kings 2:1-12

Elijah's departure in a chariot of fire without dying marks him as one of only two people in Scripture to bypass death - confirming his unique prophetic authority and foreshadowing resurrection.

A1nd it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

Read full chapter: 2 Kings 2 โ†’

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