Elijah (1 Kings 17:1–7; 1 Kings 17:8–16; 1 Kings 17:17–24; 1 Kings 18:1–40; 1 Kings 18:41–46; 1 Kings 19:1–8; 1 Kings 19:9–18; 1 Kings 19:19–21; 1 Kings 21:17–29; 2 Kings 1:1–18; 2 Kings 2:1–12; 2 Kings 2:13–18; 2 Chronicles 21:12–15; Malachi 4:5–6; Matthew 11:13–14; Matthew 17:1–13; Luke 1:17; Luke 4:25–26; Romans 11:2–4; James 5:17–18)

The Tishbite, a Man of God

Elijah the Tishbite, of the sojourners of Gilead, who told Ahab there would be no dew nor rain, was fed by ravens and a widow of Zarephath, called fire down on Mount Carmel, fled from Jezebel to Horeb, cast his mantle on Elisha, and went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Scripture introduces him without naming his father or telling of his birth: “Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (1 Kings 17:1). Ahab son of Omri “did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah above all that were before him” (1 Kings 16:30), and had taken Jezebel to wife and served Baal (1 Kings 16:31). The word of the LORD sent Elijah to the brook Cherith, where the ravens fed him, and then to a widow at Zarephath, whose jar of meal and cruse of oil did not fail; when her son died and revived, she said, “Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of Jehovah in thy mouth is truth” (1 Kings 17:24).

In the third year he showed himself to Ahab, and on Mount Carmel he asked all the people, “How long go ye limping between the two sides? if Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). “Then the fire of Jehovah fell” (1 Kings 18:38), and the people said, “Jehovah, he is God; Jehovah, he is God” (1 Kings 18:39). Yet when Jezebel threatened his life, “he arose, and went for his life” (1 Kings 19:3), sat down under a juniper-tree, and asked that he might die. At Horeb the LORD passed by, and after the wind, the earthquake and the fire came “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). Twice Elijah said, “I, even I only, am left” (1 Kings 19:10); the LORD answered, “Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel” (1 Kings 19:18).

He cast his mantle upon Elisha, who went after him and ministered to him (1 Kings 19:19-21). He met Ahab in Naboth's vineyard with the word of judgment (1 Kings 21:17-24), and he met the messengers of Ahab's son Ahaziah, who had sent to inquire of Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1:2-4). Then “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). Scripture records no death for him; it records the whirlwind, and that fifty men of the sons of the prophets “sought three days, but found him not” (2 Kings 2:17). A writing “from Elijah the prophet” (2 Chronicles 21:12) came to Jehoram king of Judah (2 Chronicles 21:12). Malachi records the promise, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come” (Malachi 4:5). Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus on the mountain (Matthew 17:3); Jesus said, “Elijah is come already” (Matthew 17:12), and “Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matthew 17:13). James writes that “Elijah was a man of like passions with us” (James 5:17).

Strengths

• A man of God
• Did according unto the word of the LORD
• Prayer that is heard
• Very jealous for the LORD
• Boldness before Ahab

Weaknesses

• Flees and asks to die
• I, even I only, am left

Themes

• The LORD or Baal
• The word of the LORD
• Drought and rain
• Fire from heaven
• The still small voice
• Elijah that is to come

The drought announced, and the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:1–7)

Elijah tells Ahab there will be no dew nor rain but according to his word, and the LORD sends him to hide by the brook Cherith, where ravens feed him until the brook dries up.

The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–16)

Sent to Zarephath of Sidon, Elijah asks a widow for water and a morsel of bread, and her jar of meal and cruse of oil do not fail.

The widow's son restored (1 Kings 17:17–24)

The widow's son falls sick and no breath is left in him; Elijah cries to the LORD, the child revives, and the woman says she knows he is a man of God.

The widow's son restored

“The son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him” (1 Kings 17:17). She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? thou art come unto me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son!” (1 Kings 17:18).

He took the child out of her bosom, carried him up into the chamber where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. “And he cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?” (1 Kings 17:20). He stretched himself upon the child three times and cried, “let this child’s soul come into him again” (1 Kings 17:21).

“And Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived” (1 Kings 17:22). Elijah said, “See, thy son liveth” (1 Kings 17:23), and the woman answered, “Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of Jehovah in thy mouth is truth” (1 Kings 17:24).

The contest on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:1–40)

In the third year the LORD sends Elijah to show himself to Ahab; he meets Obadiah on the way, has Israel and the prophets of Baal gathered to Carmel, and after Baal's prophets call without answer the fire of the LORD falls on his altar; the prophets of Baal are slain at the brook Kishon.

The contest on Mount Carmel

To Obadiah, who feared that Ahab would slay him, Elijah said, “As Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to-day” (1 Kings 18:15). Ahab said, “Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17) Elijah answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of Jehovah, and thou hast followed the Baalim” (1 Kings 18:18). Then he said to the people, “How long go ye limping between the two sides? if Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

The prophets of Baal called on Baal from morning until noon, “But there was no voice, nor any that answered” (1 Kings 18:26). “And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them” (1 Kings 18:27). Elijah then repaired the altar of the LORD, took twelve stones, made a trench, and had water poured on the burnt-offering and the wood three times (1 Kings 18:30-35).

He prayed, “O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of 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” (1 Kings 18:36). “Then the fire of Jehovah fell, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38). When the people saw it, “they fell on their faces: and they said, Jehovah, he is God; Jehovah, he is God” (1 Kings 18:39). Elijah brought the prophets of Baal down to the brook Kishon and slew them there (1 Kings 18:40).

The sound of abundance of rain (1 Kings 18:41–46)

Elijah tells Ahab to eat and drink, bows himself down on the top of Carmel, and sends his servant seven times to look toward the sea; a great rain comes, and with the hand of the LORD on him he runs before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Flight from Jezebel and the angel's food (1 Kings 19:1–8)

Jezebel sends a messenger threatening his life; Elijah flees to Beer-sheba, sits under a juniper-tree asking to die, and an angel twice bids him arise and eat before he goes forty days to Horeb.

Flight from Jezebel and the angel's food

Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah: “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time” (1 Kings 19:2). “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there” (1 Kings 19:3).

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).

He lay down and slept, and “behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat” (1 Kings 19:5). There was a cake baken on the coals and a cruse of water. The angel of the LORD came again the second time and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee” (1 Kings 19:7); “and he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:8).

Horeb and the still small voice (1 Kings 19:9–18)

At Horeb the LORD asks what he is doing there; Elijah says he alone is left; the LORD passes by in wind, earthquake and fire, then a still small voice, and says he will leave seven thousand who have not bowed to Baal.

Horeb and the still small voice

At a cave on Horeb “the word of Jehovah came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9). Elijah said, “I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the 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” (1 Kings 19:10).

Then the LORD passed by: “a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12). Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle and stood in the entrance of the cave, and the same question came again, and he gave the same answer (1 Kings 19:13-14).

The LORD sent him back on his way to the wilderness of Damascus to anoint Hazael king over Syria, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha prophet in his room (1 Kings 19:15-17), and said, “Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18). The text records Elijah casting his mantle on Elisha (1 Kings 19:19); it does not record him anointing Hazael or Jehu.

The call of Elisha (1 Kings 19:19–21)

Elijah passes Elisha son of Shaphat, who is plowing, and casts his mantle upon him; Elisha slays the oxen, gives the flesh to the people, and goes after Elijah and ministers to him.

Naboth's vineyard and the word against Ahab (1 Kings 21:17–29)

The word of the LORD sends Elijah to Ahab in Naboth's vineyard with judgment on Ahab and Jezebel; Ahab humbles himself, and the LORD says the evil will come in his son's day.

Ahaziah and the fire from heaven (1 Kings 22:51–53; 2 Kings 1:1–18)

Ahaziah, Ahab's son, falls through a lattice and sends to inquire of Baal-zebub; Elijah is sent with the word that he shall die, fire consumes two captains of fifty, and the third captain's plea is answered when the angel bids Elijah go down.

Ahaziah and the fire from heaven

“Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria” (1 Kings 22:51). Then “Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this sickness” (2 Kings 1:2). The angel of the LORD sent Elijah to meet them: “Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?” (2 Kings 1:3).

The king sent a captain of fifty with his fifty, who said, “O man of God, the king hath said, Come down.” (2 Kings 1:9) Elijah answered, “If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty” (2 Kings 1:10). It was so with a second captain (2 Kings 1:11-12).

The third captain “fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him” (2 Kings 1:13). “And the angel of Jehovah said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king” (2 Kings 1:15). Elijah told the king that he should not come down from the bed but surely die, and “he died according to the word of Jehovah which Elijah had spoken” (2 Kings 1:17).

Taken up by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1–12)

Elijah and Elisha go from Gilgal to Beth-el, Jericho and the Jordan; Elijah divides the waters with his mantle, Elisha asks a double portion of his spirit, and a chariot of fire parts them as Elijah goes up by a whirlwind.

Taken up by a whirlwind

“When Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, … Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal” (2 Kings 2:1). At Gilgal, at Beth-el and at Jericho Elijah bade Elisha tarry, and each time Elisha answered, “As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee” (2 Kings 2:2). At the Jordan, “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” (2 Kings 2:8).

“Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 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” (2 Kings 2:9-10).

“Behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha cried, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!” (2 Kings 2:12) and he saw him no more (2 Kings 2:12).

The mantle, the Jordan, and the search (2 Kings 2:13–18)

Elisha takes up the mantle that fell from Elijah and divides the Jordan; the sons of the prophets say the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha, and fifty men seek Elijah three days and do not find him.

A writing to Jehoram king of Judah (2 Chronicles 21:12–15)

A writing from Elijah the prophet comes to Jehoram king of Judah, saying that the LORD will smite his people with a great plague and that he will have great sickness by disease of his bowels.

Elijah that is to come (Malachi 4:5–6; Matthew 11:13–14; Matthew 17:1–13; Luke 1:13–17; John 1:19–21)

Malachi records the LORD's promise to send Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day; the angel says John will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, and Jesus, after Moses and Elijah appear talking with him, says Elijah is come already, which the disciples understand of John the Baptist.

Elijah that is to come

Malachi records the word, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:5-6).

The angel told Zacharias that his son John “shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” (Luke 1:17). When priests and Levites from Jerusalem asked John, “Art thou Elijah?” (John 1:21) he said, “I am not” (John 1:21). Jesus said of John, “And if ye are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, that is to come” (Matthew 11:14).

On a high mountain, “there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him” (Matthew 17:3). Coming down, the disciples asked why the scribes say that Elijah must first come. Jesus answered, “Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things: but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would” (Matthew 17:11-12). “Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matthew 17:13).

Ahab (1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:17–18; 1 Kings 21:17–29)

Ahab called him a troubler of Israel and his enemy, and Elijah brought him the word of the LORD.

Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1–3; 1 Kings 21:23; 2 Kings 9:36–37)

She sent a messenger saying she would make his life as the life of one of the slain prophets by the next day; the LORD spake of her by Elijah that dogs would eat her at Jezreel, and Jehu called her end the word spoken by Elijah.

Obadiah (1 Kings 18:3–16)

Over Ahab's household, he feared the LORD greatly and had hidden a hundred prophets; Elijah met him on the way and sent him to tell Ahab.

The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–24; Luke 4:25–26)

Unnamed, she fed Elijah from her meal and oil, and after her son revived said she knew he was a man of God; Jesus recalled that Elijah was sent to her alone.

Elisha (1 Kings 19:19–21; 2 Kings 2:1–15)

Elijah cast his mantle on him; he went after Elijah, ministered to him, would not leave him, and took up the mantle that fell.

Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 1:2–17)

Ahab's son, king in Samaria, sent to inquire of Baal-zebub; Elijah told him he would surely die, and he died according to Elijah's word.

The captains of fifty (2 Kings 1:9–15)

Two captains sent by the king were consumed by fire from heaven; the third fell on his knees and Elijah went down with him.

The prophets of Baal and of the Asherah (1 Kings 18:19–40)

Elijah bade Ahab gather to Carmel the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred of the Asherah; those of Baal called on him without answer and were slain at the brook Kishon.

The sons of the prophets (2 Kings 2:3–7; 2 Kings 2:15–18)

At Beth-el and Jericho they told Elisha his master would be taken, and after the whirlwind they sought Elijah three days and found him not.

The LORD (1 Kings 17:1–3; 1 Kings 19:9–18; 2 Kings 2:1)

Elijah spoke of the God of Israel as the one before whom he stood; the word of the LORD sent him to Cherith, to Zarephath and to Ahab, came to him at Horeb, and the LORD took him up by a whirlwind.

Moses (Matthew 17:3–4; Mark 9:4–5; Luke 9:30–33)

Moses and Elijah appeared together talking with Jesus on the mountain, and Peter proposed a tabernacle for each.

Jesus (Luke 4:25–26; Matthew 17:1–13; Luke 9:28–33)

Jesus spoke of Elijah being sent to the widow at Zarephath; Elijah appeared talking with him on the mountain, and Jesus said that Elijah indeed cometh and is come already.

John the Baptist (Luke 1:17; John 1:21; Matthew 11:13–14; Matthew 17:10–13)

The angel said John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah; John said he was not Elijah; Jesus said of John that, if they would receive it, this is Elijah that is to come.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 17–19
• 1 Kings 21:17–29
• 2 Kings 1–2
• 2 Chronicles 21:12–15
• Malachi 4:5–6
• Matthew 17:1–13

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