Elijah
Elijah is a prominent prophet from the ninth century B.C.E., featured in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. He emerged during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, characterized by the division of the kingdom into Judah and Israel following King Solomon's death. Elijah is best known for his direct confrontations with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who promoted the worship of Baal, leading to a significant religious crisis among the Israelites. He is celebrated for several key events, including predicting a drought as divine punishment for idolatry and winning a dramatic contest against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, which showcased Yahweh's supremacy. Additionally, Elijah's prophetic actions included denouncing the corrupt practices of Ahab and confronting the subsequent king, Ahaziah, over his reliance on Baal. His story culminates in a miraculous ascent to heaven, where he passes his prophetic role to his successor, Elisha. Elijah's legacy extends beyond Judaism; he is revered in Christianity and Islam as a significant prophetic figure, symbolizing the struggle for faithfulness and social justice.
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Subject Terms
Elijah
Related civilization: Ancient Israel
Major role/position: Hebrew prophet
Life
The ninth century b.c.e. prophet Elijah (ih-LI-juh) appears in the Old Testament (1 Kings 17-19 and 2 Kings 1-2) during a religious crisis. After the death of King Solomon (930 b.c.e.), the kingdom of Israel had been split in two: Judah in the south, Israel in the north. The northern capital, Tirzah, deemed inadequate by 850 b.c.e., was replaced by Samaria, constructed by Phoenician artisans hired by King Omri (r. c. 882-871 b.c.e.). To defray costs, Omri’s son and successor Ahab arranged to marry a Phoenician princess, Jezebel, who agreed only on condition that her religion, Baal-Melkart, be established. The result was confusion in a people already disaffected with Jerusalem.
Elijah ranks with Moses in saving the religion of the Old Testament god Yahweh from corruption, functioning as Ahab’s nemesis and the Lord’s champion. Four stories in Kings present Elijah. First, he prophesies a great drought, which God sends to punish Israel for idolatry. The drought is broken after a contest arranged atop Mount Carmel challenging Baal to send fire to ignite a sacrifice; frenzied pagan behavior avails nothing, and Elijah’s calm prayer produces results: victory for Yahweh and death for Baal’s prophets. Second, Jezebel covets a vineyard belonging to her neighbor Naboth, who refuses Ahab’s purchase offer. She arranges Naboth’s murder and then sends a willing Ahab to take possession of the land. Elijah confronts Ahab with a prophecy of doom. Third, Ahab’s successor, Ahaziah, falls ill and sends for help from Baal. Elijah intervenes and sends messengers home with another doom prophecy. Finally, Elijah’s flight from Jezebel into the wilderness and his despair under the juniper tree are answered by food and drink from God; after forty days in the wilderness (compare the Israelites’ wanderings with Moses and Jesus’ similar sojourn), Elijah climbs Mount Horeb and is taken by a great wind, or tornado, to heaven. To his companion Elisha is passed the mantle, both literal and figurative, of Elijah’s prophecy.
Influence
Elijah emerged as a fierce champion of Yahweh and of social justice. Later biblical tradition sees Elijah as herald of the end of history. He is recognized not only as a Hebrew and Christian prophet but also as a prophet of Islam.
Bibliography
Uffenheimer, Benjamin. Early Prophecy in Israel. Jerusalem: Magnes, 1999.
Wilson, Robert R. Prophecy and Society in Ancient Israel. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1980.