Elijah
Israelite / Jew Hebrew; the Tishbite, of Gilead · Divided Kingdom · Old Testament
- Also called
- Elias
- Name means
- My God is the LORD
- Role
- Prophet who challenged Baal worship
- When
- 9th century BC (reign of Ahab)
What they did
Announced a drought, was fed by ravens and by a widow of Zarephath, and called down fire from heaven on mount Carmel. He was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
He called Israel to choose between the LORD and Baal. Malachi foretold his coming before the day of the LORD, fulfilled in John the Baptist, and he appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)
Bible references
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 17:1 (KJV)
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)
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. 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. 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. 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. 1 Kings 18:36-39 (KJV)
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. 2 Kings 2:11 (KJV)
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: Malachi 4:5 (KJV)
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. James 5:17 (KJV)
Family
Scripture records little about this person's family.
A fuller character study, with strengths, failures, lessons and a relationship diagram:
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