Elijah

Intro Elijah in the Bible: Key Points and Themes 1. Historical Setting - 9th-century BC Northern Kingdom (Israel) under kings Ahab and Ahaziah. - Central conflict: Yahweh vs. Baal worship promoted by Jezebel and the Tyrian Baal cult. 2. Major Episodes - Drought Prediction (1 Kings 17:1) – Declares no rain except by his word; lives by the Kerith Brook and then with the Sidonian widow at Zarephath (miracle of flour & oil, raising her son). - Mt. Carmel Contest (1 Kings 18) – 450 prophets of Baal vs. Elijah; fire from heaven; subsequent execution of Baal’s prophets; prayer ends drought. - Flight to Horeb (1 Kings 19) – Jezebel’s threat; Elijah’s depression; the “still small voice”; recommissioning and anointing of Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. - Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kings 21) – Condemns Ahab and Jezebel for murder and theft; announces dynastic doom. - Ahaziah’s Messengers (2 Kings 1) – Calls fire from heaven on two captains and their fifties. - Chariot of Fire (2 Kings 2) – Taken up in whirlwind; mantle falls to Elisha. 3. Theological Significance - Champion of exclusive Yahwism: “How long will you waver between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21). - Embodiment of the prophetic word’s power: drought, fire, resurrection. - Paradox of strength and weakness: bold on Carmel but despairing in the wilderness. - Foreshadows both judgment and grace: fierce against idolatry yet intercedes for rain and life. 4. Later Biblical Echoes - Malachi 4:5-6 – Promise that Elijah will return “before the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” - New Testament: – John the Baptist comes “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). – Transfiguration: Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus (Matthew 17). – Jesus identifies John as the Elijah-figure (Matthew 11:14) yet says Elijah “has already come” (Matthew 17:12). – Elijah mentioned in James 5:17-18 as example of effective prayer. 5. Leg