A Whirlwind, A Fiery Chariot
The Story of Elijah

	Introduction
		A true son of the wilderness, he calls home the cliffs above raging torrents, the caves of the mountains or the scanty shelter in the desert. His clothes are made of animal skin and he wears leather girdle. He wears a mantle with miraculous power. He is swift on his feet and tongue. His words foretell and “burn like a torch” at a time that needs such a prophet. His name is Elijah, the Tishbite, in reference to his origin. Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus during the Transfiguration, which is witnessed by three disciples. And this is his story.
	From Out of Nowhere Seemingly out of nowhere, Elijah comes and announces to King Ahab, the king of Israel in the first half of the ninth century BC, that his kingdom will soon be struck with a long period of drought. Elijah says that by the LORD the God of Israel, whom he serves, there shall be no dew or rain except at his word. After delivering the message the LORD commands Elijah to leave and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. The LORD tells Elijah to drink off the stream and that He has commanded the ravens to feed him. And Elijah eats the bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, brought to him by the ravens. He drinks from the stream.
	After some time, however, the brook runs dry, because no rain had fallen in the land. So the LORD tells Elijah to move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there, where the LORD has designated a widow to provide for him. And so Elijah moves on to Zarephath of Sidon. When he arrives at the entrance of the city, he notices the widow gathering sticks there. He calls out to her and tells her to please bring him a small cupful of water to drink. Then Elijah adds to also bring back a bit of bread. The woman then swears by the LORD that she has no bread but has only a handful of flour in her jar and a little oil in her jug. She says that she is just now collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for herself and her son; when they have eaten it, they shall die. Elijah tells her to do what she has planned
	but to first make a little cake and bring it to him. Then she can prepare something for herself and her son. Elijah reassures her that the LORD the God of Israel has said that neither shall the jar of flour go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.
	She leaves and does as Elijah had said. As the LORD foretold through Elijah, her jar of flour does not go empty, and the jug of oil does not run dry. She and son are able to eat for a year in the time of extreme famine. Some time later the son of the woman becomes severely ill that he dies. So she weeps and asks Elijah why he has come to her to call attention to her guilt and to kill her son. Moved by her sorrow, Elijah carries her dead son to the upper room, and lays him on his bed. Then he begs God to let the life breath return to the body of the child. The LORD hears the prayer of Elijah and revives the child!
	Elijah Meets Ahab On the third year of the drought the LORD tells Elijah to present himself to Ahab and He may send rain upon the earth. So Elijah leaves to present himself to Ahab. At that time the famine in Samaria is very severe. So Ahab summons Obadiah, his vizier, and a zealous follower of the LORD. Some time back when Jezebel was murdering the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred of the prophets, hid them in two caves, and supplied them with food and drink. Because of the famine, Ahab then tells Obadiah that they will now go out and look for all sources of water and for streams, then look for grass and save the horses and mules, so that they may not have to slaughter any of the beasts. Dividing the land to explore between them, Ahab goes one way by himself, Obadiah another way by himself. On his way Obadiah meets Elijah. Recognizing him, Obadiah falls prostrate on the ground. Elijah then tells Obadiah to go and tell his master, 'Elijah is here!' Obadiah tells Elijah that Ahab had been looking for him all over. Obadiah is sure that Ahab will kill him if he tells him that Elijah is here. Obadiah tells Elijah that he has saved a hundred prophets from murder by Jezebel. He also tells Elijah that after he leaves, spirit of the LORD will carry him to some place he does not know, whereas Ahab will kill him. Elijah then says that he will present himself to Ahab that day. The Challenge at Mount Carmel So Obadiah goes to Ahab and tells him about Elijah. Ahab comes to meet Elijah whom he calls the disturber of Israel. True to his reputation of not holding back, Elijah charges Agab that he did not disturb Israel but rather he and his family did by forsaking the commands of the LORD and following the Baals.
	Then Elijah challenges Ahab to summon all Israel to him on Mount Carmel, as well as the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table. When all Israel and the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel, Elijah appeals to all the people that if the LORD is God, then they must follow him; however, if Baal, is god then they follow him. He tells the prophets of Baal to slaughter a young bull, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood, but start no fire. He shall also prepare another and place it on the wood, but shall start no fire.
	Then he tells the prophets to then call their gods and he will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers with fire is God. And all the people agree. After choosing a young bull, the prophets of Baal prepare it as prescribed by Elijah and then they call on Baal from morning to noon to answer them. But there is no sound, and no one answering. And they hop around the altar they had prepared. When it was noon, Elijah taunts them to call louder, for their god may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey, and that perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. And they call out louder and slash themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until blood gushed over them. Noon passes and they remain in a prophetic state until the time for offering sacrifice. But there is not a sound; no one answered, and no one is listening. The LORD’s Fire
	Then Elijah repairs the altar of the LORD which had been destroyed, takes twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob, and builds an altar in honor of the LORD. Then he makes a trench around the altar large enough for two seahs of grain. He arranges the wood, cuts up the young bull and lays the meat on the wood. Then he tells the people to fill four jars with water and to pour it over the holocaust and over the wood, repeating the sequence three times. The water flows around the altar and fills the trench around it. At the time for offering sacrifice, the prophet Elijah comes forward and calls on the LORD to answer him so that this people may know him as the LORD. Then the LORD'S fire comes down and consumes the holocaust, wood, stones, and dust, and it laps up the water in the trench!
	Seeing this, all the people fall prostrate and declare that the LORD is God! The LORD is God!
	The Prophets of Baal Then Elijah tells the people to seize all the prophets of Baal. When all the prophets of Baal are captured and brought to Elijah, he brings them down to the brook Kishon and there he slits their throats. Then he tells Ahab to go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain coming. So Ahab goes to eat and drink, while Elijah climbs to the top of Carmel, crouches down to the earth, and puts his head between his knees. Then Elijah directs his servant to climb up and look out to sea, but the servant sees
	nothing. Elijah repeats this order and on the seventh time, the youth reports seeing a cloud as small as a man's hand rising from the sea. Then Elijah tells his servant to go to Ahab and tell him to leave the mountain before the rain stops him.
	The sky grows dark quickly with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain falls. Ahab mounts his chariot and leaves for Jezreel. But the hand of the LORD is on Elijah, who girds up his clothing and runs before Ahab as far as the approaches to Jezreel. Ahab tells his wife Jezebel all that Elijah had done and that he had put all the prophets to the sword. Jezebel then sends a messenger to Elijah that she has vowed to kill him just as he has killed her prophets. Elijah Escapes to the Desert In fear for his life, Elijah flees to Beer-sheba of Judah. There he leaves his servant and goes a day's journey into the desert, until he comes to a broom tree and sits beneath it. Then he prays for the LORD to take his life, for he feels he no better than his fathers.
	He lies down and falls asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touches him and orders him to get up and eat. Then he finds near his head a hearth cake and a jug of water. After eating he lies down again, but the angel of the LORD comes back a second time, touches him, and orders him to again get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for him.
	He lies down and falls asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touches him and orders him to get up and eat. Then he finds near his head a hearth cake and a jug of water. After eating he lies down again, but the angel of the LORD comes back a second time, touches him, and orders him to again get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for him. He gets up, eats and drinks; then strengthened by that food, he walks forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb. There he comes to a cave, where he takes shelter. But the word of the LORD comes to him asking why he is there. The Tiny Whispering Sound
	Elijah answers that he has been most zealous for the LORD, but the Israelites have forsaken His covenant, torn down His altars, and put His prophets to the sword. He says that he alone is left, and they seek to take his life, too.
	Then the LORD tells Elijah to go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by. A strong and heavy wind is rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD--but the LORD is not in the wind. After the wind there is an earthquake--but the LORD is not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there is fire--but the LORD is not in the fire. After the fire there is a tiny whispering sound. When he hears this, Elijah hides his face in his cloak and goes to stand at the entrance of the cave. A voice calls out to Elijah and asks again why he is there. Again Elijah replies that he has been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. But the Israelites have forsaken His covenant, torn down His altars, and put His prophets to the sword. Elijah then says that he alone is left, and they seek to take his life, too.
	Elijah’s Missions Then the LORD tells Elijah to go and take the road back to the desert near Damascus. When he arrives there, the LORD tells him to anoint Hazael as king of Aram. Then the LORD tells Elijah to anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed him.
	Then the LORD tells Elijah that if anyone escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill him; If he escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill him. The LORD tells Elijah that He will leave seven thousand men in Israel--all those who have not knelt to Baal or kissed him. Elijah sets out, and comes upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah goes over to him and throws his cloak over him. Elisha leaves the oxen, runs after Elijah, and begs
	to give him time to say good-bye to father and mother, and he will follow him. But Elijah orders Elisha to go back. Elisha leaves him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughters them. He uses the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gives it to his people to eat. Then he leaves and follows Elijah as his attendant.
	The War with the Arameans Ben-hadad, king of Aram, gathers all his forces, and accompanied by thirty-two kings with horses and chariotry, proceeds to attack Samaria. He sends couriers to Ahab, king of Israel, within the city, and tells Ahab that his silver and gold are his, and his wives and his promising sons are also his. Ahab gives in but the couriers come again to tell Ahab that Ben-hadad’s servants will come and ransack Ahab’s house and the houses of his servants. They said that they will seize and take away whatever they consider valuable. The king of Israel then summons all the elders of the land and tells them that clearly this man wants to ruin them, since he did not refuse his demands when he first did. So the elders and all the people advise Ahab not to listen to him or give in.
	Accordingly he tells the couriers of Ben-hadad that this time he refuses his demands. The couriers then leave to report this to Ben-hadad. After a few more exchanges, Ben-hadad prepares to attack Samaria. Then a prophet comes up to Ahab. The prophet tells Ahab that the LORD will deliver up to Ahab his enemy so he will know that He is the LORD. So, as the LORD said, Ahab calls up the retainers of the governors of the provinces and musters all the soldiers of Israel. At that time Ben-hadad is drinking heavily in the pavilions with his allies. Ahab attacks defeating Ben-hadad severely but he
	escapes on a chariot steed. The Arameans flee with Israel in pursuit. Then the prophet goes to the king of Israel and tells him to regroup his forces. The prophet warns Ahab that at the beginning of the year the king of Aram will attack him. Meanwhile the servants of the king of Aram convince him to mobilize another huge army to attack the Israelites on level ground because their gods are gods of mountains. And indeed in the beginning of the year, Ben-hadad mobilizes Aram and goes up to Aphek to fight against Israel. The Israelites, too, are called to arms and supplied with provisions. They see an enemy that seems to cover the countryside, while the Israelites, encamped opposite them, seem like a couple of small flocks of goats. Seven days after they camp the battle starts and the Israelites strike down one hundred thousand foot soldiers of Aram in one day. The LORD delivers Aram as He promised, to the king of Israel. The survivors flee into the city of Aphek, and there the wall collapses. Ben-hadad, too, flees, and takes refuge within the city, in an inside room. His servants tell him that they have heard that the kings of the land of Israel are merciful. They ask permission to garb themselves in sackcloth, with cords around their heads, and go out to the king of Israel, and perhaps the king will spare his life. So they dress in sackcloth girded at the waist, and wearing cords around their heads, they go to the king of Israel and plead for Ben-hadad’s life. The king tells them that Ben-hadad is his brother. Heartened at his words the men leave to get him. When Ben-hadad arrives, the king has him mount his chariot. After Ben-hadad pledges to restore the cities which his father took from the king’s father Ahab sets him free.
	Ahab's Jealousy and the Murder of Naboth Some time after this Ahab tries to buy the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which is next to the palace of Ahab, so he can make a vegetable garden. However, Naboth refuses to since that land is his ancestral heritage. Ahab goes home disturbed and angry that Naboth refused to sell the land to him. Later he tells his wife Jezebel about what had happened. Jezebel promises Ahab she will obtain the vineyard of Naboth for him. Then Jezebel writes letters in Ahab’s name, and, having sealed them with his seal, sends them to the elders and to the nobles who live in the same city with Naboth. In the letters she orders the elders and nobles to accuse Naboth of having cursed God and king. Then she tells them to stone him to death.
	The elders and the nobles carry out as Jezebel had ordered them. They lead Naboth out of the city and stone him to death. Then they send the information to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned to death. When Jezebel learns that Naboth had been stoned to death, she tells Ahab to go and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth. So Ahab heads out to Naboth’s vineyard to take possession of it.
	Elijah Confronts Ahab In the meantime, the LORD tells Elijah to go and meet Ahab at the vineyard of Naboth. The LORD tells Elijah to tell Ahab that in the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, the dogs shall lick up his blood, too.
	Thus Elijah goes to the vineyard of Naboth. He tells Ahab that the LORD has said that Ahab has given himself up to doing evil in the LORD'S sight worshiping idols and the murder of an innocent man. Thus the LORD will destroy him and cut off every male in Ahab's line, whether slave or freeman, in Israel. Elijah tells Ahab that when one of his line dies in the city, dogs will devour him; when one of them dies in the field, the birds of the sky will devour him. When Ahab hears these words, he tears his garments and puts on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasts, sleeps in the sackcloth, and goes about subdued. When the LORD sees Ahab humble himself before Him, He tells Elijah that He will not bring evil upon him in his time, but during the reign of his son.
	Three years pass without war between Aram and Israel. In the third year, however, King Jehoshaphat of Judah makes an alliance with the king of Israel to fight against Ramoth-gilead, and advises Jehoshaphat to seek the word of the LORD at once. The king of Israel gathers together the prophets to advise him on whether he should attack Ramoth-gilead. The prophets tell him that the LORD will deliver his enemies over to him. But Jehoshaphat asks for another prophet of the LORD here whom he may consult. The Prophesy of Micaiah The king of Israel answers that there is one whom they might consult the LORD - Micaiah, son of Imlah. But the king tells him that Micaiah always prophesies not good but evil about him. But they summon Micaiah, anyway.
	When Micaiah arrives they tell him that the prophets are unanimously predicting good for the king. He orders him to do the same as the others and predict good. Micaiah swears he shall say whatever the LORD tells him. Then Micaiah tells them that the LORD said that all Israel will scatter on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd, and thus each of them will go back to their homes in peace. Then Micaiah continues that the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets so they will tell the king of Israel to go up against and fall at Ramoth-gilead. The king of Israel then orders to seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon, prefect of the city, and to Joash, the king's son. There the king says that Micaiah will be put in
	prison and fed scanty rations of bread and water until he returns in safety. The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah go up to Ramoth-gilead, where the king of Israel tells Jehoshaphat that he will disguise himself and go into battle, but Jehoshaphat put on his own clothes. So the king of Israel disguises himself and enters the fray. The Death of Ahab In the meantime the king of Aram gives his thirty-two chariot commanders the order not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel. When the chariot commanders see Jehoshaphat, they cry out, mistaking him to be the king of Israel. However, when they find out that he is not the king of Israel they give up the pursuit.
	Someone, however, draws his bow at random, and hits the king of Israel between the joints of his breastplate. He orders his charioteer to take him out of the ranks. The battle grows fierce during the day, and the king, who is propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans, die that evening. The blood from his wound flows to the bottom of the chariot. And at sunset a cry goes through the army for each man to go back his city for the king is dead. So they go back to Samaria, where they bury the king. When the chariot is washed at
	the pool of Samaria, the dogs lick up his blood and harlots bathe there, as the LORD had prophesied. The son of Ahab, Ahaziah succeeds him as king. Jehoshaphat begins to reign over Judah at the age of thirty-five years and he reigns twenty-five years in Jerusalem. He follows all the ways of his father Asa unswervingly, doing what is right in the LORD'S sight. Nevertheless, the high places are still there where the people continue to sacrifice and to burn incense. Jehoshaphat also makes peace with the king of Israel. He removes from the land the rest of the cult prostitutes who remain in the reign of his father Asa. At this time there is no king in Edom, but an appointed regent. Then follow reigns of kings over the land who serve and worship Baal, thus provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, just as their fathers had done before them.
	Elijah's Fire After Ahab's death, Moab rebels against Israel. Ahaziah falls through the lattice of his roof terrace at Samaria and becomes injured. So he sends out messengers to go and inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, whether he will recover from his injury. Meanwhile, the angel of the LORD tells Elijah to go and intercept the messengers of the king of Samaria. The LORD tells Elijah that because there is no God in Israel that they are going to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron. And for this, the LORD says that Ahaziah shall shall die. And with that, Elijah departs and meets the messengers. He tells them what the LORD said  and the messengers return to their king. They tell him that a man came up to them and told them to go back to the king and to tell him the message of the LORD. After hearing it, the king asks about the man who gave them the message. They tell him that the man was wearing a hairy garment with a leather girdle about his loins. The king exclaims that the man was Elijah the Tishbite!
	Then the king sends a captain with his company of fifty men after Elijah. The captain finds the prophet is seated on a hilltop and he orders the man of God to come down, as the king commanded. Elijah responds that if he is indeed a man of God may fire come down from heaven and consume him and his fifty men. And fire comes down from heaven and consumes him and his fifty men. Ahaziah sends another captain with his company of fifty men after Elijah. Again the captain tells the man of God that the king commands him to come down immediately. Elijah again responds that if he is indeed a man of God may fire come down from heaven and consume him and his fifty men. And fire comes down from heaven and consumes him and his fifty men. For the third time, Ahaziah sends a captain with his company of fifty men. When the third
	captain arrives, he falls to his knees before Elijah, pleading with him for his life and the lives of his men. The captain continues that already fire has come down from heaven, consuming two captains with their men. Then the angel of the LORD says to Elijah to go down with him and not to be afraid of him. So Elijah leaves the hilltop and goes down with him. Upon arriving, he says to the king that because he sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, the LORD says he shall die. Ahaziah dies in fulfillment of the prophecy of the LORD spoken by Elijah. Since he had no son, his brother Joram succeeds him as king.
	Elijah's Mantle On their way from Gilgal, when the LORD is about to take Elijah up to heaven, Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind so he can proceed to Bethel. But Elisha refuses to stay behind so they both go down to Bethel. At Bethel the guild prophets go out to Elisha and ask him if he knows that the LORD will take his master today. Elisha tells them that he knows and to keep still. Then Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind for the LORD has sent him on to Jericho. Again Elisha refuses to stay behind so they both go on to Jericho. There the guild prophets approach Elisha and ask him if he knows that the LORD will take his master today. Elisha tells them that he knows and to keep still.
	Again Elijah asks Elisha to stay behind for the LORD has sent him on to the Jordan. Again Elisha refuses to stay behind and so the two go on together. Fifty of the guild prophets follow at a distance and when the two stop at the Jordan, they stand facing the prophets. Elijah takes his mantle, rolls it up and strikes the water. The water of the Jordan divides and Elijah and Elisha cross over on dry ground. When they have crossed over, Elijah tells Elisha to ask for whatever he may do for him, before he is taken from him. Elisha asks for a double portion of his spirit. Elijah tells Elisha that he asked for something that is not
	easy but if he sees him taken up his wish will be granted; otherwise not.
	Elijah's Chariot of Fire   As they walk on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses comes between them, and Elijah goes up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha sees this he cries out, "My father! my father! Israel's chariots and drivers!" But when he can no longer see him, Elisha tears his own garment in two. Then he picks up Elijah's mantle which had fallen from him, and goes back and stands at the bank of the Jordan. Wielding the Elijah’s mantle, he strikes the water in his turn and asks where the LORD, the God of Elijah is. When Elisha strikes the water it divides and he crosses over. The guild prophets in Jericho, who are on the other side, see him and declare that the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. They go to meet him, bowing to the ground before him. The prophets urge Elisha to allow them to send
	men to search for Elijah. At first Elisha refuses but the prophets keep urging him, until he agrees. So they send the men, who search for three days without finding him. When they go back to Elisha ito tell him that they did not find Elijah, he reminds them that he did not want them to go and search for Elijah in the first place.