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Elijah

Prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Elijah was a prominent prophet in Israel during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah, known for his miracles and confrontations with the prophets of Baal.

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Also known as Elias

Elijah was a prominent prophet in Israel during the reigns of King Ahab and his son Ahaziah (1Ki.17-2Ki.2). He is introduced as a Tishbite from Gilead, who proclaimed a drought in Israel as a judgment from God (1Ki.17.1). During the drought, God miraculously provided for Elijah through ravens and a widow in Zarephath (1Ki.17.2-16). Elijah famously confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, demonstrating the power of the true God and exposing the false prophets (1Ki.18). He also confronted King Ahab and Queen Jezebel for their wickedness, particularly in the case of Naboth's vineyard (1Ki.21). Elijah anointed Elisha as his successor and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving behind his mantle for Elisha (2Ki.2). He is mentioned in the New Testament as a forerunner to John the Baptist (Mat.11.14; Luk.1.17) and as appearing with Moses at Jesus' transfiguration (Mat.17.3-4; Mrk.9.4-5; Luk.9.30-33). Elijah is also referenced as an example of powerful prayer (Jas.5.17-18) and as a prophet whom God had preserved a remnant of faithful Israelites (Rom.11.2-4). The prophet Malachi foretold that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah (Mal.4.5-6).

Connections

Part of: Kings, prophets and the house of David

Elijah against Ahab and Jezebel

RoleStated in the text

Ahab married Jezebel, a Sidonian princess who promoted Baal and killed the LORD's prophets. Elijah announced drought, confronted 450 prophets of Baal on Carmel, and later pronounced judgement on Ahab and Jezebel after Naboth's murder.

Where the text shows it: 1 Kgs 16:31 — Ahab marries Jezebel and serves Baal1 Kgs 18:19-40 — Mount Carmel1 Kgs 21:17-24 — Judgement on Ahab and Jezebel

Sources: 1 Kgs 16:31 · 1 Kgs 18:19-40 · 1 Kgs 21:17-24

Naboth, Ahab and Jezebel

RoleStated in the text

Naboth refused to sell his ancestral vineyard; Jezebel arranged false witnesses and his death, and Ahab took the land. Elijah met Ahab there and announced that dogs would lick his blood; Ahab's repentance delayed the judgement.

Where the text shows it: 1 Kgs 21:1-16 — Naboth's vineyard1 Kgs 21:19 — Elijah's sentence1 Kgs 21:27-29 — Ahab humbles himself2 Kgs 9:25-26 — Jehu recalls Naboth

Sources: 1 Kgs 21:1-16 · 1 Kgs 21:19 · 1 Kgs 21:27-29 · 2 Kgs 9:25-26

Elijah and Elisha: prophet and successor

Teacher & studentStated in the text

Elijah found Elisha plowing and threw his mantle on him; Elisha left his family to serve him. At Elijah's departure Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit and received the mantle. The "sons of the prophets" recognised him as Elijah's heir.

Where the text shows it: 1 Kgs 19:19-21 — The call2 Kgs 2:9-14 — Double portion; mantle2 Kgs 2:15 — The sons of the prophets acknowledge him

Sources: 1 Kgs 19:19-21 · 2 Kgs 2:9-14 · 2 Kgs 2:15

Elijah's commission: Hazael, Jehu and Elisha

RoleStated in the text

At Horeb God told Elijah to anoint Hazael of Aram, Jehu of Israel and Elisha as prophet. In the record Elisha prophesied Hazael's kingship and a disciple of Elisha anointed Jehu; the tasks were completed through Elisha.

Where the text shows it: 1 Kgs 19:15-17 — The commission2 Kgs 8:7-15 — Elisha and Hazael2 Kgs 9:1-6 — A prophet anoints Jehu

Sources: 1 Kgs 19:15-17 · 2 Kgs 8:7-15 · 2 Kgs 9:1-6

Bible dictionary

Elijah Easton Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897)

Whose God is Jehovah. (1.) “The Tishbite,” the “Elias” of the New Testament, is suddenly introduced to our notice in 1 Kings 17:1 as delivering a message from the Lord to Ahab. There is mention made of a town called Thisbe, south of Kadesh, but it is impossible to say whether this was the place referred to in the name given to the prophet. Having delivered his message to Ahab, he retired at the command of God to a hiding-place by the brook Cherith, beyond Jordan, where he was fed by ravens. When the brook dried up God sent him to the widow of Zarephath, a city of Zidon, from whose scanty store he was supported for the space of two years. During this period the widow’s son died, and was restored to life by Elijah (1 Kings 17: 2-24). During all these two years a famine prevailed in the land. At the close of this period of retirement and of preparation for his work (comp. Gal. 1:17, 18) Elijah met Obadiah, one of Ahab’s officers, whom he had sent out to seek for pasturage for the cattle, and bade him go and tell his master that Elijah was there. The king came and met Elijah, and reproached him as the troubler of Israel. It was then proposed that sacrifices should be publicly offered, for the purpose of determining whether Baal or Jehovah were the true God. This was done on Carmel, with the result that the people fell on their faces, crying, “The Lord, he is the God.” Thus was accomplished the great work of Elijah’s ministry. The prophets of Baal were then put to death by the order of Elijah. Not one of them escaped. Then immediately followed rain, according to the word of Elijah, and in answer to his prayer (James 5:18). Jezebel, enraged at the fate that had befallen her priests of Baal, threatened to put Elijah to death (1 Kings 19:1-13). He therefore fled in alarm to…

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Elijah Smith Smith’s Bible Dictionary (1863)

(my God is Jehovah) has been well entitled “the grandest and the most romantic character that Israel ever produced.” “Elijah the Tishbite,... of the inhabitants of Gilead” is literally all that is given us to know of his parentage and locality. Of his appearance as he “stood before” Ahab (B.C. 910) with the suddenness of motion to this day characteristic of the Bedouins from his native hills, we can perhaps realize something from the touches, few but strong, of the narrative. His chief characteristic was his hair, long and thick, and hanging down his back. His ordinary clothing consisted of a girdle of skin round his loins, which he tightened when about to move quickly. (1 Kings 18:46) But in addition to this he occasionally wore the “mantle” or cape of sheepskin which has supplied us with one of our most familiar figures of speech. His introduction, in what we may call the first act of his life, is the most startling description. He suddenly appears before Ahab, prophesies a three-years drought in Israel, and proclaims the vengeance of Jehovah for the apostasy of the king. Obliged to flee from the vengeance of king, or more probably of the queen (comp. (1 Kings 19:2) he was directed to the brook Cherith. There in the hollow of the torrent bed he remained, supported in the miraculous manner with which we are all familiar, till the failing of the brook obliged him to forsake it. His next refuge was at Zarephath. Here in the house of the widow woman Elijah performed the miracles of prolonging the oil and the meal, and restored the son of the widow to life after his apparent death. 1Kin 17. In this or some other retreat an interval of more than two years must have elapsed. The drought continued, and at last the full horrors of famine, caused by the failure of the crops…

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Elijah Hastings Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible (1898)

ELI'JAH (my God is Jehovah), OR ELI'AS (which is the Greek form of the name). Matt 17:3. A native of Gilead, and called the "Tishbite," probably from the name of the town or district in which he lived. 1 Kgs 17:1. He was one of the greatest of prophets. He is first introduced to our notice as a messenger from God to Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, probably in the tenth year of his reign. He was sent to utter a prophecy of a three years' drought in the land of Israel. After delivering this startling and distressing prophecy, he was directed to flee to the brook Cherith, Place of Elijah's Sacrifice where he was miraculously fed by ravens. When the brook had dried up he was sent to a widow-woman of Zarephath, and again the hand of the Lord supplied his wants and those of his friends. He raised the widow's son to life. 1 Kgs 17. After the famine had lasted the predicted period, Elijah encountered Ahab, and then ensued the magnificent display of divine power and of human trust upon the ridge of Carmel. 1 Kgs 18. See Ahab. The reaction from such a mental strain left the prophet in a weak, nervous condition, and in a fit of despondency he fled from Jezebel into the "wilderness" and desired death. But by angel-food nourished and inspirited, he journeyed 40 days, until he reached Mount Sinai. There the downcast man of God was witness of Jehovah's strength and experienced Jehovah's tenderness in a very remarkable vision. 1 Kgs 19:9-18. Encouraged by the assurance that contrary to his supposition he did not stand alone as the only worshipper of the Lord in Israel, and, moreover, having a fresh commission granted him, forth from Mount Sinai he was sent with renewed zeal and confidence. He anointed Elisha to be prophet in his room. 1 Kgs 19. He then retired into privacy, but after…

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Elijah Schaff Schaff’s Dictionary of the Bible

ELI'JAH (my God is Jehovah), OR ELI'AS (which is the Greek form of the name). Matt 17:3. A native of Gilead, and called the "Tishbite," probably from the name of the town or district in which he lived. 1 Kgs 17:1. He was one of the greatest of prophets. He is first introduced to our notice as a messenger from God to Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, probably in the tenth year of his reign. He was sent to utter a prophecy of a three years' drought in the land of Israel. After delivering this startling and distressing prophecy, he was directed to flee to the brook Cherith, Place of Elijah's Sacrifice where he was miraculously fed by ravens. When the brook had dried up he was sent to a widow-woman of Zarephath, and again the hand of the Lord supplied his wants and those of his friends. He raised the widow's son to life. 1 Kgs 17. After the famine had lasted the predicted period, Elijah encountered Ahab, and then ensued the magnificent display of divine power and of human trust upon the ridge of Carmel. 1 Kgs 18. See Ahab. The reaction from such a mental strain left the prophet in a weak, nervous condition, and in a fit of despondency he fled from Jezebel into the "wilderness" and desired death. But by angel-food nourished and inspirited, he journeyed 40 days, until he reached Mount Sinai. There the downcast man of God was witness of Jehovah's strength and experienced Jehovah's tenderness in a very remarkable vision. 1 Kgs 19:9-18. Encouraged by the assurance that contrary to his supposition he did not stand alone as the only worshipper of the Lord in Israel, and, moreover, having a fresh commission granted him, forth from Mount Sinai he was sent with renewed zeal and confidence. He anointed Elisha to be prophet in his room. 1 Kgs 19. He then retired into privacy, but after…

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Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.

Where Elijah appears

92 verses in 10 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0452

1 Kings38
2 Kings22
2 Chronicles1
Malachi1
Matthew9
Mark9
Luke8
John2
Romans1
James1

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.