Who is…
Elijah
Hebrew: אֵלִיָּה —transliteration: Eliyyah —meaning: “Yah is God” or “whose God is Jehovah”
This is the name of some Biblical men, one of which was used mightily by God.
Elijah, the prophet
also known as: Elias (Greek)
Elijah, the “Tishbite” is suddenly introduced to us in 1 Kings 17:1, as he delivers a divine message from the Lord to the evil tyrant King Ahab.
Having delivered his message to Ahab, Elijah retired at the command of God to a hiding place by the brook Cherith, beyond the Jordan River, 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 (compare 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 Beersheba, and thence went alone a day’s journey into the wilderness, and sat down in despondency under a juniper tree. As he slept an angel touched him, and said unto him, “Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” He arose and found a cake and a cruse of water. Having partaken of the provision thus miraculously supplied, he went forward on his solitary way for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God, where he took up his abode in a cave. Here the Lord appeared unto him and said, “What dost thou here, Elijah?” In answer to his despondent words God manifests to him his glory, and then directs him to return to Damascus and anoint Hazael king over Syria, and Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha to be prophet in his room (1 Kings 19:13-21; compare 2 Kings 8:7-15; 9:1-10).
Some six years after this he warned Ahab and Jezebel of the violent deaths they would die (1 Kings 21:19-24; 22:38). He also, four years afterwards, warned Ahaziah, who had succeeded his father Ahab, of his approaching death (2 Kings 1:1-16). (See NABOTH.) During these intervals he probably withdrew to some quiet retirement, no one knew where. His interview with Ahaziah’s messengers on the way to Ekron, and the account of the destruction of his captains with their fifties, suggest the idea that he may have been in retirement at this time on Mount Carmel.
The time now drew near when he was to be taken up into heaven (2 Kings 2:1-12). He had a presentiment of what was awaiting him. He went down to Gilgal, where was a school of the prophets, and where his successor Elisha, whom he had anointed some years before, resided. Elisha was solemnized by the thought of his master’s leaving him, and refused to be parted from him. “They two went on,” and came to Bethel and Jericho, and crossed the Jordan, the waters of which were “divided hither and thither” when smitten with Elijah’s mantle. Arrived at the borders of Gilead, which Elijah had left many years before, it “came to pass as they still went on and talked” they were suddenly separated by a chariot and horses of fire; and “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven,” Elisha receiving his mantle, which fell from him as he ascended.
Miracles and Elijah the prophet
DROUGHT in response to Elijah’s prayers (1 Kings 17-18)
SUPERNATURAL FIRE in response to Elijah’s prayers (1 Kings 18:19-39)
RAIN—in clear response to prophet Elijah’s prayers (1 Kings 18:41-45)
RAVENS DELIVER FOOD—prophet Elijah fed by ravens (1 Kings 17-18)
FIRE FROM HEAVEN—Ahaziah’s captains consumed BY fire from heaven near Samaria (2 Kings 1:10-12)
- RIVER DIVIDED—Jordan divided by Elijah and Elisha near Jericho (2 Kings 2:7, 8, 14)
SUPERNATURAL TRANSPORT—Elijah carried up into Heaven (2 Kings 2:11)
New Testament and Elijah the prophet
No one of the old prophets is so frequently referred to in the New Testament.
The priests and Levites said to the Baptist (John 1:25), “Why baptizest thou, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias?” Paul (Romans 11:2) refers to an incident in his history to illustrate his argument that God had not cast away his people. James (5:17) finds in him an illustration of the power of prayer. (See also Luke 4:25; 9:54).
He was a type of John the Baptist in the sternness and power of his reproofs (Luke 9:8).
He was the Elijah that “must first come” (Matthew 11:11, 14), the forerunner of our Lord announced by Malachi. Even outwardly the Baptist corresponded so closely to the earlier prophet that he might be styled a second Elijah. In him we see “the same connection with a wild and wilderness country; the same long retirement in the desert; the same sudden, startling entrance on his work (1 Kings 17:1; Luke 3:2); even the same dress, a hairy garment, and a leather girdle about the loins (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4).”
How deep the impression was which Elijah made “on the mind of the nation may be judged from the fixed belief, which rested on the words of Malachi (Malachi 4:5-6), which many centuries after prevailed that he would again appear for the relief and restoration of the country.
Each remarkable person as he arrives on the scene, be his habits and characteristics what they may, the stern John equally with his gentle Successor, is proclaimed to be Elijah (Matthew 11:13-14; 16:14; 17:10; Mark 9:11; 15:35; Luke 9:7-8; John 1:21).
Elijah the prophet seen by the disciples with Christ
Elijah and Moses appeared in glory talking with the risen Christ, in the presence of the disciples on the mount of transfiguration. The disciples were ‘sore afraid,’ but not apparently surprised that Elijah would appear in this situation.
And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power.” And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here; let’s make three [c]tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know how to reply; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!” And suddenly they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. —Mark 9:1-8 NASB
Elijah the prophet is mentioned by name 29 times in the New Testament:
- Matthew 11:14
- Matthew 16:14
- Matthew 17:3
- Matthew 17:4
- Matthew 17:10
- Matthew 17:11
- Matthew 17:12
- Matthew 27:47
- Matthew 27:49
- Mark 6:15
- Mark 8:28
- Mark 9:4
- Mark 9:5
- Mark 9:11
- Mark 9:12
- Mark 9:13
- Mark 15:35
- Mark 15:36
- Luke 1:17
- Luke 4:25
- Luke 4:26
- Luke 9:8
- Luke 9:19
- Luke 9:30
- Luke 9:33
- Luke 9:33
- John 1:25
- Romans 11:2
- James 5:17
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Elijah of 2 Chronicles 21
The Elijah spoken of in 2 Chronicles 21:12-15 is supposed by some to be a different person from the Elijah above. He lived in the time of King Jehoram, to whom he sent a letter of warning (compare 1 Chronicles 28:19; Jeremiah 36), and acted as a prophet in Judah; while the Tishbite was a prophet of the northern kingdom. But there does not seem any necessity for concluding that the writer of this letter was some other Elijah than the Tishbite.
It may be supposed either that Elijah anticipated the character of Jehoram, and so wrote the warning message, which was preserved in the schools of the prophets till Jehoram ascended the throne after the Tishbite’s translation, or that the translation did not actually take place till after the accession of Jehoram to the throne (2 Chronicles 21:12; 2 Kings 8:16).
The events of 2 Kings 2 may not be recorded in chronological order, and thus there may be room for the opinion that Elijah was still alive in the beginning of Jehoram’s reign.
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- Who is King Jehoram?
Elijah, son of Elam
Ezra 10:26
His father Elam is a head of a family that returned from exile (Ezra 8:7; 10:2).
Elijah, a Benjamite
1 Chronicles 8:27
Elijah, a priest
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