The Biblical account of the prophet Elijah, (1) of his life and work
during the reigns of Ahab and his son Joram, gives but a faint idea of
a personage whose history begins with Israel's sojourn in Egypt, and
will end only when Israel, under the leadership of the Messiah, shall
have taken up his abode again in Palestine.
The Scripture tells us only the name of Elijah's home, (2) but it must
be added that he was a priest, identical with Phinehas, (3) the priest
zealous for the honor of God, who distinguished himself on the journey
through the desert, and played a prominent role again in the time of
the Judges. (4)
Elijah's first appearance in the period of the Kings was his meeting
with Ahab in the house of Hiel, the Beth-elite, the commander-in-chief
of the Israelitish army, whom he was visiting to condole with him for
the loss of his sons. God Himself had charged the prophet to offer
sympathy to Hiel, whose position demanded that honor be paid him.
Elijah at first refused to seek out the sinner who had violated the
Divine injunction against rebuilding Jericho, for he said that the
blasphemous talk of such evil-doers always called forth his rage.
Thereupon God promised Elijah that fulfilment should attend whatever
imprecation might in his wrath escape him against the godless for their
unholy speech. As the prophet entered the general's house, he heard
Hiel utter these words: "Blessed be the Lord God of the pious, who
grants fulfilment to the words of the pious." Hiel thus acknowledged
that he had been justly afflicted with Joshua's curse against him who
should rebuild Jericho.
Ahab mockingly asked him: "Was not Moses greater than Joshua, and did
he not say that God would let no rain descend upon the earth, if Israel
served and worshipped idols? There is not an idol known to which I do
not pay homage, yet we enjoy all that is goodly and desirable. Dost
thou believe that if the words of Moses remain unfulfilled, the words
of Joshua will come true?" Elijah rejoined: "Be it as thou sayest: 'As
the Lord, the God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall
not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.'" In
pursuance of His promise, God could not but execute the words of
Elijah, and neither dew nor rain watered the land. (5)
A famine ensued, and Ahab sought to wreak his vengeance upon the
prophet. To escape the king's persecutions, Elijah hid himself. He was
sustained with food brought from the larder of the pious king
Jehoshaphat by ravens, (6) which at the same time would not approach
near to the house of the iniquitous Ahab. (7)
God, who has compassion even upon the impious, tried to induce the
prophet to release Him from His promise. To influence him He made the
brook run dry (8) whence Elijah drew water for his thirst. As this
failed to soften the inflexible prophet, God resorted to the expedient
of causing him pain through the death of the son of the widow with whom
Elijah was abiding, and by whom he had been received with great honor.
When her son, who was later to be known as the prophet Jonah, (9) died,
she thought God had formerly been gracious to her on account of her
great worthiness as compared with the merits of her neighbors and of
the inhabitants of the city, and now He had abandoned her, because her
virtues had become as naught in the presence of the great prophet. (10)
In his distress Elijah supplicated God to revive the child. (11) Now
God had the prophet in His power. He could give heed unto Elijah's
prayer only provided the prophet released Him from the promise about a
drought, for resuscitation from death is brought about by means of dew,
and this remedy was precluded so long as Elijah kept God to His word
withholding dew and rain from the earth. (12) Elijah saw there was
nothing for it but to yield. However, he first betook himself to Ahab
with the purpose of overcoming the obduracy of the people, upon whom
the famine had made no impression. Manifest wonders displayed before
their eyes were to teach them wisdom. The combat between God and Baal
took place on Carmel. The mount that had esteemed itself the proper
place for the greatest event in Israelitish history, the revelation of
the law, was compensated, by the many miracles now performed upon it,
for its disappointment at Sinai's having been preferred to it. (13)
The first wonder occurred in connection with the choice of the
bullocks. According to Elijah's arrangement with Ahab, one was to be
sacrificed to God, and then one to Baal. A pair to twins, raised
together, were brought before the contestants, and it was decided by
lot which belonged to God and which to Baal. Elijah had no difficulty
with his offering; quickly he led it to his altar. But all the priests
of Baal, eight hundred and fifty in number, could not make their victim
stir a foot. When Elijah began to speak persuasively to the bullock of
Baal, urging it to follow the idolatrous priests, it opened its mouth
and said: "We two, yonder bullock and myself, came forth from the same
womb, we took our food from the same manger, and now he has been
destined for God, as an instrument for the glorification of the Divine
Name, while I am to be used for Baal, as an instrument to enrage my
Creator." Elijah urged: "Do thou but follow the priests of Baal that
they may have no excuse, and then thou wilt have a share in that
glorification of God for which my bullock will be used." The bullock:
"So dost thou advise, but I swear I will not move from the spot, unless
thou with thine own hands wilt deliver me up." Elijah thereupon led the
bullock to the priests of Baal. (14)
In spite of this miracle, the priests sought to deceive the people.
They undermined the altar, and Hiel hid himself under it with the
purpose of igniting a fire at the mention of the word Baal. But God
sent a serpent to kill him. (15) In vain the false priests cried and
called, Baal! Baal! the expected flame did not shoot up. To add to
the confusion of the idolaters, God had imposed silence upon the whole
world. The powers of the upper and of the nether regions were dumb, the
universe seemed deserted and desolate, as if without a living creature.
If a single sound had made itself heard, the priests would have said,
"It is the voice of Baal." (16)
That all preparations might be completed in one day, the erection of
the altar, the digging of the trench, and whatever else was necessary,
Elijah commanded the sun to stand still. "For Joshua," he said, "thou
didst stand still that Israel might conquer his enemies; now stand thou
still, neither for my sake, nor for the sake of Israel, but that the
Name of God may be exalted." And the sun obeyed his words. (17)
Toward evening Elijah summoned his disciple Elisha, and bade him pour
water over his hands. A miracle happened. Water flowed out from
Elijah's fingers until the whole trench was filled. (18) Then the
prophet prayed to God to let fire descend, but in such wise that the
people would know it to be a wonder from heaven, and not think it a
magician's trick. (19) He spoke: "Lord of the world, Thou wilt send me
as a messenger 'at the end of time,' but if my words do not meet with
fulfilment now, the Jews cannot be expected to believe me in the latter
days." (20) His pleading was heard on high, and fire fell from heaven
upon the altar, a fire that not only consumed what it touched, but also
licked up the water. (21) Nor was that all; his prayer for rain was
also granted. Scarcely had these words dropped from his lips, "Though
we have no other merits, yet remember the sign of the covenant which
the Israelites bear upon their bodies," when the rain fell to earth.
(22)
In spite of all these miracles, the people persisted in their
idolatrous ways and thoughts. Even the seven thousand who had not bowed
down unto Baal were unworthy sons of Israel, for they paid homage to
the golden calves of Jeroboam. (23)
The misdeeds of the people had swelled to such number that they could
no longer reckon upon "the merits of the fathers" to intercede for
them; they had overdrawn their account. (24) When they sank to the
point of degradation at which they gave up the sign of the covenant,
Elijah could control his wrath no longer, and he accused Israel before
God. (25) In the cleft of the rock in which God had once aforetimes
appeared to Moses, and revealed Himself as compassionate and
long-suffering, He now met with Elijah, (26) and conveyed to him, by
various signs, that it had been better to defend Israel than accuse
him. But Elijah in his zeal for God was inexorable. Then God commanded
him to appoint Elisha as his successor, for He said: "I cannot do as
thou wouldst have me." (27) Furthermore God charged him: "Instead of
accusing My children, journey to Damascus, where the Gentiles have an
idol for each day of the year. Though Israel hath thrown down My altars
and slain My prophets, what concern is it of thine?" (28)
The four phenomena that God sent before His appearance wind, (29)
earthquake, fire, and a still small voice were to instruct Elijah
about the destiny of man. God told Elijah that these four represent the
worlds through which man must pass: the first stands for this world,
fleeting as the wind; the earthquake is the day of death, which makes
the human body to tremble and quake; fire is the tribunal in Gehenna,
and the still small voice is the Last Judgment, when there will be none
but God alone. (30)
About three years (31) later, Elijah was taken up into heaven, (32) but
not without first undergoing a struggle with the Angel of Death. He
refused to let Elijah enter heaven at his translation, on the ground
that he exercised jurisdiction over all mankind, Elijah not excepted.
God maintained that at the creation of heaven and earth He had
explicitly ordered the Angel of Death to grant entrance to the living
prophet, but the Angel of Death insisted that by Elijah's translation
God had given just cause for complaint to all other men, who could not
escape the doom of death. Thereupon God: "Elijah is not like other men.
He is able to banish thee from the world, only thou dost not recognize
his strength." With the consent of God, a combat took place between
Elijah and the Angel of Death. The prophet was victorious, and, if God
had not restrained him, he would have annihilated his opponent. Holding
his defeated enemy under his feet, Elijah ascended heavenward. (33)
In heaven he goes on living for all time. (34) There he sits recording
the deeds of men (35) and the chronicles of the world. (36) He has
another office besides. He is the Psychopomp, whose duty is to stand at
the cross-ways in Paradise and guide the pious to their appointed
places; (37) who brings the souls of sinners up from Gehenna at the
approach of the Sabbath, and leads them back again to their merited
punishment when the day of rest is about to depart; and who conducts
these same souls, after they have atoned for their sins, to the place
of everlasting bliss. (38)
Elijah's miraculous deeds will be better understood if we remember that
he had been an angel from the very first, even before the end of his
earthly career. When God was about to create man, Elijah said to Him:
"Master of the world! If it be pleasing in Thine eyes, I will descend
to earth, and make myself serviceable to the sons of men." Then God
changed his angel name, and later, under Ahab, He permitted him to
abide among men on earth, that he might convert the world to the belief
that "the Lord is God." His mission fulfilled, God took him again into
heaven, and said to him: "Be thou the guardian spirit of My children
forever, and spread the belief in Me abroad in the whole world." (39)
His angel name is Sandalphon, (40) one of the greatest and mightiest of
the fiery angel host. As such it is his duty to wreathe garlands for
God out of the prayers sent aloft by Israel. (41) Besides, he must
offer up sacrifices in the invisible sanctuary, for the Temple was
destroyed only apparently; in reality, it went on existing, hidden from
the sight of ordinary mortals. (42)