The Bible Book

124

See also: Ruth and Naomi 108–09 ■ Elijah and the Prophets of Baal 125 ■

The Suffering of Job 146–47 ■ The Good Samaritan 216–17

T

he prophet Elijah makes

his first biblical appearance

during the reign of King

Ahab. The king marries the Tyrian

princess Jezebel, who persuades

him to set aside God in favor of

the god Baal and the goddess

Asherah. Although the Bible does

not explicitly say so, scholars also

suggest other acts of depravity are

being committed at court, including

ritual sex and child sacrifice.

It is at this point that Elijah

arrives, warning the errant Ahab

of a drought: “There will be neither

dew nor rain in the next few years

except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1).

However, speaking out puts Elijah’s

life at risk and God tells him to

go to the brook Cherith (east of

the Jordan River).

Elijah survives by drinking the

water and eating meat brought

twice a day by ravens, as God has

promised, until the brook runs dry.

God then leads Elijah to Phoenicia

and safety within the house of a

widow, where, with God’s help,

Elijah performs a miracle by

bringing her son back to life.

God’s protection of Elijah in

unexpected ways—ravens, which

are unclean in Israelite law, and

through the poor widow—shows

His care for the faithful. Ravens

also reference God’s protecting

love in Job 38. Their ubiquity in

ancient Israel was seen as a sign

that God’s love is everywhere. ■

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

1 Kings 16:29–17:24

THEME

God protects His prophet

SETTING

During King Ahab’s reign

(873–852 bce) Samaria and

the brook Cherith, flowing east

of the Jordan River.

KEY FIGURES

Elijah A prophet of God who

challenges King Ahab and

then must go into hiding.

King Ahab The sinful king

of Israel who rejects God

and worships the Canaanite

god Baal.

Queen Jezebel K ing A ha b’s

wife, who encourages him to

worship Baal.

The ravens Intelligent and

mystical birds that feed Elijah

during the drought.

I HAVE DIRECTED

THE RAVENS TO

FEED YOU THERE

1 KINGS 17:4, A PROPHET IN HIDING

Elijah hides in the wilderness

in this anonymous work from the

collection of Petit Palais, Musée

des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris.

God sends ravens to bring him food.

US_124-125_Prophet_in_hiding_and_prophets_of_Baal.indd 124 12/10/2017 15:02

125

See also: The Fall 30–35 ■ Tower of Babel 42–43 ■ The Golden Calf 84–85

T

he story of the religious

duel on Mount Carmel is

a highly dramatic tale

that serves to demonstrate God’s

power. The drought God had

ordained has raged for three years

when He tells the prophet Elijah

to return from hiding in the

wilderness and seek out Ahab. He

promises rain will once again fall.

On the way, Elijah meets Ahab’s

administrator, Obadiah, a secret

follower of God who reveals that he

is hiding 100 believers from Queen

Jezebel. Obadiah is afraid for his

life, as he must reveal Elijah’s

return to Ahab. However, Elijah

immediately challenges the royal

couple. He blames them for the

drought, as they have disobeyed

God and instead worshipped Baal.

Test of two gods

To decide which god is the most

powerful, Elijah proposes a public

competition at Mount Carmel.

The test for God and Baal is to

incinerate a sacrificial bull. The 450

prophets of Baal pray, dance, and

mutilate themselves, but are unable

to summon lightning. Finally, Elijah

takes 12 stones—one for each tribe

of Israel—and builds an altar. He

pours water over the wood, then

prays. To everyone’s amazement, a

bolt of fire consumes the altar, even

the water. Reminded of God’s

power, the people proclaim Him

as the only true God. The miracle

also shows how God answers the

prayers of the righteous, as he

sends the rain Elijah asks for and

protects the faithful Obadiah. ■

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS

GO AND PRESENT

YOURSELF TO AHAB,

AND I WILL SEND

RAIN ON THE LAND

1 KINGS 18:1, ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS OF BAAL

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

1 Kings 18

THEME

Authority over pagan gods

SETTING

During King Ahab’s reign

(873–852 bce) Mount Carmel

and the city of Jezreel.

KEY FIGURES

Elijah God’s prophet, who

challenges King Ahab to

a religious duel in order to

demonstrate the power of God.

King Ahab The king of Israel,

who fails to recognize that

the drought is God’s wrath

for his sins.

Obadiah The King’s servant,

who is secretly a loyal follower

of God.

Queen Jezebel A ha b’s w ife,

who seeks to kill prophets who

worship God.

When all the people

saw this, they fell

prostrate and cried,

‘The LORD—he is God.

The LORD—he is God!’

1 Kings 18:39

US_124-125_Prophet_in_hiding_and_prophets_of_Baal.indd 125 21/09/17 11:30 am