Elijah was one of Israel's most powerful prophets, active during King Ahab's reign. He is known for his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, his miracles, and his dramatic ascent to heaven in a chariot of fire. He represents the prophetic tradition that met Jesus at the Transfiguration.
Schlüsselereignisse
The Drought and the Ravens
Elijah proclaimed drought over Israel and was miraculously fed by ravens at the Brook Cherith.
1Elijah the Tishbite, one of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD lives, the God of Israel in whose presence I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain these coming years except at my word."
10So he got up and went to Zarephath. When he came to the entrance of the town, there was a widow gathering sticks. He called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a jar, so I may drink."
12But she answered, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a couple of sticks now, and I will go in and prepare it for myself and my son, and we will eat it and die."
14for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not run out, and the jug of oil will not run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the face of the ground.'"
21Elijah came before all the people and said, "How long will you keep limping between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." The people said nothing.
36At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet stepped forward and prayed: "LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
11The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak, went out, and stood at the mouth of the cave. And a voice came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
11As they walked on, talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
12Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two.
14Taking the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, he struck the water and said, "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.