They had been governed by kings for numerous years and several of these kings had been evil. And there were various literary devices that the hebrews used. In one elijah is bold and courageous, victoriously facing all kinds of odds with the chapter concluding, the hand of the lord was on elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran ahab to jezreel. However, the book opens with the story of him suffering a fall.
David guzik commentary on 1 kings 19, where elijah flees to the wilderness. The word yahwehis gods most holy name, and means god always. Elijah the tishbite, of gilead, was a human being just like any of usa man of similar hopes and dreams, weaknesses and shortcomings, but also a man of deep faith in god. In the middle of the books of the kings remember that 1 and 2 samuel, as well as 1 and 2 kings, are all part of one big book1,2,3, and 4 kings we get the story of elijah. The story of his prophetic career in the northern kingdom of israel during the reigns of kings. It is said that familiarity breeds contempt, however. The spirit of the lord knows how to fit men for the occasions.
Elijah was a bold, directtothepoint prophet of god. But when the kingdoms of israel and judah were weak, and forsaken by god, they took that opportunity to revolt from them. At that time, israel was ruled by corrupted kings whose evil ways caused the drought from god upon the land. Elijahs apology does not elicit reassurance but rather a new command. Apparently, john the baptist was the forerunner of an endtime elijah figure, who would preach in the spirit and power of elijah to prepare the way for christs second coming compare matthew 17. We have seen our nation slide into the gutter of secular humanism and its side kickgross. If you want to be part of changing that, here are some commentary recommendations. Elijah had demonstrated courage before ahab in the kings palace and on mount carmel. This chapter and the following two chapters make up what is called the. Solomons reign 1 kings 111 the divided kingdom 1 kings 1216 elijah 1 kings 1722 summary of 1 kings.
And he uses collections of stories about the prophets elisha, micaiah and isaiah. The book of kings almost teases readers about the succession from elijah to elisha. But a message from the incensed and hardhearted queen. The dialogue between the angel of the lord and elijah gives way to elijahs apology. Elijah had already prophesied the death of ahaziah. He explains why god allowed his people to go into exile. All four gospel accounts describe jesus addressing the soontobe disciples. Elijah, also spelled elias or elia, hebrew eliyyahu, flourished 9th century bce, hebrew prophet who ranks with moses in saving the religion of yahweh from being corrupted by the nature worship of baal. You have abandoned the lord s commands and have followed. The lord tells elijah to anoint elisha as prophet in his place 1 kings 19. Carnal hearts are hardened and enraged against god, by that which should convince and conquer them. Elijah knew both the power of god and the depths of depression. The first 11 chapters deal with king solomon, who ruled over the united kingdom, and chapters 1216 deal with the kings of israel and judah. When elijah arrived at horeb, he went into the cave the definite article in, with the obvious connection between the appearance of god, which follows here, and that described in exodus 33.
This is evident by the promises and principles of 1 timothy 2. Introduction of all the chapters on the life and ministry of elijah. Others attribute a group of anonymous authors called the deuteronomists, since language from the book of deuteronomy is repeated in 1 kings. The author also says a lot about the prophets, in particular elijah and elisha. Elisha then assumed the mantle and presided over the.
We hold these words to be the inspired affirmation of the sacred author of kings that elijah never died, but that he was translated into heaven by the direct action of god, in like manner to that which was done to enoch. The confrontation on mount carmel scene 6 introduction this study in 1 kings 18 is extremely relevant. The books of 1 kings and 2 kings were originally one book. It can translate either of twowords in hebrew, which is the original language of this book. Similar to the life of jesus, elijah performs marveling acts to demonstrate the validity of god to the people of israel. The first kings is the first half of a single book that was divided into two parts, 1 and 2 kings because together they were too long to fit on one scroll. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up fortytwo lads of their number. Watch our overview video on the books of 12 kings, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In marrying jezebel and accommodating her religion, ahab allowed baal worship to be reintroduced in a big way into israel 1 kings 16. The structure of the book shows that 2 kings 2 is the heart of the book, and 2 kings 2. So bad was the character, both of the israelites and their princes, as represented in the foregoing chapter, that one would have expected god should have cast off a people that had so cast him off. King ahabs son ahaziah took the throne of the kingdom after the death of ahab in 1 kings. The two books of kings are called the 3 rd and 4 th book of kings in the septuagint as well as the vulgate. Jehovah would take up elijah by a whirlwind into heaven 2 kings 2.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading 1 and 2 kings the niv application commentary. They are two of the most notable prophets from scripture helping to restore israel in a time of wicked rulers. Introduction 23 then he went up from there to bethel. The bible story of elijah and elisha is found in both books of kings from the old testament.
Jewish tradition credits jeremiah the prophet as the author of 1 kings, although bible scholars are divided on the issue. While we so often struggle with the events and issues of the book of 1st kings, ralph davis helps us to see how it we can apply to the contemporary settings of the 21st century. There is very little preaching on elijah and elisha today says andy murray. Elijahs name means yahweh is my god and is spelled elias in some versions of the bible. God appointed this man of the desert regions to go before kings, bringing the message of warning and repentance. The provision was plentiful, and good, and constant, bread and flesh twice a day, daily bread and food convenient. The bible story of elijah is from the first book of kings, describing his miraculous feats and redemption of the people of israel from the evil king ahab. Both moses and elijah encounter god at mount horeb see exodus 3.
Near the time of davids death he appointed solomon to be the next king. Study the bible online using commentary on 1 kings 19 and more. The context the first 16 chapters of 1 kings deal primarily with the activity of kings. But in the case of this book, it is another chiasm. Therefore, god rained down fire on them and killed 100 messengers.
Discover a summary of elijahs story, full scripture text, and related articles. The first part 12 tells about the last years of king davids life and how his son solomon became the king. Elijahs flight to the wilderness and his encounter with god in a still small voice kjv, nkjv is well known. Elijah is initially presented in 1 kings 17 as the seer who foretold a threeyear drought in the land of israel. The bible story of elijah is found in the old testament, in the first book of kings chapters 17 and 18. Elijahs story begins by introducing the state of affairs for the people of israel. The bible story of elijah is from the first book of kings, describing his miraculous feats and redemption of the people. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of israel and judah by a deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century bce, with a supplement added in the sixth century bce. This is an oddity, because of course elijah isnt a king. At that time, israel was ruled by corrupted kings whose evil ways caused the. In kings, davids son solomon leads israel to greatness, only to.
Elijahs activity spanned the reigns of ahab reigned c. Summary of the books of kings the story of the bible. According to jewish tradition in the talmud the author was the prophet jeremiah. Elijah prays for drought and experiences gods provision. The issue of succession first appears in 1 kings 19.