The National tribune., 1885-09-17
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Life of Elijah.

to paragraphs relating to Elijah, we Judge 1t
well to devote review Sunday TO considera-
ton of his life.
The name Elijah is Hebrew, and means, My
God is jehovah. The Hebrew is always when
the Prophet is meant, rendered il the keceired
VerSion of the Old Testament, Elijah. The
translation in the New Testament, which is
from the Greek, is always Elias. The render
ing in the Old Testament Apocrypha is also
always Elias. He was called Man OF God
Il XII, II "A; Ki L: 0, II, 49,
Another Elijah is mentioned III Err, 10 Il.
He WAS of the tribe of Levi. (Sce V. 49, Two
other persons appear in the Old Testament by
the same name in Hebrew as that of tho Tish-
bite. Their names are rendered in Rcccired
Tersion, Elijah. They arc Elijah of the tribe Of
Benjamin Il Ch., s: l, 27) and Elijah, descend
ant of Levi. (Ezr 10: 2G.)
The Prophet was D Tishbite. This title was
given him because he was originally from
Tishbe, a city in the tribe of Naphtali, and
hence in the Kingdom Of Israel.
We have no account OF the Prophets parent
age. Apocryphal writers have intimated he
was not human, but an angel or some exalted
being incarnated. Not the Messiah, because he
was with Christ at the TRANSPORTATION. We
have no account of his birth. Then, he never
died, but left the world differently from the
human. Further, we never read Of any OF his
ancestors nor of his descendants. But that he
was human we can see from st. James's state
sions as we are" (5:17)
Elijah enters the world as a surprise, so far
as the Bible account informs rs. Ahab and
| Jezebel are very wicked and the Prophet goes
to the capital tsanara) and forctells the drouth
| of three and one-half years II XII, Il: H.
This was go b. c. We do not know his age
then, ana so cannot determine the year of his
| birth. In Imagination and in art he always
appears as venerable parsonage, but since his
prophetic office covered only about Id years,
| we might suppose him 70 years of age when he
| first becomes known in the Old Testament.
| We might judge he was born about $40 b. C., or
| about five years after the death of Solomon.
We cannot suppose he was born before the di-
! vision of the IL tribes into tive Kingdoms.
| Hence, he was born in the Kingdom Of IsSael,
and lived in the reigns of all the Kings of both
| Judah and Israel who followed Solomon, up to
| the time of the Prophets translation. His pro-
| phetic work was mainly in the reign of Ahab.
Elijah WAS probably born at Tishbe, ia the
tribe OF Naphtali; living there till Jezebel
| made it perilOus to remain in the Kingdom of
Israel. Then he fled to the land OF Gilead,
east of the Jordan and quite retired. Tobit
| author of the apocryphal book of that name,
was also born at Tishbe. (Tobit 1:2.)
We read of no relatives of Elijah. Apocry-
| phal writers make him q cclibate.
We know little of the education of Ell jah.
| 1t was probably like that of the generality of
Jewish youth of his day. There were no
| printed books. Text books were in MSS. The
| priests and Levites were scattered over the
| land of Israel. A large part of their work was
| to teach schools. Home culture was great
portion of education then. The Jews were not
| ignorant. race represented by Solomon
| could not be supposed to be wholly illiterate
| We know the Jews had knowledge of geography,
arithmetic, surveying, astronomy, architecture
and medicine. Moses was learned in all Egyp-
| tian art and science, and left much data to his
| people. The Prophet shared in such educa-
| tionai advantages
We find the Prophet was q Jew by nation,
and Of the tribe of Naphtali.
We know nothing of Elijah's avocation aside
from his work as a Prophet. He has left no
| writings. We cannot determine much as to
his finances, but must suppose him poor who
received food from ravens and shared widows S
| oil and meal.
For about four years be had a servant, whose
name is not given. Elijah dismissed him
when he was about TO fee to Mt Horeb. Then,
for 10 years, Elisha the aSsisi ant of Elijah.
We first find Elijah at Tishbc. He resided
there probably during childhood and to middle
life. Then, apprehensive OF danger, he fed to
| Gilead. God appears to him, bidding him go
| to Samaria and declare to Ahab the coming
drouth. This brought on him the vengeance
of Jezebel and he escapes to Cherith. lie re-
mained there probably about one year, drink
| ing from the brook and being fed by ravens.
Then God calls on him to go to Zarephath,
where he stops at the house of widow for
probably about two-and-one-h half years, her oil
| and meal being miraculouSly replenished. The
son of the widow dying, the Prophet raises
him to life. He is now commanded to 60 to
| the vicinity of Mt. Carmel. There he met
| Ahab, and asked for a convention at Mt. Carmel
of the priests Of Baal. He goes to the mountain.
| He calls on the people TO choose God or Baal
| proposes a test as to what object Of worship is
| ftta ,nH ell bats s.fR Raa! fn,
drouth to discontinue. He went to JeZreel.
Informed that Jezebel intends to kill him, he
fees to Bcersheba; dismissed his servant; went
to Rithmah lodged under juniper tree wished
himself dead fed by an angel Went to Horeb,
fasting 40 days and nights; lodged in a cave;
witnessed hurricane, earthquake and light.
ming; heard the still small voice." Went to
Abellneholah, and anointed Elisha as his sue
ccSsor. Went to Jezreel, and Chided Ahab for
his injustice to Naboth. Went to Samaria, and
rebuked Ahaziah for consulting with Baal-
zebub. Two successive Captains and their
companies Of so soldiers each were struck by
lightning because they demanded in the king's
name that Elijah must report in person imme-
diately at the palace. We next find the Prophet
ut Giigal with Elisha. He is soon to leave the
world. He makes farewell calls on the Prophetic
Schools at Bethel and Jericho, returning to
Gilgal. He and Elisha cross the Jordan chan
mel. Then they walk on, when of "a sudden
Elijah IS caught up and borne from earth, let
ting his mantle fail on Elisha. We know moth
ing more Of him till with Moses he is present
at Chrsts TRANSPORTATION at ut. Hermon.
| Our Savior referred to elijah and the widow
of Iarephath Lu., A: 25), and to Elijah and the
killing by lightning of 102 men. (Lu 8: 81.
St. James calls attention to Elijah's prayers for
the discontnuance and recurrence CT rain
| (5:17.) st. Paul reminds the Romans that in
Eiijahs time 1900 remained true to Jehovah
Q1:2-5.)
Beginning with Tishbe, the following places
represent the Prophets successive journeys
Giiead, Samaria, Chcrith, Zarephath near Mt
Carmel, Mt. Carmel, Jezreel, Beersheba, Rith
man, HOrob Abel -Meholah, Jezreel, Samaria
Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, Jordan, Perea. Thus
We find he took Ii trips and went to II differ
ent places.
| Ten miracles are mentioned in connection
| with Elijah, to wit: Fed by ravens, meal and
oil replenished, widows son raised from death
drouth caused, sacrifice burned by fire, rair
restored, fed by angel, 1G2 soldiers slain by
| lightning, Jordan divided, the ascension. Say.
Ecc'us, 4S:4: 90 Elias, h0w vast thou honorei
in thy wOndrous deeds! and who may glory
like unto thoe?"
Elijah was not perfect. JAS, :17.) God re
buked him ut Horcb. (Ecc'us., 4S - That wa!
great want of faith and courage which led hin
to run when Jezebel threatened. But any
man is a coward when he lacks faith in God
AS rule, Elijah had faith. Il XII, II: 5; 1s: 43
A. He was jealous for the Lord-on fire with
indignation whenever he saw Jehovah compro
missed. He was truthful Il XII, Is 15) zeal
ous (Ecc'us, 4S:2; Mac, 2: :5S); fervent fol