The National tribune., 1891-01-08
. Elijah.

The name Elijah is Hebrew, and means Ny
God is Jehovah. The Hebrew is always. when
the Prophet il meant, rendered in the Recsired
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"
u Ri, IL 81; XII, 9:ll. 49,
AnSher Elijah is mentioned in Err, 10 2i.
He was Of the tribe Of Levi. tSee v. Isl Two
other persons appear in the Old Testament by
the same name in Hebrew rs that of the fish
bite. Their names are rendered in Rsceired
VersiOH. Elijah. They are Elijah OF the tribe Of
Benjamin u Ch., 3 27,) and Elijah, descend
ant Of Levi. (Ezr.. 10 26)
The Prophet was Tishbite. This title was
given him because he was originally from
TiShbe, n 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 tho 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. Jamess state
ment that che was a man subject to like pas
sions as we are" t5:IT)
Elijah enters the world as n surprise so far
rs the Bible account informs US. Ahab and
JcZebel are very wicked, and the Prophet goes to
the Capital lSamarial and fOrctells tho drought
OF three and onc-half years. Il Hi. 17:lD
This was 90 b. c. We do not know his age
then, and so cannot determine the year of his
birth. In imagination and in art be always
appears a venerable parsonage but since his
prophetic Office covered only about IL years,
we might suppose him go years Of age when
he first becomes known in the Old Testament.
We might judge lie was born about go 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 two kingdoms.
Hence, he was born in the Kingdom Of Israel,
and lived in the reigHs 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.
6. Retr5ption.
All that happened to the Kingdom Of Israel
might have been anticipated. God had warned
his people what to expect ifthey became idola-
trOus and dsObedient to his laws. (Eead Lev,
2G Is; Deu, IL IS, H. Ahab and Jezebel
had settled down 20 the belief difficulties were
adjusted Jehovah bauished and Baal master Of
the religious situation, when, one day, without
invitation from them, without solicitation on
his own part, in came a man. wild looking,
bold, strong strange, with long flowing hair,
clothed in skins, acting with authority, hav-
ing micn not frustrated by even royal gaze,
contempt, power, pouring out his message from
Heaven like Goals Offire and then as suddenly
disappearing without explanation, apology,
formal adieu.
Z. References.
Elijah printed Elias Ecc'us, AZ: /, 4; st. Mt,
IL II; 10: Ia; q AZ, 40; st. Luke, II; %
%; 9: 80 33. 81; st. John, 81, p; Ro., IL 2;
81. James 5:17 AZ the Lori lreh. V. -;
%: If; l Sam, II 80, 45; 10: 81; 20: 3, 81 !;
% %; 90: 10; XII, 3 II; 5:l6; IT,. 40: Is !;
Jer., 4:2; 5:2. Before WhOm stand. Deu..
10: 8; Jer., 10: 10; st. Luke. l 10; 81 IS; ;
Acts q: %. Not be der nor rain. Lev, 90: Is /;
Deu., Il l6 II; Eec'us, Is: ,; st. Luke, 4 %;
st. James, 5:I7; Rev. 1l:6.
8. Critical Notes
/. We do not suppose the drought was univer
sal. But St. James g.: IL says, rained not
| on the earth" We think the meaning is that
part Of the earth. to wit, the Kingdom Of Israel
| in particular. The drought was sent for a spe-
/ cial reason, viz, the punishment Of Gods peO-
| pie on account Of their idOlatry. and need not
extend further than their abOdes
2. Elijah went!by command of Heaven, and
/ not In his own authority.
3. According to my word. We see from St.
| James > H. that word means prayer. Eli
/ jah prayed earnestly that il might not rain.
\ Elijah gave Ahab to understand thas be ELI
| JAIN was the messenger Of God He stood be-
| fore God; was his minister; acted at the direc-
/ tiOn Of Jehovah.
! 4. A drought was great affection 1t Is held
\ in general by Bible students that this particular
| drought was a miracle, produced directly by
( God for the punishment of the Israelitcs. The
view it was merely foreseen by Elijah and de-
| clared TO Ahab by him as though the prophet
were superintendent Of the weather bureau is
not accepted. IL is plain the drought was con-
nected with tho sins of thu people.
o. Suggestions.
]. Ministers should be brave They should
not cover before Kings. 10 was a task for the
man OF God 10 carry such a message to such a
man, and that specially when his wife was
Jezebel We arc not responsible for living or
| dying; we for duty.
| 2. Remember, sin cannot be committed with
out certain Tetribution. Sins find out men.
| Kings cannot favor idolatry, or any sin against
| God, and keep their thrones intact. Wide ex-
| tended famines may often bear relation to
| National wickedness God commands the
| clouds and the birds and all material agencies
aud can hardly use them more properly than
| in indicating justice, UNFOLDING law, reward
| ing integrity, Furnishing wickedness. We can
no; sin without God knowing it,, and God will
not know it and keep still
>. The taking Of civil oaths Is not forbidden.
4. We should be very careful in the use Of
| such expressions as, {. G., As the Lord God
liyeth." tSee vs. j, r. Both Elijah and the
widow used the words. We see however, they
employ them sOlemnly Teverentially; not
carelessly. One needs TO watch himself, or, by
degrees, from mere heedlessness he will run
into vulgaTity and blasphemy.
III. ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS
Ahab and Jezebel were enraged at the news
Of the drought. They naturally associated the
impending evil with the messenger telling of
the coming atiliction. 1t was evident the King
would seek the life of Elijah, as though the
killing Of a servant would prevent the Master
from carrying out his purposes. We notice
| Elijah did not run away, as being afraid Of
Ahaz 1t seems be, if left to himself, would
have faced the consequences He went away
at the bidding of God. Writers in general
even go so far as 10 commend his spirit of
obedience in thus retiring at the command of
God.
!. Data.
The account is Ki, 1927. This is the sole
report.
.. Tine
Elijah appeared to Ahab p. G. 9IO. We
think the prophet forthwith retired We cannot
tell how long no remained in his first hiding
place.
3. Place
God gave Elijah exact description of the To-
| cality where he was TO conceal himself from the
rage of Ahab. IL was necessary TO select very
secluded place from the fact greatest efforts
were made to discover whittier he had escaped
| We see from Is: SO that extraordinary re-
| searches were made. For brook {" (V. 81 it
would be better to render wady, term which
applies to a stream flowing through a rayine
1 .F.fr