# Who was Elijah in the Bible?

Elijah was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel when King Ahab and Queen Jezebel led the people to worship Baal. He called down fire on Mount Carmel, ran for his life, and met God in the sound of a thin silence. He did not die. A chariot of fire and a whirlwind took him up to heaven.

- When: In the days of King Ahab, about 874 to 853 BC.
- Read: 1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 2. Start with [1 Kings 17](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/17).

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/elijah. Scripture quotations are from the Lumin Translation.

## Elijah’s life, in order

1. **No rain** ([1 Kings 17:1-7](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/17#1-7)). Elijah tells Ahab there will be no rain except at his word. Ravens feed him by a brook.
2. **The widow’s jar** ([1 Kings 17:8-24](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/17#8-24)). At Zarephath a widow shares her last flour. Her jar does not run out, and Elijah raises her son.
3. **Fire on Mount Carmel** ([1 Kings 18:20-39](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/18#20-39)). Elijah challenges 450 prophets of Baal. Their god is silent. Fire from the Lord burns up Elijah’s soaked sacrifice. Map: [Mount Carmel](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#mount-carmel).
4. **Under the broom tree** ([1 Kings 19:1-8](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/19#1-8)). Jezebel swears to kill him. He runs into the wilderness and asks to die. An angel feeds him.
5. **The quiet whisper** ([1 Kings 19:9-18](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/19#9-18)). At Horeb, God is not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire. Then comes the sound of a thin silence, and God speaks. Map: [Mount Sinai](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#mount-sinai).
6. **Elisha** ([1 Kings 19:19-21](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/19#19-21)). Elijah throws his cloak over Elisha, who leaves his oxen to follow him.
7. **The whirlwind** ([2 Kings 2:1-12](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-kings/2#1-12)). By the Jordan near Jericho, a chariot of fire parts Elijah from Elisha, and Elijah goes up to heaven in a whirlwind. Map: [Jericho](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#jericho).

## Key verses

> Elijah stepped up to all the people and said, “How long will you keep hobbling back and forth between two sides? If Yahweh is God, go after him; but if Baal is, go after him.” The people said not a word in reply. ([1 Kings 18:21](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/18#21))

> After the earthquake there was a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire there was the sound of a thin silence. ([1 Kings 19:12](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/19#12))

> Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ([James 5:17](https://www.lumin.faith/read/james/5#17))

## What the Bible says, and what tradition adds

### Did Elijah die?

**In the Bible.** The Bible does not say he died. He was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Enoch is the only other person said to be taken without death. See [2 Kings 2:11](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-kings/2#11).

### Is John the Baptist Elijah?

**Readers disagree.** Malachi promised Elijah would come before the day of the Lord. Jesus said of John, “if you are willing to receive it, he himself is Elijah.” John himself said he was not. Most read it as John coming in Elijah’s spirit and power. See [Matthew 11:14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/11#14).

### Does Elijah appear in the New Testament?

**In the Bible.** Yes. He stands with Moses and talks with Jesus on the mountain of the transfiguration. See [Matthew 17:3](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/17#3).

## Related people

- [Moses](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/moses): Led Israel out of Egypt. Received the law at Sinai.
- [John the Baptist](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/john-the-baptist): Prepared the way. Baptized Jesus in the Jordan.
- [King David](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/david): Shepherd boy, giant killer, king, psalm writer.