Elijah

Technical Profile

Name Meaning: Hebrew ’Eliyahu (“My God is the LORD”), expressing allegiance to the covenant name of Israel’s God.
Period/Era: Divided Kingdom (9th century BC, northern kingdom of Israel).
Main References: 1 Kings 17–19; 21; 2 Kings 1–2.
Key Connections: Ahab and Jezebel; Elisha (prophetic successor); Israel’s covenant fidelity to the LORD.

Who was Elijah?

Elijah the Tishbite was a prophet from Gilead who ministered mainly in the northern kingdom of Israel.
He confronted royal promotion of Baal worship and announced covenantal judgments such as drought.
His ministry combined public signs with direct prophetic speech to Israel’s kings and people.

Key Events & Achievements

Event 1: Declared a drought and was sustained during the famine, including the raising of a widow’s son (1 Kings 17).
Event 2: Challenged Baal’s prophets on Mount Carmel, leading the people to acknowledge the LORD (1 Kings 18).
Event 3: Was taken up in a whirlwind and passed his mantle to Elisha (2 Kings 2).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Elijah’s career shows how prophetic ministry in the Divided Kingdom publicly upheld Israel’s covenant loyalty to the LORD amid state-sponsored rival worship.

Key Verse

"Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." — 1 Kings 18:37, ESV

Quizzes

Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.

1. Where did Elijah challenge Baal’s prophets, leading the people to acknowledge the LORD?

2. What happened when Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind?