The prophets of Baal have been calling on their god since morning on Mount Carmel, attempting to bring fire down upon their sacrifice in a contest proposed by Elijah. Despite their increasingly frantic efforts, including shouting, dancing, and cutting themselves with swords and spears until blood flows, there has been no response from Baal. Elijah has been mocking their failed attempts, suggesting their god might be sleeping, traveling, or otherwise occupied. This confrontation occurs during the third year of a severe drought that Elijah had prophesied, and King Ahab has gathered Israel along with the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of Asherah at Mount Carmel. The challenge was designed to demonstrate which deity is truly God, with the understanding that the people would then follow the god who answers by fire.
[29] And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
[30] Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. [31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” [32] Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. [33] And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” [34] Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. [35] So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
[36] And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. [37] Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
[38] Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. [39] Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
[40] And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.
[41] Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” [42] So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, [43] and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”
So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”
[44] Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
[45] Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. [46] Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
James has been instructing believers on practical Christian living, including patience in suffering, the power of prayer, and care for the sick. He has just encouraged the elders to pray over the sick with oil and assured his readers that the prayer of faith will save the sick person, noting that Elijah's prayers demonstrated the effectiveness of righteous prayer in bringing drought and then rain to Israel. James now transitions to addressing the restoration of believers who have wandered from the truth and the importance of mutual accountability within the Christian community.
[16] Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
[19] Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, [20] let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
The prophet Elijah has been ministering in Israel during the reigns of Ahab and his son Ahaziah, confronting idolatry and performing miracles including raising the dead and calling down fire from heaven. Throughout his ministry, Elisha has served as his devoted attendant and disciple. God has now revealed to both prophets that the time has come for Elijah's earthly ministry to end, and he will be taken up to heaven without experiencing death. As they journey together from Gilgal, companies of prophets at Bethel and Jericho are aware of Elijah's impending departure. Elisha refuses to leave his master's side despite Elijah's repeated attempts to send him away, demonstrating his determination to witness this momentous event and receive the prophetic mantle.
[1] And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. [2] Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
[3] Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
[4] Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.”
But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
[5] Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
[6] Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. [7] And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. [8] Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
[9] And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
[10] So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” [11] Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
[12] And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. [13] He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. [14] Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
[15] Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
During Jesus' sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth, He has just read from Isaiah about the Spirit anointing Him to proclaim good news and has declared this prophecy fulfilled. The congregation initially marvels at His gracious words, but their wonder turns to skepticism as they question how Joseph's son could make such claims. Jesus responds by noting that no prophet is accepted in his hometown and proceeds to remind them of two Old Testament accounts: Elijah being sent to a Gentile widow in Zarephath during a severe famine, and Elisha cleansing Naaman the Syrian of leprosy while many Israelite lepers remained unhealed. These examples illustrate God's blessing extending beyond Israel to Gentiles, which provokes the audience's anger. Jesus is addressing the congregation in the Nazareth synagogue.
[25] But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; [26] but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [27] And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
[28] So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, [29] and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. [30] Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.