Prophetic Initiative

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1. The Hidden Face of Eliyahu

   Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky

   תאריך פרסום: תשעב | |

   Eliyahu is one of the most misunderstood characters in all of Tanach. Misunderstood by his contemporaries, he has been misunderstood by students of Tanach throughout history (including in our day). This shiur offers a fresh perspective on this fascinating and important personality, shedding much light on the Eliyahu narratives in Sefer Melakhim.

2. Introduction

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Sefer Melakhim dedicates two literary sections to the activities of two prophets. Eliyahu and Elisha perform many miracles and Elisha is Eliyahu’s successor. Eliyahu begins his prophecy when the Kingdom of Israel was politically stable, but had reached new spiritual lows. Eliyahu and Elisha seem to perform their miracles without an explicit command from God. A Divine message can be delivered orally or through action – even an action that is not explicitly commanded by God. At times God may not accept the independent action of a prophet. Other times God may help the prophet preform a miracle, even if God is not in complete agreement with the prophet’s action. The majority of prophetic actions preformed without an explicit command reflect the Divine will, and achieve the objective of the prophet’s mission.

3. Eliyahu on Mount Carmel (Part 1)

   Was Eliyahu Commanded to Act as he Does in This Story?

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Eliyahu was not commanded to perform the specific actions that he undertook regarding the meeting at the Carmel; on the other hand, not only did his actions not contradict God's word, but they represent the realization of what was hinted at in God’s command to him: the situation that had been created be used for a positive effect, and that Eliyahu cooperate with Achav, in order that God could give rain. Thus, these actions represent a partnership between God and His prophet, sharing the same purpose: to restore Israel to God and to restore God's kindness to Israel.

4. Eliyahu on Mount Carmel (Part 1)

   Was Eliyahu Commanded to Act as he Does in This Story? (Part 2)

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Since the prophet's actions, undertaken on his own initiative, are aimed at fulfilling God's command in the spirit in which it was intended, it may be said that they are done by God's command even if all this is not made explicit within the command. Eliyahu's profound clarification of God's command requires that several actions be inserted in between appearing before Ahav and the giving of rain, all aimed at bringing Israel to teshuva. The choice of these actions is left to the prophet.

5. Eliyahu on Mount Carmel (Part 9)

   "Arise, eat and drink, for there is the sound of rumbling rain"

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Eliyahu’s command to Ahav to eat might signify the end of a fast that was declared due to the drought. Alternatively, it might signify Ahav’s identification with the killing of the prophets of Ba’al, thus warranting the downpour. There is no explicit prophecy that the rain will fall immediately, but Eliyahu believes the timing is right and he has faith in God and promises rain. The lack of the explicit prophecy demands that Eliyahu pray for the rain he promised.

6. Eliyahu on Mount Carmel (Part 11)

   "God's hand was upon Eliyahu and he ran before Ahav."

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Eliyahu runs before Ahav, in the pouring rain, as a demonstration of respect and loyalty. Through this action, on the heels of the cooperation with Ahav during the events at Carmel, Eliyahu gives legitimacy to Ahav's kingship. The "hand of God" that was upon Eliyahu, means that a gift of Divine strength was bestowed upon the prophet when he decided to run ahead of Ahav’s chariot. The concluding picture is the only image in all of the stories of Eliyahu in which total harmony prevails among the prophet, his nation, and their king, and between all of these and God.

7. Three Years of Drought; Three Miracles

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Is God commanding Eliyahu his loyal servant - to decree a drought, or is Eliyahu - more zealous than God himself - issuing a decree that God agrees to?  As each year of drought passes, each scene describes an intensification of the famine alongside a miracle involving Eliyahu. If Eliyahu has decreed a famine in his zeal for God, the progression in the chapter expresses God's desire for Eliyahu to express some compassion and to rescind the decree. If Eliyahu was operating on God's command, the progression describes the development of Eliyahu as a prophet during the famine period. 

8. Eliyahu Prays for Rain

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   What does this episode of Eliyahu's prayer for rain add to the wider story? The storyline before and after Eliyahu's prayer appears to be stalled at the same point: Eliyahu encouraging Achav to proceed to Yizra'el hastily because the rain is on its way.  Classic commentators suggest that an immediate rain was necessary to impress Ahav or to make the clear connection between the sin of idolatry and the drought. However, there might be an additional lesson for Eliyahu himself. Though he decreed the drought, ultimately it is by God's word that the rain will come or go.