Respect for the King

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1. 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.