Elijah
Elijah is the prophet, the Thesbite of Thesbæ of Galaad, who stood before Achaab and announced a drought. The Septuagint spells his name Eliu in the books of Kings and Elias in Malachi and Sirach, and the New Testament has Elijah. 2 Kings ends his story without a death on record: a chariot of fire and a whirlwind take him up, and Elisaie takes up his mantle. Malachi promises that he will be sent before the great and glorious day of the Lord. In Matthew 17, Jesus says both that Elijah comes and will restore all things, and that Elijah has already come, and Matthew says the disciples understood him to mean John the Baptist.
In Scripture
The books of Kings
He announces the drought to Achaab, calls fire down on the altar, hears the voice of a gentle breeze on the mountain, and is told to anoint Elisaie as his successor.
His departure
A chariot of fire and horses of fire separate the two men, and Eliu is taken up in a whirlwind as it were into heaven.
The promise (Septuagint)
Malachi says Elias will be sent before the great and glorious day of the Lord. The Septuagint numbers this Malachi 3:22–24 and puts the law of Moses last; English Bibles have it as 4:4–6, with the law first. Sirach remembers him in the same terms.
New Testament
Elijah appears with Moses on the mountain. Jesus says “Elijah indeed comes and will restore all things” and “Elijah did already come” (Matthew 17:11–12), and calls John “Elijah, the one being about to come” (Matthew 11:14). Luke has John going before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. James calls Elijah a man of like nature to us, who prayed.
Essays
-
Substack, 7 May 2026 · Sources