Elijah Books of Kings

King Solomon's reign was a long and glorious one. Merchants brought rich cargoes to Israel, and Solomon built fine buildings and fortresses. 

He married many foreign princesses, who brought their own gods with them. When Solomon was old, he forgot his promises to God, and was persuaded by his wives to worship their gods. 

God warned Solomon to keep His commands, but Solomon took no notice. At last, God said, 'Because you have not remained faithful to Me, your son will lose most of your kingdom.

After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king, but the kingdom of Israel split into two parts. Judah, the southern part, which included the city of Jerusalem, was loyal to King Rehoboam. 

But the ten tribes in the northern part chose Jeroboam, who had been one of Solomon's officials, to be their king. Jeroboam made two golden bulls. He wanted his people to worship them as gods instead of going to the Temple in Jerusalem.

After Jeroboam died, many kings ruled the northern kingdom of Israel. The seventh king. Ahab, built a temple for Baal, one of the gods of his people, and his wife. 

Jezebel. Queen Jezebel was very cruel and killed many of the people who were faithful to God. One brave man, Elijah, still loved and obeyed God. 

He warned King Ahab that there would be no rain for many years and the people would starve.

To keep Elijah safe. God said to him; 'Go to the Kerith valley and live there. You can drink water from the stream, and ravens will bring you food.

Elijah did as God told him. Every morning and evening, ravens brought him bread and meat, and he drank water from the stream. 

After a while, as there was no more rain, the stream dried up. God then told Elijah to go near the city of Sidon, where a poor widow would give him food.

When he reached the place. Elijah met a widow picking up a few sticks for her fire. 'Please give me a drink of water and some bread. 

Elijah said to her. 'I have no food, replied the woman. 'All I have is a little flour and a few drops of olive oil.

I'm going to bake one last loaf of bread over a fire made from these sticks. Soon, when my son and I have finished the loaf, we will starve to death.

'Go home, said Elijah. And bake a small loaf of bread for me, and one for you and your son. God says that, from now on, you'll find that your flour and oil will never run out until the rains come again. 

The woman did as Elijah told her, and found that every day she had just enough flour and oil to make bread for her son, herself, and for Elijah.

But, one day, the woman's son became very ill, and soon died. The woman was heartbroken. 'Why have you done this to me? Is it to punish me? 

Have you told God of all the wrong things I have done in my life? She cried.

'Give the boy to me, said Elijah. He carried the boy upstairs to his room and laid him on his bed. Then Elijah prayed three times to God. 'O Lord my God, why have You brought misery to this woman who has been kind to me? 

Please bring this boy back to life.

God heard Elijah's prayer and answered it. The boy sat up, alive and well. Elijah picked him up and carried him downstairs to his mother. 'Look, he said; 'Your son is alive. 

The woman was overjoyed. She took the boy in her arms and said; 'I know now that you really are a man of God, and what you say is true.

There was no rain for three years. Nothing grew, and the people were starving. Elijah went to King Ahab and told him that he had brought terrible trouble to Israel by praying to the god Baal. 

Elijah said that the priests of Baal and the people should meet him on Mount Carmel. King Ahab agreed.

When all the priests and the people arrived at Mount Carmel. Elijah said; 'You can't worship Baal and God. Let's see which is the true God.

 Then he said to the priests of Baal. Build an altar to Baal, and I'll build one to God. The god which lights the fire on the altar is the true god.

The priests built the altar and laid wood on it. Then they prayed to Baal to set fire to the wood. All day they prayed, but nothing happened. 

Elijah built his altar and piled wood on it. He poured water over the wood, soaking it. Then he prayed; 'O Lord God of Israel, Let the people see that You are God, and return to You.

At once, God sent down fire, setting alight the wood, which burned fiercely. The people watched, and then flung themselves down on the ground. 

'The Lord. He is God, they shouted.

Elijah walked up to the top of Mount Carmel and prayed to God for rain. After a while, the sky grew dark with great, massed clouds, and the rain began to lash down. 

Elijah was overjoyed. He was so excited, he tucked his cloak into his belt, and ran in front of King Ahab's chariot all the way to Jezreel, in the kingdom of Judah.

The next day, everything changed. Queen Jezebel wanted Elijah killed, and he had to run for his life. He ran on and on until he came to the desert, and then to Mount Sinai. 

There he was alone. 'Elijah, why are you here?

Elijah heard God ask him. 'They have killed all Your prophets, and they want to kill me, answered Elijah. 'Go back. Go and find Elisha, who will be My prophet after you. 

There are still thousands of people in Israel who have stayed faithful to Me. And remember that I am with you, said God.

Elijah did as God told him. He found Elisha at work in the fields. Elijah took off his cloak, and put it around Elisha's shoulders to show that he was to be the next prophet in Israel. 

Elisha left home and went with Elijah on his journeys around the country, teaching the people about God.


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