Elijah Elijah from Tishbe served as prophet of Israel during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah (874–852 BC). His name means “my God is Yahweh,” and his ministry involved demonstrating that the Lord is the one true God and calling Israel back to the Lord. Under Ahab and Jezebel, Israel began worshiping Baal, a Canaanite fertility god of storm and rain, so God sent a drought upon Israel (1 Kgs 17:1). Elijah hid until the drought ended, and he was sustained by God. During that time, he lived with a widow in Zarephath, a town in Jezebel’s home territory of Sidon. The widow’s son died, but Elijah prayed for him and he was revived (1 Kgs 17:8-24). In the third year of drought, Elijah challenged Baal’s prophets to a contest on Mount Carmel to demonstrate the identity of the true God (1 Kgs 18:1-40). The prophets of Baal called on Baal in vain, becoming frantic to induce him to appear, while Elijah made fun of Baal. When it was Elijah’s turn, he poured water over his sacrifice and prayed a simple, powerful prayer. Fire immediately consumed the offering. In response, the people of Israel worshiped the Lord and, at Elijah’s direction, killed Baal’s prophets. Then Elijah prayed for rain...

Ahab Ahab, Israel’s eighth king, inherited the northern kingdom from his powerful father, Omri (1 Kgs 16:27-28), and reigned in Israel from 874 to 853 BC. Ahab married Jezebel, daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Under her influence, Ahab began worshiping Baal instead of the Lord (16:29-33). Ahab had several military successes. He achieved victories over the Arameans (20:1-34), and in 853 BC he led a coalition of kings against the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III and defeated him at the battle of Qarqar. However, the Old Testament reports little positive news about Ahab, who was a traitor to God. God raised up the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab, Jezebel, and their prophets and to reassert the supremacy of the true God (17:1; 18:1-46). Ahab not only betrayed the Lord; he also exploited his people, as in the matter of Naboth and his vineyard (21:1-29). In Israel, the people had absolute title to the land as a gift from God. When Ahab wanted to annex a vineyard from his neighbor Naboth and Naboth refused, he was frustrated. Jezebel was familiar with another type of kingship back home: When kings wanted something, they just took it. So she helped Ahab frame Naboth, who was execut...

Prophets in 1 Kings God’s prophets played a major role in the Old Testament kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They ministered to people’s everyday needs, confronted kings and priests over their apostasy, and performed many miracles. They brought announcements of God’s coming plans (1 Kgs 11:29-32; 17:1), especially messages of judgment (13:1-2; 20:42; 21:20-23; 22:20-22). Several examples from 1 Kings serve to illustrate the prophets’ role. The faithful prophet Nathan, who had rebuked David regarding his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:1-12), played a crucial role in counteracting Adonijah’s attempt to seize his father David’s throne (1 Kgs 1:5-49). The prophet Ahijah informed Jeroboam that God intended to divide Solomon’s kingdom after his death (11:29-39). Later, God used an unnamed prophet to condemn Jeroboam’s apostate religion and the altar at Bethel (13:1-10) and to demonstrate the consequences of disobeying the Lord’s commission (13:11-32). Ahijah reappeared, announcing the Lord’s judgment against Jeroboam and his heirs (14:1-16). The prophet Jehu announced judgment on King Baasha for continuing in Jeroboam’s sin (16:1-4). Finally, a large portion of 1 Kings is devoted to the...