![]() ![]() Williams located the cave of Elijah, which is a real cave, not far from the summit of JABAL AL LAWZ in Arabia. But, more than that, "One formidable difficulty in the way of that identification, is that the (alleged) `cave' is only just large enough for a man's body" and that simply cannot be harmonized with the statement in 1 Kings 19:13 that, "Elijah went out and stood in the entrance to the cave"! Why? In the first place, it was not on Horeb, but some distance away. ![]() "What is sorely missing at all of the other potential locations of Mount Sinai is the all-important cave of Elijah." Oh yes, the supporters of the Sinaitic Peninsula location point out "a narrow grotto, although at some distance from Sinai, but identified as the abode of Elijah." However, that could not possibly be the cave of Elijah. There is no cave on the traditional Mount Sinai. "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there" ( 1 Kings 19:9). And, behold, there came a voice to him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword and I, even I only, am left and they seek my life to take it away." And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and break in pieces the rocks before Jehovah: but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake but Jehovah was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. ![]() And he said, Go forth, and stand before Jehovah. "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there and behold the word of Jehovah came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left and they seek my life to take it away. Elisha showed his willingness to succeed Elijah by killing his oxen (his previous source of income) and using them to provide a farewell dinner for his family and friends (19-21).ĮLIJAH RESIDED IN A LARGE CAVE AT MOUNT HOREB With renewed confidence Elijah returned to Israel. Through the work of an enemy king Hazael, an Israelite king Jehu and the prophet Elisha, violent and spectacular events would occur as punishments on Israel but always there would be some who heeded God’s voice and remained faithful to him (15-18). God then showed Elijah that although violent and spectacular events had some use, there would be lasting benefits only as people listened to God’s voice in their hearts and responded accordingly (11-14). The people as a whole repeatedly rebelled against its commands, and they were spiritually unaffected by the drought and its spectacular removal (9-10). Elijah doubted whether the covenant had any more meaning for Israel. But God sustained him, enabling him to keep moving south till he reached Mt Sinai, the place where God had made his covenant with Israel (3-8). Elijah fled south through the barren regions of Judah where, overcome with despair, he wanted only to die. She still had great power over the people, who, despite Elijah’s victory at Mt Carmel, soon returned to their idolatrous ways (19:1-2 cf. ![]() When Jezebel heard that Elijah had killed her prophets, she threatened to do the same to him. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |