Eliyahu's Prayer

In this lecture, we will be examining the “narrative” prayers, that is, those that appear within a story, of Eliyahu, Elisha, and other characters in Tanakh. By looking closely at the prayers, both fo…

What does this episode of Eliyahu's prayer for rain add to the wider story? The storyline before and after Eliyahu's prayer appears to be stalled at the same point: Eliyahu encouraging Achav to procee…

"And you have turned their heart backward" is interpreted to mean that God is responsible for the nation turning away from Him. This interpretation is difficult to accept within the context of the sto…

The challenge at Mount Carmel has both a universal significance in determining the true God, a national significance in redefining the national character in the face of foreign influences and Eliyahu’…

The duality of the prayer by the prophets of Ba’al is mirrored in Eliyahu’s dual prayer, and by the nation’s dual response. These represents the acceptance of God and rejection of Ba’al. The repetitio…