How Ahab received the news. The king was delighted at the good news; and went down immediately to the vineyard to add it to the royal gardens, when lo! Elijah stood before him. What followed. Ahab was thunderstruck, and exclaimed: "What! hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" reply. Elijah's Elijah, in reply, told him that God was about to extirpate his entire race; and as for Jezebel, his wife, that she should be devoured of dogs by the walls of her own palace. How Ahab was killed. Soon after this, Ahab went up with the king of Judah against the Syrians to recover from them Ramothgilead, and was shot dead by a random arrow in the battle-field. (B.c. 893.) of Jezebel. What became As for Jezebel, she was pitched out of her palace window by one of her servants, and was devoured of dogs according to the words of Elijah the prophet. (B.c. 893.) Jehoshaphat, king of JUDAH, was succeeded by his son JEHORAM, who murdered his six brothers, compelled his subjects to commit idolatry, and died four years after his father of an agonizing lingering disease. (B.c. 885 to 882.) The next king in Judah was AHAZIAH, & grandson of Jehoshaphat, whose reign was evil, and lasted one year. (B.c. 881.) Ahab, king of ISRAEL, was succeeded by his son AHAZIAH, who reigned one year, and is only known as the persecutor of Elijah. (B.c. 893 to 892.) JEHORAM, his brother, son of Ahab, succeeded next to the throne of Israel. (B.c. 892 to 880.) It happened that Ahaziah, king of Judah, was paying a visit to Jehōram, king of Israel, when Jehu slew them both on the same day. (B.c. 880.) Section I. THE PROPHET ELIJAH. B.C. 914 to 892. 1 KINGS XVII., XVIII. XIX.; 2 KINGS I., II. was. Who Elijah Elijah, the Tishbite, was one of the greatest prophets that ever lived. For the rudeness of his clothing, the austerity of his life, and the sternness [A.M. 3096. with which he reproved sin, John the Baptist is sometimes called Elijah. How Elijah is first introduced. He is first introduced in scripture as standing before Ahab, and telling him: "there shall not be dew nor rain for years, but according to my words." (B.C. 914.) What followed. Having delivered this message, the prophet left the king and lay concealed near the brook Che'rith, where he was fed for several months, both night and morning, by ravens, which brought him meat and bread. Cherith is a brook beyond Jordan, which falls into that river below Bethsan. How long he He continued at Che'rith till stayed there. the brook dried up, when he removed to Zar'ephath, a village of Sidōnia. What occurred at Zarephath. At the outskirts of this village, he met a poor widow-woman gathering sticks, and asked her to give him a morsel of bread. What she replied. She replied: "As the Lord liveth, I have not a cake; but merely a hand A.C. 904.] ful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse, which I am going to dress for myself and son, that we may eat it and die." Elijah's reply to the widow. The prophet told her to take comfort and do as he bade her, adding that neither her oil nor her meal should fail her till the Lord sent rain upon the earth. What followed. On this little store Elijah, the widow, and her son lived for two years; during all which time the meal wasted not, neither did the oil fail. What calamity befel the widow. at During his residence Zarephath, the widow's son died, and she entreated the prophet to restore him to life. What was done. Elijah prayed to God; his prayer was heard, and the child restored to life. How Jezebel behaved. While the prophet lay concealed, Jezebel made diligent search after him to put him to death, as the cause of the famine and dearth. |