Prophet Elijah (vegetarian) - Selections from Judaism’s Holy Tanakh: Books of Kings, Part 1 of 2

The Book of Kings is part of the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Nevi’im (Prophets) category. This Book contains two parts and chronicles the Kings of ancient Israel and Judah from the passing of King David onwards for 400 years. The Book of Kings includes the lives of many prophets, including Prophet Elijah (vegetarian) and Elisha (vegetarian). It emphasizes their strong faith in God and chronicles how God guides and helps them through challenging times.

In celebration of Prophet Elias (Elijah) Feast Day, which honors the life of Prophet Elijah (vegetarian) and His ascent into Heaven, today we would like to present First Kings Chapters 17 and 18, which detail His loving faith in God and how God helps Him through His journey.

FIRST KINGS Chapter 17

“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said unto Ahab: ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.’ And the word of the LORD came unto Him, saying: ‘Get Thee hence, and turn Thee eastward, and hide Thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. And it shall be, that Thou shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed Thee there.’ So He went and did according unto the word of the LORD; for He went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. And the ravens brought Him bread […] in the morning, and bread […] in the evening; and He drank of the brook.

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto Him, saying: ‘Arise, get Thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain Thee.’ So He arose and went to Zarephath; and when He came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and He called to her, and said: ‘Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.’ And as she was going to fetch it, He called to her, and said: ‘Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.’ And she said: ‘As the LORD Thy God lives, I have not a cake, only a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse; and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.’ And Elijah said unto her: ‘Fear not; go and do as thou have said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it forth unto me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son. For thus said the LORD, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not be spent, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the land.’ And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she, and He, and her house, did eat many days. The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Elijah. […]”