Eliyahu at Chorev/2

Eliyahu at Chorev

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Reward

The revelation at Chorev was a reward for Eliyahu's sanctification of Hashem on Mt. Carmel and his returning the Children of Israel to worship of Hashem.

Sources:RadakMelakhim I 19:7-21About R. David Kimchi

Why Sinai? Radak claims that Hashem revealed Himself to Eliyahu in exactly the same place that He had revealed Himself to Moshe, identifying Eliyahu's cave with the "crevice in the rock" from which Moshe  saw Hashem.  The parallel serves to heighten the honor bestowed upon Eliyahu as it equates him with Moshe, the greatest of prophets.¹

Miraculous journey – The miraculous sustenance was also part of Eliyahu's reward. In this, too, there is a comparison to Moshe who survived for forty days and nights without food.²

Revelation as reward: Biblical parallels – Ramban suggests that in other cases, too, Hashem appears to people as a sign of honor. Thus, he appears to Avraham after being circumcised and to Israel after consecrating the Mishkan.

"מַה לְּךָ פֹה אֵלִיָּהוּ" – Radak suggests that this question is simply way of entering into conversation with Eliyahu.

'"קַנֹּא קִנֵּאתִי לַה"

Wind, earthquake and fire

Small still voice

Appointments

Rebuke

Hashem rebuked Eliyahu for his overly harsh and accusatory attitude towards the nation.

Sources:RalbagMelakhim I 19:3-17Melakhim I Toalot 19:11About R. Levi b. Gershom, AbarbanelMelakhim I 19About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, MetzudotMetzudat David Melakhim I 19:13-18About R. David Altschuler, MalbimMelakhim I 19:3Melakhim I 19:9-16About R. Meir Leibush Weiser, AbarbanelMelakhim I 19About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

Encouragement

Through the revelation, Hashem renewed the appointment of Eliyahu, encouraging him to continue in his mission.

Sources:Prof. U. Simon

¹ The two stories have a number of similarities including the locale, revelation, and forty day period without food.  For a comparison of the stories, see Moshe and Eliyahu at Sinai.

² Radak notes one difference: while Eliyahu was given miraculous food that then sustained him for the duration of his trek, Moshe simply survives without any food or drink at all.