Difference between revisions of "Eliyahu's Death/2"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This topic is currently in progress
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><b>Eliyahu was dead</b> – Radak explains that after Eliyahu died he appeared to one of the prophets in a vision and told him to write the letter in the name of Eliyahu.<fn>Ibn Ezra brings the possibility that Eliyahu wrote the letter ברוח הנבואה before he died and then gave it to one of בני הנביאים to give to Yehoram although rejects it since then it should say "ויובא אליו".</fn></li> | <li><b>Eliyahu was dead</b> – Radak explains that after Eliyahu died he appeared to one of the prophets in a vision and told him to write the letter in the name of Eliyahu.<fn>Ibn Ezra brings the possibility that Eliyahu wrote the letter ברוח הנבואה before he died and then gave it to one of בני הנביאים to give to Yehoram although rejects it since then it should say "ויובא אליו".</fn></li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Eliyahu was still alive</b> – Since R. Saadia maintains that Eliyahu did not die during the storm, it is possible that he was still alive during the reign of Yehoram. The Biur asserts that Chapter 2 and the story of the storm is achronological and really occurred at some point after sending the letter.<fn>He assumes that after Achazyahu's death, Eliyahu was in seclusion and Elisha was acting as prophet in his stead.  Thus, Elisha is the acting prophet during the war of Moav and the chapters afterwards.  As such, one might suggest that Chapter 2 appears where it does because it marks the end of Eliyahu's tenure as prophet, even though he was still alive.<br/><br/></fn>  </li> | + | <li><b>Eliyahu was still alive</b> – Since R. Saadia maintains that Eliyahu did not die during the storm, it is possible that he was still alive during the reign of Yehoram. The Biur asserts that Chapter 2 and the story of the storm is achronological and really occurred at some point after sending the letter.<fn>He assumes that after Achazyahu's death, Eliyahu was in seclusion and Elisha was acting as prophet in his stead.  Thus, Elisha is the acting prophet during the war of Moav and the chapters afterwards.  As such, one might suggest that Chapter 2 appears where it does because it marks the end of Eliyahu's tenure as prophet, even though he was still alive.<br/><br/></fn> </li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Malakhi 3:23</b><ul> | <point><b>Malakhi 3:23</b><ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Eliyahu will be resurrected</b> – Radak asserts that Eliyahu will be resurrected so that he can return to the earth and act as Hashem's messenger before the day of | + | <li><b>Eliyahu will be resurrected</b> – Radak asserts that Eliyahu will be resurrected so that he can return to the earth and act as Hashem's messenger before the day of judgment.</li> |
<li><b>Eliyahu as a term for prophet </b>– Hoil Moshe, in contrast, asserts that Eliyahu himself is not going to come at all.  Malakhi is just saying that there will be prophets, like Eliyahu, again in Israel.<fn>Hoil Moshe says it is like the verse "וְעַבְדִּי דָוִד מֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶם" which also refers just to a king like David but not David himself.</fn></li> | <li><b>Eliyahu as a term for prophet </b>– Hoil Moshe, in contrast, asserts that Eliyahu himself is not going to come at all.  Malakhi is just saying that there will be prophets, like Eliyahu, again in Israel.<fn>Hoil Moshe says it is like the verse "וְעַבְדִּי דָוִד מֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶם" which also refers just to a king like David but not David himself.</fn></li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
Version as of 23:24, 2 August 2015
Eliyahu's Death
Exegetical Approaches
Eliyahu is Alive
"הַשָּׁמָיִם" – Where did Eliyahu go?
Where is Eliyahu now?
"מִכְתָּב מֵאֵלִיָּהוּ"
Malakhi 3:23
Why didn't Eliyahu die?
Resurrection of the dead
What did בני הנביאים know and think?
"סְעָרָה"
לקיחה
Pinchas
Polemics
Philosophical motivation
Eliyahu Died
"הַשָּׁמָיִם" – Where did Eliyahu go? These commentators disagree regarding what happened:
- Ascended and descended – R. Saadia Gaon says that Eliyahu was raised in a storm to be brought to an unknown place, on earth, where he lived for an undesignated amount of time before he died. He understands the term "הַשָּׁמָיִם" figuratively; Eliyahu was not brought literally to the heavens, but simply raised up via the storm winds.
- Went up to heavens – Radak and Hoil Moshe,2 in contrast, understand the term "הַשָּׁמָיִם" literally and suggest that during the storm the "chariots of fire" burned Eliyahu's body, but his soul went up to heaven.
"מִכְתָּב מֵאֵלִיָּהוּ" – These commentators disagree whether the letter was sent by Eliyahu while he was still alive or not:
- Eliyahu was dead – Radak explains that after Eliyahu died he appeared to one of the prophets in a vision and told him to write the letter in the name of Eliyahu.3
- Eliyahu was still alive – Since R. Saadia maintains that Eliyahu did not die during the storm, it is possible that he was still alive during the reign of Yehoram. The Biur asserts that Chapter 2 and the story of the storm is achronological and really occurred at some point after sending the letter.4
Malakhi 3:23
- Eliyahu will be resurrected – Radak asserts that Eliyahu will be resurrected so that he can return to the earth and act as Hashem's messenger before the day of judgment.
- Eliyahu as a term for prophet – Hoil Moshe, in contrast, asserts that Eliyahu himself is not going to come at all. Malakhi is just saying that there will be prophets, like Eliyahu, again in Israel.5
Why have a unique process?
Resurrection of the dead
What did בני הנביאים know and think? Radak says that בני הנביאים thought that maybe Eliyahu didn't die but rather disappeared (like he did regularly) and so they were looking where he was hiding. In contrast, Hoil Moshe explains that בני הנביאים did know that Eliyahu was going to die and they were just looking for his body so they can bury it (not knowing that his body was burnt).
"סְעָרָה"
לקיחה
Polemics
Philosophical motivation
