Eliyahu at Chorev/1/en
Eliyahu at Chorev
Introduction
Prophet in Crisis
Melakhim I 18 ends with Eliyahu's victory over the Baal prophets at Mt. Carmel. The reader expects Eliyahu to be jubilant in his success at bringing the people back to God. Yet, in Melakhim I 19, Eliyahu is a portrait of despair, on the run from Izevel and requesting from Hashem that He take his life. He turns to Hashem and complains that the people have forsaken His covenant:
וַיֹּאמֶר קַנֹּא קִנֵּאתִי לַי"י אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת כִּי עָזְבוּ בְרִיתְךָ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת מִזְבְּחֹתֶיךָ הָרָסוּ וְאֶת נְבִיאֶיךָ הָרְגוּ בֶחָרֶב וָאִוָּתֵר אֲנִי לְבַדִּי וַיְבַקְשׁוּ אֶת נַפְשִׁי לְקַחְתָּהּ.
And he said: 'I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.'
Considering that the last words said by the people were, "יְהֹוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים", one wonders where this complaint is coming from. Is there any evidence in the text that the people had reverted to idolatry between the last chapter and this one? In addition, how is Eliyahu's complaint to be understood? Is he simply venting his frustration to Hashem, or is there some implied request in his words? If the latter, what is it that Eliyahu is asking that Hashem do?
The Revelation
In response to Eliyahu's words, Hashem reveals Himself to the prophet:
(יא) וַיֹּאמֶר צֵא וְעָמַדְתָּ בָהָר לִפְנֵי י"י וְהִנֵּה י"י עֹבֵר וְרוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה וְחָזָק מְפָרֵק הָרִים וּמְשַׁבֵּר סְלָעִים לִפְנֵי י"י לֹא בָרוּחַ י"י וְאַחַר הָרוּחַ רַעַשׁ לֹא בָרַעַשׁ י"י. (יב) וְאַחַר הָרַעַשׁ אֵשׁ לֹא בָאֵשׁ י"י וְאַחַר הָאֵשׁ קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה.
(11) And He said: 'Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.' And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake; (12) and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
What is the meaning of this revelation? What do the wind, earthquake and fire represent? Why is it emphasized that Hashem was not found in these forces of nature, and what is to be learned from the contrast to the "small still voice"? Finally, how does this revelation constitute a response to Eliyahu? Is Hashem agreeing or disagreeing with him?
"קַנֹּא קִנֵּאתִי": Repeat
Somewhat surprisingly, after Hashem's revelation, He and Eliyahu have exactly the same conversation that they had previously. Hashem repeats, "מַה לְּךָ פֹה אֵלִיָּהוּ" and Eliyahu responds, as before, "קַנֹּא קִנֵּאתִי" etc.
