Opinion / Blogs
Daily Divinity Questions and Answers with Witness Dingani
10 Jun 2016 at 09:26hrs | Views
QN "Elijah was not an Israelite" Examine the validity of this statement?(25) -pt 37
A LEVEL REVISION QUESTIONS | 10 JUNE 2016
- The above question demands one to critically examine the validity of this statement. In order for you to be able to answer this question ,you have to attempt to answer the following fundamental questions.
~Who was Elijah?
~Where was he coming from?
~Where is Tishbite?
~If he wasn't coming from Israel ,where was he coming from then?
~Can it be argued that he was a Syrian? If YES why saying so ? If NO where was he coming from then?
COMMENT OVERVIEW
- Elijah the Tishbite, prophesied during the reign of King Ahab.The background of Elijah is silent .We are only told that Elijah was coming from Tishbe ,this cannot be disqualified. His life style is clear as well .This is recorded in 2rd Kings 1:82 They answered him, "He wore a garment of haircloth, with a girdle of leather about his loins." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite".This gives us a picture about Elijah. I know number of so many authors and authoress have nicknamed him as "a broken , exhausted prophet e.t,c".This won't gives us an enough picture about his background, therefore, this indicates that we have to analyze his actions in order for us to have enough information because even scholars won't gives us enough information about the identity of the exhausted prophet. The above fundamental questions will be fully hammered on the ongoing work.
ANSWERS
- After analyzing the actions of the exhausted prophet, number of so many scholars have concluded that he was not an Israelite. Some have alluded that he was a Syrian .The reason will be fully given below.
ELIJAH WAS NOT AN ISRAELITE
- It can be said that Elijah was not an Israelite because of his behavior towards Israel .For instance he advocated for drought[The reason why the author is saying he advocated for drought ,it seemed like he was supporting the drought as it was challenging Ahab 1 Kings 17:1 will give the reader enough picture] .Scholars believe that if Elijah was an Israelite ,he should have interceded for Israel just like previous prophets who had tendency of praying for the nation but Elijah elected to ignore .
- Elijah led to the death of so many people in Israel, this cannot be ignored .He butchered 850 false prophets soon after the Mount Carmel Contest .This is recorded in 1st Kings 18:36-42.He went on to baptize the captains with fire .This is recorded in 2rd Kings 1:18.As such, this will lead one to conclude that Elijah might have not been the Israelite because of his actions which led to the death of so many Israelites.
- The hostility between Elijah and the king of Israel will lead the author to suggest that indeed Elijah might have not been the Israelite. Ahab labeled Elijah as the troubler of Israel. This can be supported by the following extract in 1st Kings 18:17[ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?"] Elijah is labeled as a troubler of Israel ,thus seem like Elijah was a foreign, Hence, this will force the author to suggest that Elijah he was not an Israelite.
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SYRIAN
- It can be argued that Elijah was a Syrian. After predicting the drought he went to help the widow of Zerapath [Syria].It can be suggested that in Israel they were many widows but Elijah opted to save the widow of Zerapath.This is recorded in 1st Kings 17:8-16.
- The fate that he commanded his successor Elisha to anoint Hazel to be the King of Syria can also be added as an example to justify this view.
Note [This has been supported by Bishau and Mazodze in their book page
64 paragraph 3 line 5-6]
HOWEVER PART
- It can be argued that Elijah was an Israelite since the primary source "bible" doesn't indicate that Elijah the Tishbite was coming from Syria.
QUESTION DEMANDS
- Justify the validity of the statement.
CONTACTS
+263777896159 (WhatsApp)
Witness Dingani (Like Facebook page)
- To subscribe for Questions and Answers contact us using the same details.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain
A LEVEL REVISION QUESTIONS | 10 JUNE 2016
- The above question demands one to critically examine the validity of this statement. In order for you to be able to answer this question ,you have to attempt to answer the following fundamental questions.
~Who was Elijah?
~Where was he coming from?
~Where is Tishbite?
~If he wasn't coming from Israel ,where was he coming from then?
~Can it be argued that he was a Syrian? If YES why saying so ? If NO where was he coming from then?
COMMENT OVERVIEW
- Elijah the Tishbite, prophesied during the reign of King Ahab.The background of Elijah is silent .We are only told that Elijah was coming from Tishbe ,this cannot be disqualified. His life style is clear as well .This is recorded in 2rd Kings 1:82 They answered him, "He wore a garment of haircloth, with a girdle of leather about his loins." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite".This gives us a picture about Elijah. I know number of so many authors and authoress have nicknamed him as "a broken , exhausted prophet e.t,c".This won't gives us an enough picture about his background, therefore, this indicates that we have to analyze his actions in order for us to have enough information because even scholars won't gives us enough information about the identity of the exhausted prophet. The above fundamental questions will be fully hammered on the ongoing work.
ANSWERS
- After analyzing the actions of the exhausted prophet, number of so many scholars have concluded that he was not an Israelite. Some have alluded that he was a Syrian .The reason will be fully given below.
ELIJAH WAS NOT AN ISRAELITE
- It can be said that Elijah was not an Israelite because of his behavior towards Israel .For instance he advocated for drought[The reason why the author is saying he advocated for drought ,it seemed like he was supporting the drought as it was challenging Ahab 1 Kings 17:1 will give the reader enough picture] .Scholars believe that if Elijah was an Israelite ,he should have interceded for Israel just like previous prophets who had tendency of praying for the nation but Elijah elected to ignore .
- Elijah led to the death of so many people in Israel, this cannot be ignored .He butchered 850 false prophets soon after the Mount Carmel Contest .This is recorded in 1st Kings 18:36-42.He went on to baptize the captains with fire .This is recorded in 2rd Kings 1:18.As such, this will lead one to conclude that Elijah might have not been the Israelite because of his actions which led to the death of so many Israelites.
- The hostility between Elijah and the king of Israel will lead the author to suggest that indeed Elijah might have not been the Israelite. Ahab labeled Elijah as the troubler of Israel. This can be supported by the following extract in 1st Kings 18:17[ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?"] Elijah is labeled as a troubler of Israel ,thus seem like Elijah was a foreign, Hence, this will force the author to suggest that Elijah he was not an Israelite.
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SYRIAN
- It can be argued that Elijah was a Syrian. After predicting the drought he went to help the widow of Zerapath [Syria].It can be suggested that in Israel they were many widows but Elijah opted to save the widow of Zerapath.This is recorded in 1st Kings 17:8-16.
Note [This has been supported by Bishau and Mazodze in their book page
64 paragraph 3 line 5-6]
HOWEVER PART
- It can be argued that Elijah was an Israelite since the primary source "bible" doesn't indicate that Elijah the Tishbite was coming from Syria.
QUESTION DEMANDS
- Justify the validity of the statement.
CONTACTS
+263777896159 (WhatsApp)
Witness Dingani (Like Facebook page)
- To subscribe for Questions and Answers contact us using the same details.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain
Source - Witness Dingani
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
