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

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 Chapter 18 and Second Kings Chapter 2, which detail how God ends a multi-year-long drought and Prophet Elijah’s ascent to Heaven.

“[…] that Elijah the prophet came near, and said: ‘O LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou are God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that Thou, LORD, are God, for Thou did not turn their heart backward.’ […] And Elijah said unto Ahab: ‘Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.’ So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and He bowed Himself down upon the Earth, and put His face between His knees. And he said to his servant: ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ And he went up, and looked, and said: ‘There is nothing.’ And he said: ‘Go again seven times.’ And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said: ‘Behold, there arises a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man’s hand.’ And He said: ‘Go up, say unto Ahab: Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.’ And it came to pass in a little while, that the Heaven grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.” […]

“ […] And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him: ‘Know thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head today?’ And he said, ‘Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.’ And Elijah said unto him: ‘Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.’ And he said: ‘As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave Thee.’ So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him: ‘Know thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to-day?’ And he answered: ‘Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.’ And Elijah said unto him: ‘Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.’ And he said: ‘As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave Thee.’ And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off; and they two stood by the Jordan. And Elijah took His mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha: ‘Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee.’ And Elisha said: ‘I pray Thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.’ And He said: ‘Thou have asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.’ And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven.”