New Moses

Elijah’s life history tracks closely with that of Moses.

When he appears on the scene, he curses Israel with drought, then flees the land (1 Kings 17). Like Moses after he killed the Egyptian, he goes out from his people and lives among Gentiles. (Elijah’s sojourn in Zarephath also linked with Joseph in Egypt: In both stories, a Hebrew prophet ensures that Gentiles have food during famine.)

Then Elijah returns to the land to engage in a direct confrontation with Ahab and the prophets of Jezebel’s court (1 Kings 18) – as Moses confronted Pharaoh and his magicians.

Though victorious against the Baal prophets, Elijah again flees the land, this time heading to Horeb/Sinai, where he meets with Yahweh in a cave (1 Kings 19). There he asks Yahweh to do something to discipline Israel, and the Lord promises to act. 

Elijah fades from center stage through the last chapters of 1 Kings, and when the focus returns to the prophets, Elisha is taking his place – Elisha the new Joshua engaged in a conquest of the land.

None of this is merely typological window-dressings; it’s crucial to the theology of Kings. Yahweh sends Elijah and Elisha to establish a new covenantal order within the northern kingdom, a covenantal order centered on prophets and prophetic communities. When you want a new covenant, you need a new Moses, a new Passover and exodus, a second visit to Sinai.