Haftorah Reading for Ki Tissa is I Kings 18:1-39
By Irv Jacobs, M.D.
LA JOLLA, California — In these all prose “prophetic” passages by unknown writers, we are introduced to a ‘miracle’ induced by ‘atypical prophet’ Elijah during the reign of King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom (871-852).
This was in the era of unknown “Early Prophets.” By a leap of religious synthesis, can one say that Elijah, who actually was the key actor in this story, is also its prophet. In fact scholars believe the entire two books of Kings (really all one book) were put together from widely disparate sources, making this book a combination of court annals and folktales. This story is a folktale.
The content was a famous story from the legends of the prophet Elijah. I have taken the translation and commentaries from the work of Emeritus Professor Robert Alter of the University of California Berkeley. [1]
Its connection to the Ki Tissa Torah reading is that both describe moments of religious betrayal in ancient Israel’s history. In the Torah, it is the Golden Calf incident; in this Haftorah, it is the worship of Baal. Both required the intercession of a leader to restore “true” worship. [2]
Jezebel, Ahab’s pagan wife, along with King Ahab, fostered pagan practices of Baal. In fact pagan practices were an undulating commonality throughout the 208 years of the Northern Kingdom’s existence. [3] Something similar can be said of the Southern Kingdom of Judea, though it had more periods of religious adherence helped along via several ‘good’ kings.
Here are paraphrased excerpts from this famous folktale:
“…it happened after a long time, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year (of drought), saying, “Go and appear before Ahab, that I may send rain…Elijah went…before Ahab, and the famine was severe…Elijah called on Obadiah (high loyal official to Ahab, (one) who feared God).
…(against Jezebel)…Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets…fifty (each to) a cave and sustained them with bread and water…and each Obadiah and Ahab looked for grass) to keep horse and mule alive…
Obadiah (on the way, encountered) Elijah (who was in escape from the murderous Ahab). Elijah bravely offered to the fearful Obadiah, ‘Tell Ahab I am here.’ Obadiah, in fear of Ahab’s wrath, warned such wrath might be turned against Obadiah himself.
Obadiah, with Elijah, met Ahab who said, “Is it you, troubler of Israel?” Elijah responded essentially, ‘…you, forsaker of the LORD, are the guilty one…for going after Baal. Let’s have a contest.’
Elijah: ‘Bring the Israelite population to observe. You, Ahab, gather the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table. I alone remain a prophet of the LORD…
Prepare two bulls for sacrifice laid on wood, one for you Ahab, and one for me. You, call upon your god for fire on yours. Ahab called morning to noon, ‘Oh, Baal, answer us!’ No answer! Elijah mocked and goaded him. ‘Call out in a loud voice! Perhaps he is chatting or occupied or off on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and will awake.’
The Baal priests called out in a loud voice, and gouged themselves with swords and spears…with no response.”
Here comes the upbeat ending:
“Elijah said to all: ‘Draw near me.’ He mended the altar of the LORD. He took 12 stones, the number of the tribes. With these he built an altar and made a wide trench around it. He cut up a sacrificial bull and placed is on a tray of wood. He ordered the observers to pour four times a large quantity of water on the offering.
He recited his faith in the God of Israel, then asked the LORD to answer him. This was followed by the LORD’s fire come down, which consumed the offering.
…the people saw and fell on their faces and said, ‘The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.'”
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This fable is typical of miracles attributed to Elijah. Unlike other prophets, who lived, were exiled and died, he is said to have been carried away into heaven, to return each year at each Passover Seder, after the meal, when we open the door for him.
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[1] Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible, Prophets Vol. 2, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 2019, p. 427
[2] Etz Hayim, The Jewish Publication Society, 2001, New York, pp. 547-8.
[3] Ethical monotheism did not truly take hold until the much later, in the rabbinical era after the Southern Kingdom’s exile into Babylon c. 586 BCE. By that time the Northern Kingdom and its 10 (lost) tribes were long forgotten (since 722 BCE), i.e. from its destruction by Assyria. Paganism was not unusual in these early days of the divided North vs. South Kingdoms.
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Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis. He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.