Our first introduction to Elijah/Eliyahu the Tishbite is in 1 Kings 17:1. To set the stage for that introduction, it is critical to look at the immediately preceding context to understand the time in which Elijah was ‘sojourning’ in Israel [if that is the meaning of Tishbe].
• 1 Kings 16:21-25 ESV 21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni [straw, stubble] the son of Ginath [garden], to make him king, and half followed Omri [heaping]. 22 But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Yudea, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah [acceptable, pleasant]. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. 25 Omri did what was evil in the sight of YHWH, and did more evil than all who were before him. [emphasis added here and below]
• 1 Kings 16:29-30 ESV 29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Yudea, Ahab [father’s brother] the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of YHWH, more than all who were before him.
• 1 Kings 16:33 ESV 33 And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke YHWH, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
This is the setting. The kingdom is divided, with these events taking place in the northern kingdom, here called Israel, Yudea being the southern kingdom. There is a progressive worsening of the leadership in Israel, with Yeroboam, then Omri, who “did more evil than all who were before him.” And then Ahab becoming king did more evil in the sight of YHWH than all (h3605. כּלֹ ḵôl) who were before him [including Omri], with particular note that, “Ahab did more to {provoke} YHWH, the God of Israel, {to anger} (h3707. כָּעַס ḵâ‘as) than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”
TWOT says of h3707. כָּעַס ḵâ‘as {provoke to anger}, “The root meaning of כָּעַס is to vex, agitate, stir up, or provoke the heart to a heated condition which in turn leads to specific actions.” [this is not the same word for “vex” that we looked at earlier]
• CWSBD h3707. כָּעַס kā‘as: A verb meaning to be angry, to provoke to anger. The causative sense of the verb occurs most often and frequently signifies idolatry provoking God to anger (cf. 1 Kgs. 14:9; Ps. 106:29; Ezek. 8:17). The result of provocation may be expressed as ’ap̱ , anger (h0639) (Deut. 9:18; 2 Kgs. 23:26; Jer. 7:20). In a noncausative sense, the verb means to be angry; people were warned not to become angry hastily (Eccl. 7:9); God says that after He punishes, He will not be angry (Ezek. 16:42). Three times it refers to the people’s anger directed toward righteousness (2 Chr. 16:10; Neh. 4:1[3:33]; Ps. 112:10). [writer’s underline]
• Ezekiel 16:42 ESV 42 So will I satisfy my wrath on you, and my jealousy shall depart from you. I will be calm and will no more be angry (h3707. כָּעַס ḵâ‘as). In turn, Ek. 16:42 references [different words, similar meaning]
• Ezekiel 5:13 NKJV 13 “Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to rest upon them, and I will be avenged; and they shall know that I, YHWH, have spoken it in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them.
The nature of God, the just side of God, is that he is angered by unrighteousness and is made jealous by turning to idols. This anger will be satisfied [and certainly people (his prophets or others) can be agents of his purposes],* and then his jealousy departs. Whether situations are simply the working of “Synthetic” Creation, things set in motion at the time of Creation, bad things happening as a result of man’s actions, or actually set in motion by a jealous God, the direct intervention of a very-involved God may lessen their impact.** [For those who doubt his involvement simply follow Dt 6:4-9 in your life for a while. Once a sincere heart declares itself on your part, the God who looks on the heart (1S 16:7) will respond.]
This, then, is the setting. YHWH is quite provoked by Ahab. And then we meet Elijah:
• 1 Kings 17:1-5 ESV 1 Now Eliyahu (Yah is God) the Tishbite, of Tishbe (dweller or sojourner or submitted to God or a bringer of repentance) of Gilead (witness heap), said to Ahab, “As YHWH, the God of Israel, lives, before (h6440. פָּניִם p̱âniym) whom I stand (h5975. עָמַד ‘âmaḏ), there shall be neither dew nor rain (h4306. מָטָר mâṭâr) these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of YHWH came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went (h1980. הָלַךְ hâlaḵ) and did (h6213. עָשָׂה ‘âśâ) according to the word of YHWH. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan.
• 1 Kings 17:1 BHS וַיּאֹמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֜י מִתּשָֹׁבֵ֣י גִלְעָד֮ אֶל־אַחְאָב֒ חַי־יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו אִם־יִהְיֶ֛ה הַשָּׁנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה טַ֣ל וּמָטָ֑ר כִּ֖י 1 אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי׃ ס
First recall the string of names for Elijah discussed earlier. He “dwells as a witness that Yah is God,” or “he submits to God as a witness,” or “he is a witness bringing repentance.” At the beginning of verse two, the word of YHWH comes to him. [He is in conversation with God.] In verse five, he went and did according to the word of YHWH. [Went and did suggest submitting.] Walking and/or doing according to the word of YHWH are seen of Noah (Gn 6:9) and Abram (Gn 12:4), in the instructions to Moses (Ex 4:21), and of the sons of Israel re: Passover (Ex 12:28). Particularly pointed are YHWH’s instructions to Solomon in regards to building the Temple:
• 1 Kings 6:12 “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk (h1980. הָלַךְ hâlaḵ) in my statutes and obey (h6213. עָשָׂה ‘âśâ) my rules and keep all my commandments and walk (h1980. הָלַךְ hâlaḵ) in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.
Going and doing according to the word of YHWH are signs both of righteousness and of being in communication with him; in order to go and do according to the word of YHWH, one must both be aware of his written word and be in prayer with him. And the other side of the coin, when not righteous and in prayer with God, the person/nation sins [misses the mark – h2398. חָטָא ḥâṭâ’, reviewed before], heaven may be shut up as a result.
• 1 Kings 8:35-36 35 “When heaven is {shut up} (h6113. עָצַר ‘âṣar) and there is no rain (h4306. מָטָר mâṭâr) because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance. [notice that “teaching” is an important element of this – God teaches in many ways]
There is a very specific repeated pattern of the word of YHWH coming to Eliyahu, or YHWH speaking to Eliyahu, and his responding, such that exact same words are used. Take notice. (1K 17:8-10, 1K 17:14-16, 1K 18:1-2, 1K 19:5-8, 1K 19:15ff., 2K 1:3-6, 2K 1:15-16) This is not a pattern only after his encounter on Horeb, but before as well. One other interesting point to note is in 2 Kings chapter 2, where we see Eliyahu taken and his power transferred to Elisha, even here we see evidence of ongoing communication between YHWH and Eliyahu. Notice in 2K 2:2, Eliyahu says “YHWH has sent me as far as Bethel.” After arriving at Bethel, he says “YHWH has sent me to Yericho.” Then at Yericho, he tells Elisha, “YHWH has sent me to the Yarden.” After this, we do not get another “YHWH has sent me…,” but Elijah knows (divinely) that he must cross the Yarden and that it will be his last step because at this point he tells Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.”
It certainly appears that this is a man in constant communication with God, who does exactly what YHWH instructs him to do. Thus one picture of a righteous man that James/Ya’akov refers to.
An excerpt from the CWSBD under the word • h5030. נבִָיא nâḇîy’, “prophet:” “… All the true prophets stood in the counsel of God to receive their messages (see 1 Kgs. 22:19; Jer. 23:22; Amos 3:7). This word describes one who was raised up by God and, as such, could only proclaim that which YHWH gave him to say. A prophet could not contradict the Law of YHWH or speak from his own mind or heart. To do so was to be a false prophet (Jer. 14:14; 23:16, 26, 30). What a prophet declared had to come true, or he was false (Deut. 18:22; Jer. 23:9)…” [[◓ See below comment regarding “standing in the presence of YHWH,” Ramban discussion includes reference to Jr. 23:18, see the pericope Jr 23:18-23]]
• 1 Kings 18:36 36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet (h5030. נבִָיא nâḇîy’) came near and said, “O YHWH, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant (h5650. עֶבֶד ‘eḇeḏ), and that I have done all these things at your word. [underline by the writer – pretty clear statement]
• Idioms
Then, going back to 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah states what this writer proposes are two idiomatic phrases before pronouncing his prophecy.
• The first phrase is “As YHWH, the God of Israel, lives.” This is a commonly used phrase*** placed in the form of an oath, חַי־יְהוָ֞ה . At least two people in the HS put themselves in difficult spots by making oaths or vows: Jephthah (Jg 11:30) [a different word for oath] and King Saul. (1S 14:24) And we know in the GS, Yeshua comments on the taking of oaths. Most current English translations of the Greek have Matthew 5:33-37 with the wording not to take oaths lightly. However, see Gordon’s (2005/2010) excellent discussion on this passage in chapter 10 of his book. It is his interpretation that in translating from the original Hebrew to Greek, a word was left out from 5:34, the word “falsely,” such that it should read “do not swear (take an oath) by anything falsely…” See his commentary, which links this not only to Torah passages, but also to Matthew 23:18-20. There is a passage in Lv 5:1-6 dealing with oaths and atonement, which does not seem particularly pertinent here. Most pertinent is:
• Deuteronomy 6:13 NKJV 13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths [h7650. שָׁבַע śâḇa’] in His name. (ESV note references also: Dt 10:20; Josh 2:12; Ps 63:11; Is 45:23, 65:16; Jr 12:16)
We know that YHWH himself makes such oaths. (twice in Nm 14:20-30; also Ps 110:4; He 7:21)
It was a common thing to do in ancient Israel to make an oath to the effect of “as YHWH lives,” and second, that Elijah makes such an oath regarding what immediately follows [and several other times, as does Ahab’s steward Obadiah whom the reader meets soon]. To make such an oath, means putting one’s life on the line.
• The second idiomatic phrase is rendered here, in the ESV, as “before whom I stand.” This phrase will take more in the way of discussion, but is very pertinent to the question raised. First, if one looks at the Hebrew, almost every incidence of this phrase, including here, עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו , or אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו , it is a construct phrase. What Elijah here says is (leaving out the other idiom to smooth out the statement for clarity, “YHWH, the God of Israel, in the Presence of whom I stand.” First he says, “As YWHW lives” [oath], and then he says “I stand in the Presence of YHWH.” What does this phrase “stand in the Presence of YHWH [or sometimes “of God” or both] mean? We must look at examples of the use of this phrase. Perhaps the reader will see there are several nuances of meaning, the first having to do with the character of the person standing, as being “righteous;” the second indicating [in that character] “communing with God,” communicating with God, praying [a la James/Ya’akoiv]; and third, the referenced verses may suggest to the reader that “standing in the presence of YHWH” was an ancient Hebrew means of saying “in the Spirit” or having the indwelling Spirit.
So that the reader may get a true picture of this phrase, many examples are made available here which should highlight these different meanings, some very obvious, some more subtle. Note the brief definitions of the words excerpted from the TWOT. Note also that where the verses are listed, the most common phrasing in the ESV is “stand before YHWH” or “stood before YHWH,” the writer substitutes (if the Hebrew indicates the construct phrase לִפְנֵי [lipnê], which the TWOT has even further categorized as a preposition meaning “in the presence of”) “stand/stood in the presence of YHWH.” [same Strong’s number]. The writer has substituted this phrasing in order to bring it to the attention of the reader. “To stand before” is so easily glossed over as to be also easily misconstrued. [The base translations, and thus the context where this happens are from the ESV, but are not listed as such due to the change by this writer.]
TWOT [this writer’s underline]
• עָמַד 1637 (aāmad) stand, remain, endure, etc. (Strong’s h5975) The verb עָמַד is used so extensively in the OT of the physical act of standing as to preclude a complete analysis in this work, but the reader is referred to the full categorizations in BDB and KB. Attention should be given to certain key passages, particularly those with significant theological import, one such expression is “to stand before Yahweh,” used, for example, of Abraham in Gen 18:22 (cf. 19:27) and Moses in Deut 4:10 (cf. Jer 15:1, of Moses and Samuel). “To stand before Yahweh” (construed with לִפְנֵי [q.v.]) in these instances is a posture of prayer and intercession. That men have felt a need for Yahweh’s help is not surprising. But the fact that men may “stand” before the Creator of eternity and make intercession is utterly remarkable.
• פָּנָה 1782 (pānâ) turn. (h6437) Derivatives:
- 1782a † פָּניִם (pānîm) face. (h6440)
- 1782b † לִפְנֵי (lipnê) before. (h6440) לִפְנֵי . A preposition, in the presence of, before. This is the most frequent usage of פְּנֵי (plural construct) with a prefixed preposition. Literally, the phrase means “at/to the face of.” We are dealing then with a case of a substantive which has become a preposition by virtue of its union with a prefix. In the meaning “before” the following object is most frequently a person, God or man, ‘before’ in the sense of ‘in full view of, under the eye of, at the disposal of, in the estimation of’ (BDB, pp. 186-187). [[Included in Appendix 3 is the more detailed Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) explanation for לִפְנֵי (lipnê), for those preferring more detail]]
• Genesis 17:1-2 ESV When Abram was ninety-nine years old YHWH appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk • before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” • Genesis 17:1 BHS וַיְהִ֣י אַבְרָ֔ם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְתֵ֣שַׁע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיֵּרָ֨א יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם וַיּ֤אֹמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֲנִי־אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י וֶהְיֵ֥ה תָמִֽים׃ 1 The Hebrew says, “… walk in my presence and become complete.” [BDB parsing of BHS] One final NOTE before verses are listed. The writer is not suggesting that every instance of the occurrence of עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו in Scripture necessarily means one of the three nuances (or a combination of all or some) given here. The pertinent point is to make the reader aware of such a possibility in the reading. English translations, in the writer’s estimation, even with the listing of a Strong’s number [as recent understanding found in the TWOT gives the same Strong’s number, noted above, for פָּניִם (pānîm) face. (h6440) and לִפְנֵי (lipnê), in the presence of, before. (h6440)], may not do this idiomatic phrase justice.
• Genesis 18:22 22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still ●stood in the presence of YHWH●. The Tikkun Chumash commentary by Rabbi Avie Gold,# lists for verses 18:17-22 “This gave Abraham the opportunity to pray on behalf of the Sodomites (Ramban).” [the writer’s underline]
◓ This writer’s reading of Chavel on Ramban agrees with the Tikkun comment.## As a part of Ramban’s argument, he references Pr 10:7, Ps 33:5, Gn 18:19, Jr 23:18, Mic 1:3, Ex 2:25, which the reader, as always, is encouraged to read [annotations by Chavel].
• Genesis 19:27 ESV 27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before YHWH.
Genesis 19:27 BHS וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּבּ֑קֶֹר אֶל־הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥מַד שָׁ֖ם אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ 27 Note the Hebrew here is somewhat different, likely with the same meaning but actually saying “with the presence of YHWH,” still a construct phrase. This is, in this author’s mind, an even clearer indication of the Holy Spirit nuance. Clearly this is evidence of YHWH present.
• Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time YHWH set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of YHWH to ●stand in the presence of YHWH● to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
There are seven verses [the others will not be shown] that present this phrase, to stand in the presence to minister/serve (h8334. שָׁרַת šâraṯ), either to haShem or the ark or the congregation. [haShem is a reverential name by our brothers Yehuda, meaning “the Name” to avoid the potential of the name YHWH being used lightly. It may also reflect some of the comments made in the More on Words and Names chapter.]
There is a series of verses talking of the Levites and priests standing in the Presence of YHWH to minister/serve him, but this one example is shown as representative of that list. (Nm 16:9; Dt 18:7; 1K 8:11; 1Ch 6:32; 2Ch 5:14, 29:11)
• 1 Samuel 6:19-20 19 And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of YHWH. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because YHWH had struck the people with a great blow. 20 Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to ●stand in the presence of YHWH●, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?”
• 1 Kings 3:15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and ●stood in the presence of the ark of the covenant of YHWH●, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
• 1 Kings 8:22 (also 2Ch 6:12) Then Solomon ●stood in the presence the altar of YHWH● in the presence [h5048. נֶגֶד neg̱eḏ – a more “prominent” presence, “to be seen”] of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven,
These two verses, 1K 3:15 and 1K 8:22, where Solomon stands before the ark and the altar, suggest the more narrow focus of prayer to this writer.
• 1 Kings 17:1 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As ●YHWH, the God of Israel, lives, in the presence of whom I stand●, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” Obviously, this is our verse under discussion, the first of three dealing with Eliyahu [see the next two, as well].
• 1 Kings 18:15 15 And Eliyahu said, “As ●YHWH of hosts lives, in whose presence I stand●, I will surely show myself to him today.”
• 1 Kings 19:11-12 11 And he said, “Go out and ●stand on the mount in the presence of YHWH●.” And behold, YHWH passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before YHWH, but YHWH was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but YHWH was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but YHWH was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
To the writer, the next two, of Elisha, do not seem to be directed at prayer, (perhaps in the sense of 1Th 5:17 “pray without ceasing”) but rather more at taking a righteous posture and being in the Spirit.
• 2 Kings 3:14 14 And Elisha said, “●As YHWH of hosts lives, in whose presence I stand●, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.
• 2 Kings 5:16 16 But he said, “●As YHWH lives, in whose presence I stand●, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
• 2 Chronicles 34:31 of Josiah’s Good Reign 31 Then the king ●stood in his place and made a covenant in the presence of YHWH● to walk after YHWH, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.
And Ezra, always so elegant in the words of his prayer:
• Ezra 9:15 15 O YHWH, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are ●in your presence in our guilt, for none can ●stand in your presence● because of this.”
[ESV reference to:
• Psalms 130:3-4 3 If you, O YAH, should mark iniquities, O אֲדנָֹי ’ăḏônây, who could ●stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.]
Please notice that reference to guilt. This one happens to be the sin word h0819. אַשְׁמָה ’ašmâ, one of the four that were a central focus of the “synthetic” discussion. Note Ezra saying in the setting of this synthetic circumstance of sin/guilt, the people cannot stand in the Presence of the Holy One. A clear indication of righteousness/unrighteousness. And the Psalm verse referred to shows that righteousness, followed by the appeal to his forgiving nature.
• Psalms 68:1-6 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
1 God (h0430. אֱלֹהִים ’elôhîym) shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before ( מִפָּנָיֽו from the presence of) him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before ( מִפְּנֵ֥י from the presence of) fire, so the wicked shall perish before ( מִפְּנֵ֥י from the presence of) God ( !(אֱלֹהִים 3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall ●exult (h5970. עָלַץ ‘âlaṣ) in the presence of God ( אֱלֹהִים )●; they shall be jubilant with joy! 4 Sing to God ( אֱלֹהִים ), sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is ●YAH; exult (h5970. עָלַץ ‘âlaṣ) in the presence of him (in his presence)●! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God ( אֱלֹהִים ) in his holy habitation. 6 God ( אֱלֹהִים ) settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. [these are construct phrases with a different preposition]
• Psalm 106:23 23 Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, ●stood in the breach in the presence of him (in his presence)●, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
Indeed, in both oriental cultures and in our American culture, do we not have a number of idioms that relate “face” to righteousness or honor? Such sayings as “save face” and “lose face,” “face the music,” “face the consequences,” even “face up to it” may well be related to one of the nuances of פָּניִם p̱âniym.
• Jeremiah 7:5-11 – YHWH’s instructions to Jeremiah to speak to the people: 5 “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, 6 if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever. 8 “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, 10 and then come and ●stand in my presence● in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’— only to go on doing all these abominations? 11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares YHWH.
• Jeremiah 7:16 16 “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. [underline the writer’s] Here haShem helps Yerimyahu understand and explain to the people what righteousness means. And that Yerimyahu is not to pray for those who call themselves righteous but are not. This he repeats:
• Jeremiah 14:11-12 11YHWH said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.” And this leads into the Jr 15:1 statement.
• Jeremiah 15:1 1 Then YHWH said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel ●stood in the presence of me [in my presence]●, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go!
[ESV ref:] • Psalms 99:6-7 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who {called upon} (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) his name. They called (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) to YHWH, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.
Clear reference to prayer here, in addition to the other aspects.
Ps 99:6 also references 1 Sam. 7:9; 12:18; Ps. 105:1, which use common words for prayer: h2199. זָעַק zâ‘aq; h7121. קָרָא qârâ’] [Also, contrast with
• Proverbs 15:29 ESV 29 YHWH is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. And
• Proverbs 12:7 ESV 7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will ●stand.]
• Jeremiah 15:19 – [h7725. שׁוּב šûḇ – repentance word] 19 Therefore thus says YHWH: “If you return (h7725. שׁוּב šûḇ), I will restore you, and you shall ●stand in the presence of me [in my presence]●. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn (h7725. שׁוּב šûḇ) to you, but you shall not turn (h7725. שׁוּב šûḇ) to them. And in response to the people’s foul treatment of Jeremiah, he himself prays to YHWH:
• Jeremiah 18:19-21 19 Hear me, O YHWH, and listen to the voice of my adversaries. 20 Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I ●stood in your presence [stood before you]● to speak good for them, to {turn away} (h7725. שׁוּב šûḇ) your wrath from them. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to famine; give them over to the power of the sword; let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be struck down by the sword in battle.
• Jeremiah 35:18-19 18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab [Yah is willing] the son of Rechab [to enlarge] shall never lack a man to ●stand in the presence of me [in my presence]●.”
A definite focus on righteousness, here, but see how this is related to the next six verses in {}, the Spirit indwelling:
- {Numbers 11:29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all YHWH’s people were prophets, that the YHWH would put his Spirit on them!”
- Isaiah 42:1 Behold my •servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
- Isaiah 59:21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says YHWH: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says YHWH, “from this time forth and forevermore.”
- Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
- Ezekiel 37:14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land (h0127. אֲדָמָה ’ăḏâmâ). Then you shall know that I am YHWH; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares YHWH.”
- Matthew 12:18 “Behold, my •servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
- ••Notice also “•servant” in Is 42:1; Mt 12:18, which is a major theme discussed later.••}
Another clear picture of righteousness. And the clear symbolism of changing from filthy garments to pure vestments as taking away iniquity. And another mention of “servant.”
• Zechariah 3 1 Then he showed me Yehoshua the high priest ●standing in the presence of the angel of YHWH●, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And YHWH said to Satan, “YHWH rebuke you, O Satan! YHWH who has chosen Yerushalayim rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Yehoshua was ●standing in the presence of the angel●, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were ●standing in his presence●, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of YHWH was ●standing by. 6 And the angel of YHWH solemnly assured Yehoshua, 7 “Thus says YHWH of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are ●standing here. 8 Hear now, O Yehoshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my ●servant the Branch. 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Yehoshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares YHWH of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares YHWH of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”
[[• Psalms 11:7 7 For YHWH is righteous (h6662. צַדִּיק ṣaḏiyq); he loves {righteous deeds}(h6666. צְדָקָה ṣeḏâqâ); the upright (h3477. יָשָׁר yâšâr) shall behold (h2372. חָזָה ḥâzâ) his ●presence. [construct phrase “presence of him”] [refs: Ps. 17:15; 140:13; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 22:4] Psalms 11:7 כִּֽי־צַדִּ֣יק יְהוָה צְדָק֣וֹת אָהֵ֑ב יָ֝שָׁ֗ר יֶחֱז֥וּ פָנֵיֽמוֹ׃●
There are many other uses of h6440. פָּניִם p̱âniym that fit well with the understanding we have narrowly focused on with the phrase עָמְדִ֣י לְפָנֶ֗יךָ here.]]
Another aspect that should be presented regarding the idea of Presence being equivalent to the Holy Spirit. The following passages use presence and Spirit in parallel fashion, as pointed out in the poetry chapter, a common technique of equating meanings:
• Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from your presence (h6440. פָּניִם p̱âniym), and take not your Holy Spirit (h7307. רוּחַ rûaḥ) from me.
• Psalm 139:7 Where shall I go from your Spirit (h7307. רוּחַ rûaḥ)? Or where shall I flee from your presence (h6440. פָּניִם p̱âniym)?
• Ezekiel 39:29 And I will not hide my face/presence (h6440. פָּניִם p̱âniym) anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit (h7307. רוּחַ rûaḥ) upon the house of Israel, declares אֲדנָֹי ’aḏōnāy God.”
CWSBD excerpt: “h7307. רוּחַ rûaḥ: A feminine noun meaning spirit, wind, breath. The word is used to refer to the Spirit of God or YHWH.”
One additional and very clear reference to “The Presence,” is the notation of “the Bread of the Presence,” from the Tabernacle/the Temple. (Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5-9; 1S 21:1-6; Mt 12:4)
• Tying the Idioms to Understanding Prayer in the Epistles of James and Paul
This reading of idioms to understand better the very first time we meet Eliyahu in 1K 17:1 hopefully helps the reader understand better the passage in James, which is reviewed here:
• James 5:16-18 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
As Eliyahu takes the oath that he stands in the presence of YHWH, does this not explain the phrases “prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” and “he prayed fervently that it might not rain?”
Let us take one further step to look at an often-quoted passage from Paul, in light of the discussion of Idioms we have just been through. Consider the word “stand,” the several words for “prayer,” and consider the elements of the “armor” as being aspects of righteousness and all tied together by the “presence,” the Spirit.###
• Ephesians 6:10-20 10 Finally, be strong in κύριος kúrios and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to ●stand (g2476. ἵστημι histēmi) against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to ●withstand (g0436. νθίστημι anthistēmi [derivative]) in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 ●Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of ●truth, and having put on the breastplate of ●righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the ●Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 ●praying at all times in the ●Spirit, with all ●prayer and ●supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making ●supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. A paraphrase might say something like, “Stand, praying at all times in the Spirit, with these elements [the armor] of righteousness.”
Now, with this understanding, we may return to a review of some of the aspects of the Eliyahu narratives to help understand the messages we might get from this Prophet. The next step is a promised look at Chiastic Structure, which will help organize the look at the narratives.
* e.g. Nebuchadnezzar: Jr 25:9, 27:6, 43:10; Ek 29:18-20. Cyrus: Is 44:28; 45:1
** Again, see the change in direction of Ninevah, and God’s Mercy, Jonah 3:1-10, and even for a time, Ahab was spared due to repentance 1K 21:25-29.
*** Jg 8:19; 1S 14:39, 14:45, 19:6, 20:3, 20:21, 25:26, 25:34, 26:10, 26:16, 28:10, 29:6; 2S 4:9, 12:5, 14:11, 15:21, 22:47; 1K 1:29, 2:24, 17:1, 17:12, (18:10, 18:15), 22:14; 2K 2:2, 2:4, 2:6, 3:14, 4:30, 5:16, 5:20; Jr 4:2, 5:2, 38:16; Ho 4:15; Ps 18:47; Ruth 3:13; 2Ch 18:13.
# The Tikkun, the Kestenbaum Edition (The Torah Reader’s Compendium: Chumash, Haftaros and Megillos with translation. Commentary Laws and Customs), ArtScroll Series, Mesorah Publications, Ltd, 2004, Brooklyn, NY, p 35.
## Ramban [Nachmanides] Commentary on the Torah, translated and annotated by Rabbi Charles B. Chavel, Shilo Publishing House, Brooklyn, NY 1999. Genesis, pp 241-248.
### Recall the Apostle John/Yochanan calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth: John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13; 1 John 4:6, 5:6
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