196 The Legends of the Jezvs
speech. As the prophet entered the general's house, he heard Hiel utter these words : " Blessed be the Lord God of the pious, who grants fulfilment to the words of the pious." Hiel thus acknowledged that he had been justly afflicted with Joshua's curse against him who should rebuild Jericho.
Ahab mockingly asked him : " Was not Moses greater than Joshua, and did he not say that God would let no rain descend upon the earth, if Israel served and worshipped idols? There is not an idol known to which I do not pay homage, yet we enjoy all that is goodly and desirable. Dost thou believe that if the words of Moses remain unfulfilled, the words of Joshua will come true?" Elijah rejoined: " Be it as thou sayest : ' As the Lord, the God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.' " In pursuance of His promise, God could not but execute the words of Elijah, and neither dew nor rain watered the land.8
A famine ensued, and Ahab sought to wreak his vengeance upon the prophet. To escape the king's persecu- tions, Elijah hid himself. He was sustained with food brought from the larder of the pious king Jehoshaphat by ravens," which at the same time would not approach near to the house of the iniquitous Ahab.T
God, who has compassion even upon the impious, tried to induce the prophet to release Him from His promise. To influence him He made the brook run dry8 whence Elijah drew water for his thirst. As this failed to soften the in- flexible prophet, God resorted to the expedient of causing him pain through the death of the son of the widow with whom Elijah was abiding, and by whom he had been re-
