Elijah 197
ceived with great honor. When her son, who was later to be known as the prophet Jonah,9 died, she thought God had formerly been gracious to her on account of her great worthiness as compared with the merits of her neigh- bors and of the inhabitants of the city, and now He had abandoned her, because her virtues had become as naught in the presence of the great prophet.10 In his distress Elijah supplicated God to revive the child.11 Now God had the prophet in His power. He could give heed unto Elijah's prayer only provided the prophet released Him from the promise about a drought, for resuscitation from death is brought about by means of dew, and this remedy was pre- cluded so long as Elijah kept God to His word withholding dew and rain from the earth." Elijah saw there was noth- ing for it but to yield. However, he first betook himself to Ahab with the purpose of overcoming the obduracy of the people, upon whom the famine had made no impression. Manifest wonders displayed before their eyes were to teach them wisdom. The combat between God and Baal took place on Carmel. The mount that had esteemed itself the proper place for the greatest event in Israelitish history, the revelation of the law, was compensated, by the many miracles now performed upon it, for its disappointment at Sinai's having been preferred to it.18
The first wonder occurred in connection with the choice of the bullocks. According to Elijah's arrangement with Ahab, one was to be sacrificed to God, and then one to Baal. A pair of twins, raised together, were brought before the contestants, and it was decided by lot which belonged to God and which to Baal. Elijah had no difficulty with his offer-
