Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/306

 very impressive  manner,  and  they  proved  the  truth  of  their  divine mission by  working  great  miracles.

God revealed  to  them  many  future  events. They predicted the principal  circumstances  of  the  birth,  life,  passion,  death  and glory of  the  Messias. One of  the  most  celebrated  of  the  prophets was Elias. He lived  in  the  reign  of  Achab , king of  Israel. This king  was  very  wicked.

None of  his  predecessors  had  committted so many  crimes  as  he.

He had  married  a Gentile  woman named Jezabel; and  he  had  built  a temple to Baal  and  had  consecrated  to  the  service of that  false  god  four  hundred  and  fifty priests, whilst  he  had  caused  the  priests  of the  Lord  to  be  put  to  death. In a word, his intention  seemed  to  be  to  destroy  the true religion  entirely  among  the  ten  tribes.

Elias, clad  in  a rough  sheep’s  skin and with  a staff  in  his  hand,  presented himself before  Achab  and  said:  “As  the  Lord  liveth,  the  God of Israel,  in  whose  sight  I stand,  there  shall  not  be  dew  nor  rain these three  years,  but  according  to  the  words  of  my  mouth.” Achab was  very  angry  to  hear  these  words  of  the  prophet,  and secretly resolved  to  put  Elias  to  death.



Then the  Lord,  knowing  the  evil  intention  of  the  king,  commanded Elias  to  go  and  conceal  himself  near  the  brook  Carith ,