In  the  days  of  Ahab,  there  lived  a  prophet  in  G^lead,
named  Elijah,  with  the  surname  of  Tishhi.  He  suddenly
came  forth  from  his  solitude,  stepped  before  Ahab,  and
said  to  him  in  the  name  of  God:  *' As  the  Lord  God  of
Israel  liveth,  before  whom  I  stand,  there  shall  not  be  dew
nor  rain  during  these  years,  unless  I  command  it."

This  prophecy  was  soon  followed  by  its  fulfillment.  A
long  drought  caused  a  fearful  famine,  want  and  miseiy  in
Israel ;  the  fields  lay  parched,  and  men  and  animals  longed
for  refreshing  waters ;  Elijah,  however  at  the  command  of
God,  was  fed  by  ravens,  in  his  concealment  near  the  Brook
Cherith.  But  this  brook  also  dried  up  after  some  time,
and  God  said  to  Elijah :  **  Arise,  get  thee  to  Zarephath ;
there  a  widow  shall  sustain  thee."  Elijah  obeyed ;  and
when  he  came  to  the  jgate  of  the  city,  he  met  the  widow
just  engaged  in  gathering  wood;  he  said  to  her:  "Fetch
me,  I  pray  thee,  a  little  water,  that  I  may  drink,  and  a
morsel  of  bread  to  eat."  The  widow  replied,  saying:  *' As
the  Lord  liveth,  I  have  no  bread,  but  only  a  handful  of
meal  and  a  little  oil ;  and  behold,  I  am  now  gathering  a
little  wood,  that  I  may  prepare  a  repast  for  myself  and
my  son,  alas!  perhaps  the  last  we  shall  have  on  earth!"
And  Elijah  said  to  her:  *'Fear  not;  the  Lord  shall  not
Piifter  thee  to  be  in  want — do  as  I  have  requested  thee."
The  good  widow  went  and  gave  the  prophet  the  only  food
left  in  her  house,  and  God  afterwards  provided  her  with
all  necessary  means  for  her  subsistence.  Her  son,  also,
who  was  in  a  dying  state,  rose  again  upon  the  prayer  oi
•Elijah,  and  fully  regained  his  health.
