Elijah is introduced as 'the Tishbite' from Gilead, a rugged region east of the Jordan River. His early life is not recorded, emphasizing his sudden prophetic arrival amid political turmoil in the northern kingdom.

Elijah confronts King Ahab in Samaria and declares that no dew or rain will fall except by his word. The judgment targets Baal worship promoted at court, since Baal was claimed to control storms and fertility.

Following the drought proclamation, Elijah withdraws to the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan, to avoid Ahab's retaliation. He survives on bread and meat brought by ravens, a sign of providence during national famine.

God directs Elijah to Zarephath near Sidon, in Phoenician territory associated with Jezebel's homeland. A poor widow shares her last flour and oil, and Elijah's promise keeps her jar and jug from running out during the famine.

When the widow's son dies, Elijah prays intensely and stretches himself upon the child, pleading for life to return. The boy revives, strengthening the widow's trust and portraying Elijah as a mediator of divine compassion.

As the drought drags on, Elijah reappears and encounters Obadiah, Ahab's palace administrator who secretly protected prophets. Obadiah had hidden them in caves and supplied bread and water despite Jezebel's persecution.

Elijah accuses Ahab of troubling Israel by abandoning the LORD's commandments and embracing Baal. He calls for a public contest on Mount Carmel, demanding that the people choose between rival claims of worship and power.

On Carmel, 450 prophets of Baal fail to ignite their sacrifice despite frantic rituals, while Elijah repairs the altar and drenches it with water. Fire falls and consumes the offering, wood, stones, and water, convincing the crowd of the LORD's supremacy.

Elijah orders the capture of Baal's prophets and they are put to death at the Kishon Valley, escalating the conflict with Jezebel's regime. He then prays repeatedly until a small cloud appears, and heavy rain breaks the drought over Israel.

Strengthened by the 'hand of the LORD,' Elijah runs before Ahab's chariot from Carmel to Jezreel in a dramatic display of prophetic authority. The sprint links the national crisis to the royal court where Jezebel's influence is strongest.

Jezebel vows to kill Elijah within a day, and he retreats south toward the wilderness, exhausted and fearful. Under a broom tree he begs to die, revealing the emotional cost of sustained confrontation with state-backed violence.

At Beersheba, Elijah is given bread and water by an angel and told to eat for the difficult journey ahead. He travels forty days and nights, echoing Israel's wilderness traditions and preparing for a renewed commissioning.

At Horeb, Elijah experiences wind, earthquake, and fire, but God speaks in a 'still small voice' rather than spectacle. He is instructed to anoint Hazael over Aram, Jehu over Israel, and to appoint Elisha as his successor.

Elijah finds Elisha son of Shaphat plowing with twelve yoke of oxen and places his mantle on him as a sign of prophetic succession. Elisha leaves his farm, sacrifices the oxen, and follows Elijah, marking a decisive vocational break.

After Naboth is killed through Jezebel's arranged false testimony, Ahab seizes the vineyard in Jezreel. Elijah confronts the king with judgment, declaring consequences for bloodshed and warning of disaster on Ahab's house.

When King Ahaziah is injured, he sends messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub at Ekron, and Elijah intercepts them with a rebuke. The episode highlights ongoing syncretism and frames Elijah as defending exclusive covenant loyalty against foreign cults.

Ahaziah dispatches captains with fifty soldiers to seize Elijah, but fire falls from heaven and consumes the first two companies. A third captain pleads for mercy, and Elijah goes with him, underscoring both prophetic power and restraint.

Knowing his departure is near, Elijah travels with Elisha to the Jordan and strikes the water with his mantle, splitting it so they cross on dry ground. A whirlwind and fiery chariot separate them, and Elijah is taken up, leaving Elisha with his mantle.