Elijah

Elijah, or Elias (9th century B.C.), Hebrew prophet who, according to the Book of Kings of the Old Testament, resisted pagan idol worship during the reign of Israel's King Ahab. An outspoken enemy of Queen Jezebel, he was instrumental in thwarting her attempts to introduce the worship of Baal into Israel. During his own lifetime a number of supernatural events were ascribed to him, including restoring a dead child to life. The Bible recounts that he ascended to heaven in a fiery chariot.

See also: Bible; Old Testament.