The books of First and Second Kings would not have been nearly as interesting without the addition of the most flamboyant prophet of them all, Elijah, who just showed up one day and in his career raised the dead, called fire down from heaven, confronted the unpopular King Ahab and the famously villainous Queen Jezebel, won a challenge match against the priests of Baal, was fed by ravens while in hiding as a fugitive in the wilderness, witnessed earthquakes and heard the "small quiet voice" of God among other adventurous activities. Without him, the histories of the kings would have been just another list of monarchs who did what kings usually do to receive (mostly bad) report cards from God. It was as if the writers had said, "This book is getting as boring as Numbers. We need an action hero." Elijah's final scene was certainly an appropriate hero's departure as he was taken up to Heaven in a whirlwind, escorted by chariots of fire as he passed his Prophet's Mantle on to his faithful assistant Elisha. What an exit! (Illustration from Prints of the Prophets series.)
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