9-2-4 Elijah and Moses

When he was told to go and stand upon mount Horeb [i.e. Sinai] before the Lord, this was evidently seeking to invite him to see himself as Moses (1 Kings 19:11 = Ex. 24:12; 34:12). Consider the following parallels:

Elijah as a Type of Moses



Confronted Ahab (1 Kings 17:1)

Confronted Pharaoh (Exod. 5:1)

Fled into the wilderness fearing for his life (1 Kings 19:3)

Fled into the wilderness fearing for his life (Exod. 2:15)

Miraculously fed “...bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening...” (1 Kings 17:6)

Miraculously fed “...meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning...” (Exod. 16:8, 12)

Spoke authoritatively for the Lord in his own name (1 Kings 17:1)

Spoke authoritatively for the Lord in his own name (Deut. 5:1)

Gathered all Israel to Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19)

Gathered all Israel to Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:17)

Combated the prophets of Ba’al (1 Kings 18:20-40)

Combated the magicians of Pharaoh (Exod. 7:8-13, 20-22; 8:1-7)

Successful in his intercession for Israel to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel (1 Kings 18:36-39)

Successful in his intercession for Israel to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel (Exod. 32:11-14)

Elijah took twelve stones at Carmel “...according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob...” (1 Kings 18:30-32)

Moses had twelve pillars set up at Sinai “...corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel...” (Exod. 24:4)

The Lord accepted Elijah’s offering by sending fire from heaven and consuming it completely. The people threw themselves down on their faces. (1 Kings 18:36-39)

The Lord accepted Moses and Aaron’s offering by sending fire from heaven and consuming it completely. The people threw themselves down on their faces. (Lev. 9:22-24)

By Elijah’s authority 3 000 idolatrous prophets were slain (1 Kings 18:40)

By Moses’ authority 3 000 idolaters were slain (Exod. 32:25-29)

After killing the prophets of Ba’al Elijah climbed Carmel to pray. (1 Kings 18:42)

After killing the idolaters Moses climbed Sinai to pray (Exod. 32:30)

Went without food for forty days and forty nights (1 Kings 19:8)

Went without food for forty days and forty nights (Exod. 34:38; Deut. 9:9)

Elijah (re)commissioned at Horeb (=Sinai) (1 Kings 19)

Moses commissioned at Sinai (Exod. 3)

Elijah was in “the cave” on Horeb (=Sinai) when the Lord “passed by” (1 Kings 19: 9-11)

Moses was hidden “in the cleft of the rock” when the Lord passed by Sinai. (Exod. 33:21-23)

Elijah saw storm, wind, an earthquake and fire upon Horeb (=Sinai). (1 Kings 19:11-12)

Moses saw storm, wind, an earthquake and fire upon Sinai. (Exod. 19:16-20; 20:18; Deut. 4:11; 5:22-27).

Prayed that he might die. (1 Kings 19:1-4)

Prayed that he might die. (Num. 11:10-15).

The Lord brought down fire from heaven upon his enemies. (2 Kings 1:9-12)

The Lord brought down fire from heaven upon those who rebelled against him. (Num. 16; cf. Lev. 10:1-3)

Elijah parted the waters of the Jordan by striking the waters with his cloak and passed over on dry ground. (2 Kings 2:8)

Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea by stretching out his staff and passed over on dry ground. (Exod. 14:16, 21-22)

His successor was one who had served him and came to resemble him in many ways, parting the waters of the Jordan as he had. ( 2 Kings 2)

His successor was one who had served him and came to resemble him in many ways, parting the waters of the Jordan as he had the Red Sea. (Josh. 3)

Was taken away in the Transjordan. (2 Kings 2:9-11)

Died in the Transjordan. (Deut. 34:5)

Mysteriously translated  (2 Kings 9-18)

Died mysteriously and buried in a valley, but his burial place was unknown. (Deut. 34:6)

Table based upon Allison, Dale C. The New Moses: A Matthean Typology  (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1993) pp. 40-42. 

The point of these similarities was that the Angel wanted Elijah to be like Moses; to pray for the peoples’ salvation, to return to the people and lead them and teach them. Moses had begged for God’s mercy for His people; but Elijah was so full of self-justification that he prayed against Israel. And so with us, we are potentially led into situations where we are to discern the similarities between us and Bible characters; we are set up with opportunities to respond in a way that reflects how we have learnt the lessons from them. The way the Lord Jesus perceived this in His wilderness temptations is a great example.


previous chapter previous page table of contents next page next chapter