Was Elijah an Israelite?

We begin with the first verse in the Bible about Elijah, 1 Kings 17:1

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֜י מִתֹּשָׁבֵ֣י גִלְעָד֘ אֶל־אַחְאָב֒ חַי־יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֚י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו אִם־יִהְיֶ֛ה הַשָּׁנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה טַ֣ל וּמָטָ֑ר כִּ֖י אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי

My Translation: “And Elijah the Tishbite/resident alien from the resident-aliens of Gilead said to Ahab, “As YHVH lives, the G-d of Israel whom I serve before Him, there will only be dew or rain these years upon my word."

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible defines תּוֹשָׁב (toshav) as a Sojourner, resident alien, temporary dweller. [Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Number 8453.] The word תּוֹשָׁב (toshav) occurs in the Hebrew Bible fourteen times.  I will quote and discuss all fourteen passages below.

Prof. Joram Mayshar of Hebrew University (Jerusalem) states, “The term תושב (toshav) appears in the Bible fourteen times, mostly in passages associated with the Holiness Code (H). It is typically interpreted as referring to an alien who resides in a foreign country on a long-term basis.” [“Who Was the Toshav?” Journal of Biblical literature, 133 (2014), 2, pp. 225-246; 10.1353/jbl.2014.0023]

Lets look at the 14 verses in the TaNaK with the Hebrew word “Toshav”.

1. Genesis 23:4 “I am a stranger and a resident-alien with you. Give me burial property that I may bury my dead before me.”
גֵּֽר־וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב אָֽנֹכִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם תְּנ֨וּ לִ֤י אֲחֻזַּת־קֶ֨בֶר֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה מֵתִ֖י מִלְּפָנָֽי

2. Exodus 12:45 “A resident-alien or a hired hand may not partake of it. (The Passover).”
תּוֹשָׁ֥ב וְשָׂכִ֖יר לֹא־יֹ֥אכַל בּֽוֹ

3. Leviticus 22:10 “No non-priest may eat holy offerings. A priest's resident-alien and his hired worker may not eat holy offerings.”
וְכָל־זָ֖ר לֹא־יֹ֣אכַל קֹ֑דֶשׁ תּוֹשַׁ֥ב כֹּהֵ֛ן וְשָׂכִ֖יר לֹא־יֹ֥אכַל קֹֽדֶשׁ.

4. Leviticus 25:6 “And [the produce of] the Sabbath of the land shall be yours to eat for you, for your male and female slaves, and for your hired worker and resident-alien who live with you,
וְהָֽיְתָ֠ה שַׁבַּ֨ת הָאָ֤רֶץ לָכֶם֙ לְאָכְלָ֔ה לְךָ֖ וּלְעַבְדְּךָ֣ וְלַֽאֲמָתֶ֑ךָ וְלִשְׂכִֽירְךָ֙ וּלְתוֹשָׁ֣בְךָ֔ הַגָּרִ֖ים עִמָּֽךְ
5. Leviticus 25:23 “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land belongs to Me, for you are strangers and resident-aliens with Me.”
וְהָאָ֗רֶץ לֹ֤א תִמָּכֵר֙ לִצְמִתֻ֔ת כִּי־לִ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֧ים וְתֽוֹשָׁבִ֛ים אַתֶּ֖ם עִמָּדִֽי

6. Leviticus 25:35 “If your brother becomes destitute and his hand falters beside you, you shall support him [whether] a stranger or a resident-alien, so that he can live with you.”
וְכִֽי־יָמ֣וּךְ אָחִ֔יךָ וּמָ֥טָה יָד֖וֹ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהֶֽחֱזַ֣קְתָּ בּ֔וֹ גֵּ֧ר וְתוֹשָׁ֛ב וָחַ֖י עִמָּֽךְ

7. Leviticus 25:40 “As a hired worker, as a resident-alien shall be with you, until the Jubilee year he shall work with you.”
כְּשָׂכִ֥יר כְּתוֹשָׁ֖ב יִֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֑ךְ עַד־שְׁנַ֥ת הַיֹּבֵ֖ל יַֽעֲבֹ֥ד עִמָּֽךְ
8. Leviticus 25:45 “And also from the children of the resident-aliens and strangers that live among you, from them you may acquire slaves and from their family that is with you whom they begot in your land, and they shall become your inheritance.”
וְ֠גַ֠ם מִבְּנֵ֨י הַתּֽוֹשָׁבִ֜ים הַגָּרִ֤ים עִמָּכֶם֙ מֵהֶ֣ם תִּקְנ֔וּ וּמִמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹלִ֖ידוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם לַֽאֲחֻזָּֽה

9-10. Leviticus 25:47 “If a stranger or resident alien gains wealth with you, and your brother becomes destitute with him and is sold to a stranger resident-alien among you or to an idol of the family of a stranger”
וְכִ֣י תַשִּׂ֗יג יַ֣ד גֵּ֤ר וְתוֹשָׁב֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וּמָ֥ךְ אָחִ֖יךָ עִמּ֑וֹ וְנִמְכַּ֗ר לְגֵ֤ר תּוֹשָׁב֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ א֥וֹ לְעֵ֖קֶר מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת גֵּֽר
11. Numbers 35:15 “These six cities shall be a refuge for the children of Israel and for the stranger and resident-alien among them, so that anyone who unintentionally kills a person can flee there.”

12. Psalm 39:13 (Psalm 39:12 in christian bibles). “Hear my prayer, YHVH, and hearken to my cry. Be not silent to my tears, for I am a stranger with You, a resident-alien as all my forefathers.”
    שִֽׁמְעָ֥ה־תְפִלָּתִ֨י יְהֹוָ֡ה וְשַׁוְעָתִ֨י הַֽאֲזִינָה֘ אֶל־דִּמְעָתִ֗י אַל־תֶּֽ֫חֱרָ֥שׁ כִּ֚י גֵ֣ר אָֽנֹכִ֣י עִמָּ֑ךְ תּ֜וֹשָׁ֗ב כְּכָל־אֲבוֹתָֽי
13. 1Chronicles 29:15 “For we are strangers before You, and resident-aliens like all our forefathers; as a shadow are our days on the Earth, and there is no hope.”
    כִּֽי־גֵרִ֨ים אֲנַ֧חְנוּ לְפָנֶ֛יךָ וְתֽוֹשָׁבִ֖ים כְּכָל־אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ כַּצֵּ֧ל יָמֵ֛ינוּ עַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְאֵ֥ין מִקְוֶֽה
    
    14. 1 Kings 17:1 “And Elijah the Tishbi of the resident-aliens of Gilead said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the G-d of Israel, whom I serve, lives, if there will be during these years dew or rain except according to my word."
    וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֜י מִתֹּשָׁבֵ֣י גִלְעָד֘ אֶל־אַחְאָב֒ חַי־יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֚י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו אִם־יִהְיֶ֛ה הַשָּׁנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה טַ֣ל וּמָטָ֑ר כִּ֖י אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי

Let’s discuss 1 Kings 17:1 in greater detail. Because the original Hebrew words for "Tishbite" (תִּשְׁבִּי‎) and "settlers" (תֹּשָׁבֵי‎) are the same in un-pointed Hebrew, some scholars have questioned whether “Tishbi” is actually a demonym for a place called "Tishbi", or if it is a form of the word "resident-alien" conjugated to match Elijah; thereby reading "Elijah the resident-alien" rather than "Elijah the Tishbite". The word Tishbi appears just six times in the Hebrew Bible, each time in conjunction with Elijah's own name, but no place called "Tishbi" appears throughout the entire TaNaK. Therefore, it is debated whether the text indicates Elijah hailed from a place called Tishbe/Tishbi, or that he originated from amongst settlers in Gilead.  A ‘hireq-yod’ on the end of the word “Yisrael” would mean “Israeli”.  To add a hireq-yod on the end of a place, means it is “one from a specific place.” Therefore, pending how accurate the vowel pointings are in the Massoretic text, the Hebrew could mean “Tishbi” is a specific place or that Elijah had a title: “Elijah the resident alien.”

Most scholars assume Tishbi is in Gilead due to 1 Kings 17:1.  Gilead is in modern Jordan, as it is east of the Jordan River.  Alternatively, Tishbi may be identical to the as-yet undiscovered "Thisbe" referenced in the Book of Tobit (Tobit 1:2), which was located west of the Jordan River in the territory of the tribe of Naphtali, "to the south of Kedesh Naphtali in Upper Galilee, above Asher toward the west, and north of Phogor"  The book of Tobit is not in the TaNaK.

Possible proof that Elijah was a Gentile:

1 Kings 17:6 ^“And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.”

G-d sent ravens to feed Elijah. Ravens (crows) are birds of carrion. They eat road-kill and un-kosher meat. They are unclean in the Torah. No Torah-abiding Jew would eat food from a raven’s mouth. Just imagine if an orthodox Jew was hungry and a pig walked in with a sandwich in its mouth. Would the Jew take the sandwich and eat it? Either Elijah was a gentile not under the Mosaic covenant, or Israel’s Yahwistic faith did not include later Judean kashrut laws.

Leviticus 22:8 “You shall not eat that which dies or is torn by beasts, becoming unclean by it. I am יהוה.”  Exodus 22:31 “And you are set-apart men to Me, and you shall not eat any meat which is torn to pieces in the field, you throw it to the dogs.”

If the Ravens were bringing Elijah dead hunted flesh or ripped up half dead animals… that causes Elijah to sin at the hand of YHVH in the Torah.  However, Ravens were bringing bread, which can only be baked by humans.  Inerrantists will argue that kosher meat was being brought.  Scholars will note that the other clues in Elijah’s stories, like Elijah complaining Israel tore down all YHVH’s altars, and abandoned Him, is a sign of earlier Israelite faith.  The book of Deuteronomy says there can be only one altar twenty-four times (at the Tabernacle/Temple).  “Do not murder” is commanded far less than the prohibition to worship only at “the place YHVH will chose” (eventually Jerusalem) in the book of Deuteronomy.  Elijah has no idea there is a Temple in Jerusalem and altars on high places in Israel is forbidden in the Torah twenty-four times. Elijah believing that Israel was wrong to tear down altars to HaShem in high places is a sign that the earliest Israelite belief was that YHVH could have altars anywhere, and YHVH could be worshipped anywhere.  Elijah being fed by ravens is a sign that Judah’s Torah and Judah’s later Judaism brought new kosher teachings that were not prevalent in the northern Kingdom.  The TaNaK is written from Judah’s point of view and is often anti-Israel and pro-Judah.  All the prophetical books to survive were of Judean prophets.  Israel’s two most famous prophets, Elijah and Elisha, do not have surviving prophetical books, and their stories are told in the book of Kings, which is history told from Judah’s perspective.  Judean scribes failed to edit out the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s beliefs which did not always line up with the (later) Judean Torah.  When Judean scribes created the books of Samuel and Kings, they did it through the eyes of Deuteronomy, failing often to edit Israel’s source material, which included Israel’s religious belief.

Elijah and Elisha were with Gentiles.  Naaman the Syrian was healed of Leprosy by Elisha.  The Widow of Zarephath (whom Elijah was directed by YHVH to flee to) was in Phoenicia, not in Israel. The widow of Zarephath was a Phoenician woman.  Elijah raised this non-Israelite woman’s son from the dead.  This is the first time a dead person was resurrected in the Hebrew Bible.

Possible proof that Elijah was an Israelite from Naphtali living in Gilead:

With the probable exception of Elijah, no prophet in the TaNaK was a gentile.  Elijah has a Hebrew name.  And as stated above, Elijah may be a member of the tribe of Naphtali who is living in Gilead (the territory of Manasseh).   

Elijah outside of the book of Kings:

Elijah’s story is entirely in the book of Kings with one exception.  2Chronicles 21:12 is Elijah’s final mention in the TaNaK. A letter is sent under the prophet's name to Jehoram of Judah. It tells him that he has led the people of Judah astray just as Israel went astray. Elijah gives a prediction of a future terrible death for Jehoram of Judah due to his sins.  This letter is a contradiction for three reasons. First, it concerns a king of the southern kingdom of Judah, while Elijah concerned himself with ONLY the northern kingdom of Israel in the book of Kings. Second, the message begins with "Thus says YHVH, G-d of your father David..." rather than the usual "...in the name of YHVH the G-d of Israel" consistent for Elijah in the book of Kings. Third, this letter comes after Elijah's ascension into Heaven.  Here is the timing: Elijah prophesizes during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah Kings of Israel. After Elijah is taken into Heaven (2Kings chapter 2), Jehoram king of Israel comes to the throne in 2Kings chapter 3.  Jehoram King of Judah does not begin his reign until the fifth year of Jehoram King of Israel per 2Kings 8:16. Therefore, how did Elijah, already in Heaven as of 2Kings chapter 2, be writing letters that would have happened after 2Kings chapter 8?  The letter from Elijah in 2 Chronicles 21:12 is a contradiction and fabrication of the Elijah narrative.  (Both Israel and Judah had kings named “Jehoram” who reigned partially at the same time.)

Conclusion:

Was Elijah a Gentile or was he an Israelite?  Judah would not have a Gentile as a prophet, but Elijah was a prophet to Israel, the Northern Kingdom, at a time when the Torah was not yet written. If YHVH is the G-d of all humans, and mankind (Adam) are all created in His image, is it Judean prejudice working against Elijah? It is clear from the Torah itself, the word “Toshav” means a non-Israelite resident alien.   Exodus 12:45 would be my most important proof text, as a "toshav" is not allowed to celebrate Passover.  I lean towards Elijah being a non-Israelite Yahwist due to the 14 passages above and how they use the term "toshav."  Elijah's name means "Yah is my G-d", and anyone can have Yah as their G-d.  Either way, Elijah is my favorite prophet, and for Yahwists, I believe he is the most important prophet.