Selections on Prophet Elijah (vegetarian): From Judaism – The Talmud, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with selections from the Talmud about Prophet Elijah (vegetarian).

Everything happens in GOD’s time.

“Rabbi Alexandri said: Jehoshua ben Levi propounded a contradiction: It reads: ‘I the Lord will hasten it in its time.’ ‘Hasten’ and ‘in its time’ contradict each other. And the answer was that if they will be worthy I will hasten it, and if not, they must wait till the right time will come. […]

I questioned Him further when the Messiah will appear. And He answered: Go and ask Him himself. ‘But where is He to be found?’ ‘At the gate of Rome, among poor people inflicted with wounds.’ ‘And how can I recognize Him?’ All the afflicted poor open the bandages of all their wounds, fix all of them and then dress them. And He opens one bandage, fixes the wound and dresses it, and then goes on to the next one, for the reason that perhaps He will be cold and there will be a delay till all the wounds are dressed. […]

When Jehoshua met Elijah again, the latter questioned him as to what the Messiah said to him. And He said: Peace be with thee, son of Levai. Said Elijah: He assured you of a share for thyself and for thy father in the world to come. Rejoined Jehoshua: He made a fool of me by saying that He will come this day. And Elijah answered: The expression ‘this day’ means as in [Psalms 95] ‘Yea this day, if you will hearken to His voice.’”

Faith in GOD.

“[…] And Elijah prayed again that the key of resurrection shall be given to Him. And He was answered: Thou know that there are three keys in Heaven which are not entrusted to a messenger, the key of birth, of rain, and of resurrection. Now when the key of resurrection shall also be given to thee, thou will have two keys and Heaven only one. Bring, therefore, the key of rain, and then thou will receive the key of resurrection. And this is what it reads: ‘Go, show thyself to Achab, and I will give rain.’ A certain Galilean lectured in the presence of Rabbi Hisda: The parable of Elijah, to what is it similar? To one who shut his door and lost the key from it. (So Elijah has shut the door of rain and had to depend upon Heaven.)”