Yehoshua said, “Cursed be
the man before Hashem, who rises up and builds this city, Jericho. With
his oldest son he will lay its foundation and with his youngest son he
will set up its gates.” Chiel, a close friend of King Ahab, rebuilt
the city, and the curse was fulfilled in him. Elijah came to console
him, and Ahab asked if he thought the curse of Joshua was the cause.
Ellijah confirmed. Then Ahab said that Moses had cursed everybody who
worhsips idols with drought, and that he has established an idol on
every hill, but in Israel there was an abundance of rain.
Elijah immediately decreed a drought, and God granted it to him. Elijah
had to run away to the desert, where ravens brought him bread and meat,
and he drank from a brook. Eventually the brook dried out, and Elijah
was commanded to go live in Tsarfat. When the son of his hostess died,
Elijah wanted to revive him, but God said, “I have three keys – from
childbirth, rain, and resurrection. It is not proper for Me to have one,
and for you – two. Elijah had to give up the key to rain, and drought
ended.
Rabbi Yose called Elijah an irascible person. Elijah hid from him for
three days. When Ellijah came, Rabbi Yose asked, “why were you hiding?”
Elijah answered - “You called me irascible!” Rabbi Yose said, “So you
are irascible again!”
Art: Childe Hassam - Rain Storm, Union Square