The term "Tishbite" is primarily associated with the prophet Elijah, one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament. Elijah is introduced in 1 Kings 17:1 as "Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead." This designation provides both a geographical and cultural context for understanding Elijah's origins and his role in the biblical narrative.

Geographical Context

Tishbe, the place from which Elijah hails, is located in the region of Gilead. Gilead is a mountainous area east of the Jordan River, known for its rugged terrain and pastoral lifestyle. The exact location of Tishbe is not definitively known, but it is traditionally believed to be in the northern part of Gilead. This region was part of the tribal inheritance of Gad and Manasseh, tribes known for their valor and strength, which may reflect in Elijah's bold and confrontational ministry.

Cultural and Historical Significance

The designation "Tishbite" not only identifies Elijah's place of origin but also serves to highlight his outsider status in the context of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. During Elijah's time, Israel was under the rule of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who promoted the worship of Baal, leading the nation into idolatry and apostasy. Elijah's Tishbite identity underscores his role as a prophetic voice from outside the established religious and political systems, called by God to challenge the prevailing corruption and to call the people back to the worship of Yahweh.

Prophetic Ministry

Elijah's ministry is marked by miraculous events and powerful demonstrations of God's sovereignty. As a Tishbite, Elijah's prophetic actions often reflect the austere and uncompromising nature of his Gileadite background. He confronts Ahab with a severe drought (1 Kings 17:1), is miraculously fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:4-6), and raises the widow's son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24). His most famous confrontation occurs on Mount Carmel, where he challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest to demonstrate the power of the true God (1 Kings 18:20-40).

Theological Implications

Elijah the Tishbite's ministry emphasizes themes of covenant faithfulness, divine judgment, and the call to repentance. His life and actions serve as a reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even in times of widespread unfaithfulness. Elijah's role as a Tishbite prophet underscores the idea that God often raises up individuals from unexpected places to fulfill His purposes and to call His people back to righteousness.

Legacy

Elijah's legacy as a Tishbite prophet extends beyond his earthly ministry. He is one of the few individuals in the Bible who did not experience death, being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). His return is prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6, and he appears with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-3), symbolizing the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Christ. Elijah's Tishbite identity, therefore, is integral to understanding his role as a precursor to the Messiah and a model of prophetic faithfulness.Tishbite

that makes captive

Tishbite

From Tishbe in the tribe of Naphtali, where Elijah was born, 1 Kings 17:1. It is mentioned in one of the apocryphal books.

Elijah the prophet was thus named (1 Kings 17:1; 21:17, 28, etc.). In 1 Kings 17:1 the word rendered "inhabitants" is in the original the same as that rendered "Tishbite," hence that verse may be read as in the LXX., "Elijah the Tishbite of Tishbi in Gilead." Some interpret this word as meaning "stranger," and read the verse, "Elijah the stranger from among the strangers in Gilead." This designation is probably given to the prophet as denoting that his birthplace was Tishbi, a place in Upper Galilee (mentioned in the apocryphal book of Tobit), from which for some reason he migrated into Gilead. Josephus, the Jewish historian (Ant. 8:13, 2), however, supposes that Tishbi was some place in the land of Gilead. It has been identified by some with el-Ishtib, a some place 22 miles due south of the Sea of Galilee, among the mountains of Gilead. TISHBITE

tish'-bit.

See ELIJAH; Expostory Times, XII, 383.

8664. Tishbiy -- Tishbite
... 8663, 8664. Tishbiy. 8664a . Tishbite. Transliteration: Tishbiy Phonetic
Spelling: (tish-bee') Short Definition: Tishbite. Tishbite ...
/hebrew/8664.htm - 5k

8664a. Tishbeh -- Tishbite
... 8664, 8664a. Tishbeh. 8664b . Tishbite. Transliteration: Tishbeh Short Definition:
Tishbite. Word Origin another reading for Tishbi, qv. 8664, 8664a. ...
/hebrew/8664a.htm - 5k

8664b. Tishbi -- inhabitant of Tishbeh
... inhabitant of Tishbeh. Transliteration: Tishbi Short Definition: Tishbite. Word
Origin from Tishbeh Definition inhab. of Tishbeh NASB Word Usage Tishbite (6). ...
/hebrew/8664b.htm - 5k

Elijah the Tishbite
... Prophets of the Northern Kingdom Chapter 9 Elijah the Tishbite. [This chapter
is based on 1 Kings 17:1-7.] Among the mountains of ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 9 elijah the tishbite.htm

Matt. xvii. 10
... come;" so calling John. In this sense Elias is come: but if thou wouldest
seek the Tishbite, he is coming. Wherefore also He said ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lvii matt xvii 10.htm

A Prophet's Strange Providers
... 'And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead ... 'Among them that are
born of women there hath not arisen a greater than' Elijah the Tishbite. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a prophets strange providers.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... The king was not allowed to enjoy unrebuked that which he had gained by fraud and
bloodshed. "The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

Elijah --Passionate in Prayer
... "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab,
As the Lord God of Israel liveth ... And the King said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.". ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/vi elijahpassionate in prayer.htm

"The Spirit and Power of Elijah" --Not the Soul --Were in the ...
... But some one might ask, if the soul of Elijah was not first in the Tishbite and
secondly in John, what might that be in both which the Saviour called Elijah? ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/2 the spirit and power.htm

The Spirit and Power of Elias.
... them. I. LET US INSTITUTE A COMPARISON BETWEEN ELIJAH THE TISHBITE, AND
JOHN THE BAPTIST."They resembled each other in dress. We ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xvii the spirit and power.htm

From the Seventh Chapter.
... read that these things are predicted in the opening of the Old and New Testament;
for He says by Malachi: "Lo, I will send to you Elias the Tishbite, to turn ...
/.../commentary on the apocolypse of the blessed john/from the seventh chapter.htm

The General Service of the Holy Fathers, in Remembrance of ...
... substances; wherefore the God-bearing fathers having in their zeal come together
and moved by the flame of the fervour, just as Elijah the Tishbite did cut ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter v1 the general service.htm

Elijah Fed by Ravens.
... God was displeased with King Ahab, and sent His prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, to
say unto him, "As the Lord God of Israel liveth there shall not be dew nor ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/elijah fed by ravens.htm

Tishbite (6 Occurrences)
... In 1 Kings 17:1 the word rendered "inhabitants" is in the original the same as that
rendered "Tishbite," hence that verse may be read as in the LXX., "Elijah ...
/t/tishbite.htm - 9k

Eli'jah (93 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said unto
Ahab: 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there ...
/e/eli'jah.htm - 31k

Tishbe (1 Occurrence)
... 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, By the
living Lord, the God of Israel, whose servant I am, there will be no dew or ...
/t/tishbe.htm - 6k

Elijah (104 Occurrences)
... (1.) "The Tishbite," the "Elias" of the New Testament, is suddenly introduced to
our notice in 1 Kings 17:1 as delivering a message from the Lord to Ahab. ...
/e/elijah.htm - 71k

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... She was immediately consumed by the dogs of the street (2 Kings 9:7-37),
according to the word of Elijah the Tishbite (1 Kings 21:19). ...
/j/jezebel.htm - 26k

Zebub (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 1:3 But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to
meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them,'Is it because ...
/z/zebub.htm - 8k

Jez'ebel (19 Occurrences)
... And he said: 'This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah
the Tishbite, saying: In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh ...
/j/jez'ebel.htm - 11k

Jezebel's (5 Occurrences)
... And he said: 'This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah
the Tishbite, saying: In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh ...
/j/jezebel's.htm - 8k

Jizreel (30 Occurrences)
... And he said, This is the word of Jehovah, which he spoke through his servant Elijah
the Tishbite saying, In the plot of Jizreel shall dogs eat the flesh of ...
/j/jizreel.htm - 15k

Girt (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of
leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. ...
/g/girt.htm - 10k

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