What altar was this? Torah Law specifically requires that the only altar acceptable for sacrifice to HaShem is in the Temple in Jerusalem. This altar was certainly not that one. Was this place once one of the "high places" where HaShem was served? Was this once an altar for HaShem that was built outside of the parameters of Torah Law? Or was this simply a place with stones that Eliyahu would use to build an altar where none had ever stood before? The Hebrew term for "repair" is open to be understood in any of these ways. Still, it is unlike Eliyahu to have rebuilt an illegal altar, even if that altar was once used for HaShem. Yet, Eliyahu did built an altar from scratch and he did sacrifice to HaShem on it. This act alone is a violation of Torah Law; yet Eliyahu did it anyway.

This Biblical example is case in point of a rule about prophets. Prophetic authority gave them the right to suspend certain Torah Laws for finite periods of time. Therefore, although this act which Eliyahu did was indeed illegal and would have been punishable under Law if performed by a layman, still Eliyahu, in this regard was subject to an even higher Law and authority. His building of an altar outside of Jerusalem was necessary for the moment. This was clear through prophetic eyes. Thus he acted as he did. Eliyahu was in no way above the Law, nor did he circumvent the Law. He merely used a codicil of the Law that is unknown to most.

"And Eliyahu took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of HaShem came, saying: 'Israel shall be your name." (1 Melakhim 18:31)

Torah Law requires that an altar be completely natural and not made from stones cut by metal tools. No altar stone(s) could be hewn or shaped with metal instruments. Stones subject to such treatment were disqualified for Temple usage. The basic logic underlying this is that metal tools are usually used for war, whereas the altar is the tool for peace. Thus the tool for peace should not have been hewn with the tools of war. This reason alone should suffice us, yet, as with all things in Torah, there is much more than meets the eye.

When Solomon's Temple was built the Biblical record records that there was no sound of stones being chiseled into shape. When we look today at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and see the lowest level of stones, dating from the First Temple times, we clearly see that they are cut stones. How then were they cut? Legend tells us that King Solomon had at his disposal a "little worm" called the Shamir and that this worm would eat its way through the stone, making smooth cuts. Legend tells us that King Solomon received this Shamir worm from the conquered chief of the demons, who was forced to reveal this secret to Solomon.

So, what exactly was the Shamir? If it were indeed some kind of living creature, we may never be able to identify it. However, there are those today who offer a different explanation. Some view the Shamir, based upon its description and function, and conjecture that it might have been some form of laser beam technology. This would fit with it being a secret revealed from non-human sources and would explain its precision ability to slice stone.

Now Eliyahu did not have a Shamir worm at his disposal, nor did he need one. He was not building a permanent edifice. What was necessary for the moment would suffice just fine. Taking twelve stones, representing all the tribes of Israel, including one for Judah, that "other" country to the south of Israel, Eliyahu proceeded to act for HaShem. The stones may or may not have been big and he may or may not have needed the help of others to move them and arrange them. Still, what he built was a natural altar, without the need for tools. This was an altar made from the products of the Earth and dedicated to the Creator of the Earth. The natural conduit was all set. Now Eliyahu had created the apparatus for his work and he would continue to provide as real good show.

"And with the stones he built an altar in the name of HaShem; and he made a trench around the altar big enough to hold two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood." (1 Melakhim 18:32-33)

This was done out in the open for all to see. The trench around the altar; this is something unique. No previous altar was built with a trench around it. As we will see Eliyahu the show-man added this for special effect.

"And he said: 'Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt-offering, and on the wood.' And he said: 'Do it the second time'; and they did it the second time. And he said: 'Do it the third time'; and they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water." (1 Melakhim 18:34-35)

Everyone knows that water extinguishes fire. Eliyahu poured water over everything to make the clear statement that he had no secret fire starter anywhere and that what the people were about to see was very real. It can be compared to a magician entertainer who would make the statement, "nothing up my sleeve" and then pull something out from apparently nowhere. Such tricks are always entertaining to audiences. Although Eliyahu was no entertainer or magician, still he knew the assembled throngs enjoyed a good show and he did his best not to disappoint them.

"And it came to pass at the time of the Minha offering, that Eliyahu the prophet came near, and said: 'HaShem, G-d of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that You are G-d in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things according to Your word. Hear me, HaShem, hear me, that this people may know that You HaShem are G-d, for You turn their hearts back." (1 Melakhim 18:36-37)

Eliyahu calls to Heaven and prays loud enough for all to hear. The time is Minha time, an auspicious time for response to prayer. The prayer is simple. HaShem is identified as being the true G-d of this people and that Eliyahu is His servant. Eliyahu also adds for all to know that everything that he has done so far and will continue to do is all by Divine design. Eliyahu's prayer to Heaven is for the people to see and thus know for themselves who is the true G-d in Israel.

The attempts of the false prophets bore no fruits. The people were thus bored; however they may not have been disappointed. After all, maybe it was not just Eliyahu who knew that the false prophets did not have what it took to produce any kind of supernatural effect. If Eliyahu had failed too, maybe the people wouldn't have cared and they would have gone home disappointed that they wasted the day. But this was definitely not destined to happen. Eliyahu had an ace up his sleeve. That ace was HaShem. HaShem was going to show the people and they were definitely not to be disappointed.

Now, I have raised the questions and hopefully aroused all our interests. Unfortunately, that is about all that I am able to do. You see, I do not have the answers to the questions that I myself have asked. I can make conjectures and I can hypothesize, but there is no way to verify or deny what my ideas might contain.

"And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said: 'HaShem, He is G-d; HaShem, He is G-d." (1 Melakhim 18:39)

After a spectacular show of this nature what would we expect the people to say? There was no need of sermons, no need of lectures, no pithy Torah quotes or Rabbinic homilies. Words did not convince the people, action did!

When they saw that fire coming out of, what for them, was nowhere, there was a subtle message therein for everyone watching. Everyone realized in the back of their minds that if G-d could send down fire from Heaven there at Eliyahu's request, then G-d could also send down fire at any other time, in any other place, possibly striking anyone for any reason. The people there assembled were each individually probably very happy that the fire only struck the sacrifice and did not reach out to consume them.

Their recommitment to the G-d of Israel, at that moment was rather intense. It convinced them to take some extreme measures against the priests of the other religion. As we shall see in the next verse, they gather up the false priests and kill them. One might think that this was the beginning of a new renaissance of Torah and righteousness in the Northern Kingdom. Unfortunately, this did not prove to be true. For herein lies the weakness of all such sound and light shows, even the most holy and intense. In the end, after the show is over and the emotional spike of the moment has passed, usually very little remains in the long run. After a few days, weeks, months or years, the intensity of the sound and light show dissipates and all we have left are the same human beings, with the same problems and with the same character and behavior flaws as we had before.

Although the sound and light shows are really intense, awesome and inspiring, still their effects are short-lived. One can go back into the Torah and read about the greatest sound and light show of them all, the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Nothing could ever beat that, and still, how long after such a profound event did many of the people turn their hearts away and do foolish things? In the end, sound and light shows create a spike of emotional appeal; this is good in the short term. Yet, for real and sincere long-term change and transformation, we need more than just "miracles from Heaven," we need honest and true change and commitment on behalf of each individual.

If the sound and light shows of miracles cannot accomplish this, then what can? The answer is Torah, personal study and individual contemplation. These alone can change an individual. And only when enough individuals have changed can they collectively bring change to a nation.

"And Elijah said to them: 'Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.' And they took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there." (1 Melakhim 18:40)

There were no trials, no pleas, no nothing. Their lack of performance was their downfall. The people participated in this. Eliyahu did not act alone. Still, even when the day was over, we must question, how many of these new religious zealots stayed true to Torah and G-d? From the records of the Northern Kingdom, it may not have been many. What Eliyahu did was to send a message for all our generations to see. We get the message as much as did the people standing there on that day.

Now, here is an interesting question. What if a new prophet were to arise and challenge a religion competing today with Torah to this same type of contest? What if fire came down from the sky? Would we suspect that it was possibly a shot from an orbiting military satellite? What would we think if such a fire did descend and instead of hitting our altar, it struck and burned the other one, implying the truth of that religion over Torah? Such a thing will never happen, is this not what you believe? Well, I did not make up this scenario. I am relating to you a teaching from a very ancient book; it is called The Book of Eliyahu HaNavi and the Chapters of Mashiah. It is interesting reading. As for how true it is or will be, I guess we will just have to wait and see.

To be continued...