During this time Elijah had probably lived in retirement; but was again summoned to declare the judgment of God on Ahab for a most atrocious murder.

Ahab in this instance was not as bad as his wife.

Oh, I burn in my heart for them, night after night, suffering for the tortures that must come upon themthrice direful because they have rejected the message of Moroni and trampled upon the priesthood of high heaven, butchering the Saints of the Most High, and hunting the prophets of God like Ahab of old.

The war which had been begun by Ahab against the Syrians still continued, to recover Ramoth-Gilead, and the stronghold was finally taken by the united efforts of Judah and Israel; but Joram was wounded, and returned to Jezreel to be cured.

It would appear that Elijah did not himself anoint either the general of Benhadad or of Ahab as future kings,instruments of punishment on idolatrous Israel,but on Elisha did his mantle fall.

King Ahab by forsaking God's commandments, and following wicked superstitions, had troubled Israel, drawing sore judgments and calamities thereon; yet had he the heart and the face to charge those events on the great assertor of piety, Elias: