My God Is Yahweh

October 28, 2025

This is an apt title for a book authored by M.B. Van’t Veer, a 440-page work that focuses on the text of 1 Kings 16:34-19:21. The days of Elijah, when Ahab and Jezebel ruled Israel, were times of unprecedented corruption. God raised up Elijah to show the awesome power of Israel’s true God YAHWEH, and the power of His word. Great emphasis and purposeful repetition is given in this section of scripture on “the word of the LORD.” Elijah was unapologetically His spokesman; his very name means, “My God is YAHWEH”! The name YAHWEH, in Paleo-Hebrew script, is on the inscription here below:

Paleo-Hebrew Inscription with divine name YAHWEH. From Mt. Gerizim. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

The above inscription is displayed at the Good Samaritan Museum, located between Jericho and Jerusalem.

Church at Good Samaritan Inn.

Here is the view from the Good Samaritan Inn looking toward Jerusalem:

View looking west toward Jerusalem.

Click images for larger view.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Elijah Flees to Mt. Sinai

April 18, 2025

A scheduled study for today includes 1 Kings 19, the chapter which follows the triumph on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18) which showed that Elijah was the true servant of God, and Yahweh was the true God; Baal was nothing! But in 1 Kings 19, a discouraged Elijah leaves Jezebel & Ahab’s jurisdiction (northern Kingdom of Israel) and travels hundreds of miles south.

1 Kings 19:3 notes that he first traveled as far as Beersheba, which was the southernmost extent of Judah’s border.

After some food and rest, Elijah continued his journey down to Mt. Sinai, here designated as “Horeb, the mountain of God” (1 Kings 19:8). Earlier at Mt. Sinai when God brought Israel out of Egypt by His servant Moses, He gave the Israelites the 10 Commandments (along with the other laws and ordinances) to Israel. (Note rendering of NLT is “Mount Sinai.”).

Traditional Mt. Sinai is at the top center. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Perhaps these visuals may be of help in your study/teaching of this chapter.

Click images for a larger view.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Elijah Fled to Beersheba

May 1, 2016

In the 1 Kings narrative of the prophet Elijah and his dealings with wicked Ahab & Jezebel, YHWH proved dramatically on Mt. Carmel that He was the true God, answering Elijah’s prayer by sending fire on the mountain to devour the sacrifice. The Baal prophets who were present were destroyed. The 3 1/2 year drought ended, showing God, not Baal, controlled the rain (1 Kings 18).

While one might expect that this would be a real turning point for the spiritual condition of Israel, such was not the case. Jezebel’s response: “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time” (19:2).

Elijah then had a very real struggle with fear and depression. His response: “And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers'” (19:3-4).

Beersheba is located in the Negeb, the south of Israel.

Beersheba. BibleAtlas.com

Beersheba. BibleAtlas.com

Last month I had opportunity to take some aerial photos of Beersheba.

Aerial photo of Beersheba. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

Aerial photo of Beersheba. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

We have previously posted on Beersheba here here here and here.

1 Comment | aerial photos, Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin