sixteenth centuries, respectively. So a passage was often cited according to a topic or personage featured in the passage—hence, “what the Scripture says in Elijah.” Ordinarily we think of intercession as in behalf of people (see 8:27, for example). But Elijah “intercedes to God against Israel,” so that God’s saving a remnant already in Elijah’s time stands out by way of contrast with the antagonism of Elijah toward Israel. “However” underscores the opposition of “the divine oracle” to Elijah’s antagonistic