first or ‘prime’ minister—his confidant and chief executive. And his oath is tied to the very life-force of his Lord Yahweh. If he truly lives, his threat of no rain is an awesome one. The gauntlet is thrown down; and God’s very life is on the line. But the contest is not yet; and prudent withdrawal is appropriate for God’s champion (or perhaps rather his ‘second’?). (ii) Elijah is first (vv.2ff.) sent back east across the Jordan, to hide by a watercourse named Cherith, which is as unknown to