Elijah

=== Origin ===
Three different theories regarding Elijah's origin are presented in the Aggadah literature:
(1) he belonged to the tribe of Gad,<ref>Midrash Genesis Rabbah lxxi.</ref>
(2) he was a Benjamite from Jerusalem, identical with the Elijah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:27, and
(3) he was a priest.

Many Christian Church fathers also<ref>Aphraates, "Homilies," ed. Wright, p.&nbsp;314; Epiphanius, "Hæres." lv. 3, passim</ref> have stated that Elijah was a priest. Some rabbis have speculated that he should be identified with [[Phinehas]].<ref>Pirḳe R. El. xlvii.; Targ. Yer. on Num. xxv. 12</ref>

According to later [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] literature, Elijah was really an [[angel]] in human form,<ref name=EB1911/> so that he had neither parents nor offspring.<ref>Yalḳuṭ Reubeni, Bereshit, 9a, ed. Amsterdam</ref>

The Midrash Rabbah Exodus 4:2 states "Elijah should have revived his parents as he had revived the son of the Zarephathite" indicating he surely had parents.

The Talmud states "Said he [Rabbah] to him (Elijah): Art thou not a priest: why then dost thou stand in a cemetery?"<ref>Baba Metzia 14B</ref>