Why did Elijah cover his face with his robe when God was talking to him?
1 Kings 19:13
ESV - 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?
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Asked February 11 2017
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Tracey Harvey
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Tim Maas
In my opinion, this action on the part of Elijah was done as a gesture of both respect and fear as a result of being in God's presence (in the form of the "still, small voice" that Elijah heard), similar to Moses in Exodus 3:6, when he hid his face after God had identified Himself when appearing to him in the burning bush, because Moses was afraid to look upon God (an incident of which Elijah would have been aware). (As God had also told Moses, "You cannot see My face, for man shall not see Me and live."(Exodus 33:20).)
Also, Elijah may have been afraid to face God after having fled from Jezebel (the wife of Ahab, king of Israel) when she threatened to kill him, after Elijah had killed all the false prophets of Baal following the contest between God and Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19-19:3). (God's words to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:13 ("What are you doing here, Elijah?") seem to have been a form of reproof for this.)
John McCain
My opinion is that He was fully aware of the presence of the Father and the example of Moses whom God covered with His hand to avoid viewing the glory that would have put him to death.
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