This work, a doctorate ‘dissertation at the University of Helsinki, concerns the Deuteronomistic history and the earlist traditions dealing with Elijah. The central aim has been to resolve the literary history of Kings 1719:18 in its different parts which were originally composed by different authors and editors. Some of the consequent tensions in these traditions are severe enough to be described as “collisions”: Yahweh is manifested through fire in one passage, but this is contradicted in another passage. The narrative concerning drought in Israel is interrupted by a story about rival sacrifices which has nothing to do with the original them. On the other hand, Elijah’s sacrifice on Mt. Carmel seems to contradict the Deuteronomistic idea of the centralization of the cult. If this tradition originated before Josiah’s reform, as is some times suggested, what about its monotheistic theology, which otherwise cannot be identified that early? Jyrki keinänen has applied mainly the historical-critical method, but also synchronic approaches were consulted in some cases.