Take the 2-minute tour ×  Why is it that is some places in
Melachim Eliyahu is spelled with a Vav and sometimes the Vav is
missing? I have looked in as many sources as I can think of and
can not find an answer.  Examples: Melachim Aleph Perek 17,
18,19,21,: with Vav Melachim Bet Perek 1: no Vav Melachim Bet
Perek 2, 3, 9, 10: with Vav  share|improve this question  1
Answer 1  up vote 6 down vote accepted  As mentioned here,
different spellings of names that refer to the same person are
not uncommon in Tanach. Deeper, esoteric meanings are associated
with the changing of spellings. As a general rule, therefore,
you will not find commentators of the p'shat approach that will
address these spelling changes.  In this case , the most famous
answer is that of the midrash quoted by Rashi:  בחמשה מקומות
נכתב מלא ואליהו חסר בחמשה מקומות יעקב נטל אות משמו של אליהו
ערבון שיבוא ויבשר גאולת בניו  In five places ["Yaakov"] is
written in full form [with a vav] and "Eliyahu" is written in
lacking form [without a vav] in five