The Bible In Paintings, #137: GOD DIRECTS A GENTILE WIDOW TO FEED ELIJAH

Bing Images ^ | c.2200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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GOD DIRECTS
A GENTILE WIDOW
TO FEED ELIJAH

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1^st. K I N G S . 1 6 – 1 7
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible
or Click:
To Read 1^ST KINGS 16-17 In Full
To Hear MAX McLEAN Reading It
To Hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
To Watch a BRIEF ANIMATION of 1^ST KINGS

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8 6 3 . B. C.

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29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

CHAPTER 17

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

2 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BERNARDO STROZZI
“Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Sarepta”

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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3mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIOVANNI LANFRANCO
“Elijah Receiving Bread from the Widow of Zarephath”

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4mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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6mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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7mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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9mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAN VICTORS
“Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath”

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10 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath”
Mother Of God Church, Covington, Kentucky

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by “The Widow's Charity”
St Mary de Castro, Leicester,England

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BARENT FABRITIUS
“Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath”

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14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BARTHOLOMEUS BREENBERGH
“Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath”

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15 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LOUIS CHERON
“The Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Sarepta”

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16 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ABRAHAM VAN DIJCK
“The Prophet Elijah
with the Widow of Zarephath and Her Son”

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17 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by CORNELIS VAN POELENBURCH
“The Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath”

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18 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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19 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by HENDRIK HEERSCHOP
“Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath”

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20 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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21 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAN PYNAS
“Elijah and the widow of Zarephath”

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22 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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23 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by SIEGFRIED DETLER BENDIXEN
“Elijah And The Widow Of Zarephath”

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→ a n d…. f i n a l l y ←

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24 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

ELIJAH RAISES
THE DEAD!

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

Elijah & the Widow

Image Sources are provided for most individual works.
Where no attribution appears below a work,
the source did not provide the artist's name.
Works are numbered to facilitate your commenting.

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Here are links to the
PREVIOUS 136 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles to assist you in finding those which interest you

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Finally, what God did to initiate The Bible In Paintings:
HOW GOD STARTED THIS SERIES
BY SHOWING ME JUST ONE PICTURE

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

A r t Q u a l i t y

The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not "Great Paintings" nor even "Good Paintings." So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don't need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby's. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm always asking the Holy Spirit to guide.

Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

T e x t S e q u e n c i n g

The Protestant Canon does not (for several reasons) follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed linearly and methodically from Genesis onward, illustrating each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I will treat synoptically. Now, onward!

P a c i n g

The pace here may seem appallingly snail-like to those eager to see their favorite events illustrated. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence: if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic (but where there is little or no art, that Bible passage goes untold here).

Then, there is the human element: this is not actually a daily series, because I can only research, compose, edit and post five or six of these installments weekly. And because I only get to do this series once, I'm taking my time, chiefly by posting everything; if I find lots of art, I don't cherry-pick some and discard the rest. Rather, I line up all of them and then sort them into manageable bunches, often resulting in multiple days' episodes of the same story. Obviously, I like being thorough. Were you in a big hurry?

The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing—this is His project, after all. And always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

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Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I'm just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

Hebrews 11:6
Dan Lewis
DodgerDan

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YES, WE DO HAVE A

P I N G… .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

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To be alerted to each new posting,
either reply here or FRmail me.

No contracts, startup charges or monthly fees;
no hazing or initiation rituals; cancel anytime.

[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to-right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is being filmed right now. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year’s viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: “Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast.” Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent (I don’t recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 43 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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F o r . . y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

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[blogOps]

1st ... =)

good morning

[Hebrews 11:6]

Rise and shine!

[Perseverando]

Thank you so much for your faithfulness and hard work in putting all these wonderful photos together and posting them on FR.

God bless you and yours and may you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

[Hebrews 11:6]

You are very welcome—thank you for your wonderful blessing, which I return for you in full measure. We have so very much for which to be deeply thankful!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Because of your very perceptive post on yesterday’s thread, last night when I was teeing up this thread I added “Gentile” to the title, which I think now incorporates fully the story’s true major elements.

[left that other site]

Good Morning, Dan!

This story resonates with me.

[Hebrews 11:6]

As every Bible story, properly understood and fully considered, should, Mary-Lou. Some, though, have elements that touch us personally and emotionally. God knows which are which, and the Spirit is called the Comforter for a reason. O, how He loves you!

[left that other site]

Yes He Does! (((HUGS)))

[jjotto]

Why would it be assumed that she is a gentile?

Jewish tradition identifies her as the mother of Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet sent to Ninevah.

[ConorMacNessa]

Hospitality toward strangers - the hallmark of virtue in the Ancient World. Thanks very much for the extensive array of Biblical Art, Dan!

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

"God save all here!"

[Hebrews 11:6]

Easton's Bible Dictionary: Zarephath was "a small Phoenician town, now Surafend, about a mile from the coast, almost midway on the road between Tyre and Sidon. Here Elijah sojourned with a poor widow during the "great famine," when the "heaven was shut up three years and six months" ( Luke 4:26 ; 1 Kings 17:10 ). It is called Sarepta in the New Testament."

Because the text is silent on her heritage, it leaves us to assume it from her location.

The beauty of Elijah first being fed by unclean ravens and then by a Gentile in her home is how it prefigures Peter's experience with the vision of telling him to eat the unclean animals and then visiting the Centurian's home. Forgiven_Sinner pointed this out on yesterday's thread.

But perhaps now we learn, thanks to you, the upshot of Elijah's adventure: just as the welcoming of the Gentiles resulted ultimately from Peter's epiphany, so Elijah raised Jonah from the dead to welcome the Ninevites!

[Hebrews 11:6]

She was exceedingly hospitable, especially considering how brazenly Elijah barged right in. At that point of her obedience to the custom, she had no idea what was to follow: unending miraculous food, son revived....

[etabeta]

An act of faithful obedience by the widow of Zarapeth, on the brink of death by starvation, brought many blessings. Later she would be a living witness to a death and resurrection that points to the future resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A poignant story that much has to teach us...

Apart from the greatly appreciated stained glass windows, picture #7 is a favorite.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

“Because the text is silent on her heritage, it leaves us to assume it from her location.”

Heh. The text may be silent, but Jesus is not!

Luke 4:25-27 But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

Jesus clearly implies the widow was a Sidonian and not an Israelite. That’s good enough for me!

[etabeta]

Zarephath

[Hebrews 11:6]

You didn't grow up watching baseball, but we have a term, "clutch hitter," for a batter who hits well "in the clutch": that is, when it matters the most. Reggie Jackson became famous for this.

In life terms, God is by far the all-time leader in clutch hits, as He determined to show that dear lady by an unending succession of miracles, all tailored precisely to meet her desperate needs.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Yes, both Kings and Jesus leave it as a strong--and satisfactory--implication without bothering actually to specify.

Thanks again for making the Elijah-Peter connection for us.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

“Why would it be assumed that she is a gentile?

Jewish tradition identifies her as the mother of Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet sent to Ninevah.”

A valid question.

Generally, Israelites wouldn’t live in Gentile cities. That’s outside their support network. But no doubt a few did.

Occam’s Razor says the simplest explanation is the best, which is that she is a Sidonian.

Basic Bible interpretation is to take explanations at face value, unless indicated otherwise.

The key proof she was a Gentile is Jesus.

Luke 4:25-27 But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

Jesus clearly implies the widow was a Sidonian and not an Israelite. That’s good enough for me!

The Jewish tradition is interesting.

Jonah lived:

“Jonah was written around 784-772 BC. It occurred during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (790-750 BC)”

And Elijah lived:

“Elijah (900 BCE–849 BCE) appears in the Judaic/Christian religious texts as well as in the Quran of Islam as a prophet and messenger of God.”

So, at least according to this source, they were 35-65 years apart. Nothing in scripture disproves this except that Jesus seems to imply the widow was not of Israel, and of course her child was not.