The Bible In Paintings: ELIJAH RUNS FROM AHAB & JEZEBEL

[Hebrews 11:6]

The Bible In Paintings 2
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR APPRECIATING AND APPLYING GOD'S MESSAGE

1^st KINGS
CHAPTERS 17-18

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.”

And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

1
Source

“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

2
Source

3
JAMES TISSOT
"Elijah from Mount Carmel Sees a Cloud"

4
MARC CHAGALL
"Elijah, on the Top of Mount Carmel, Announced the Impending
Rain before any Single Cloud in the Sky Appeared"

5
Source

6
Source

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

7
Source

CHAPTER 19

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

8
HE QI
"Sleeping Elijah"

9
"The Angel and Elijah"

10
Source

11
Source

12
Source

13
Source

14
Source

15
FREDERIC LEIGHTON
Source

16
Source

17
PETER PAUL RUBENS
"The Prophet Elijah Nourished by the Angel"

18
Source

19
SIR GODFREY KNELLER
"Elijah and the Angel"

20
Detail
Source

21
MANNING DE VILLENEUVE LEE
"Elijah’s Angel"

22
Source

23
JONATHAN ROBERTSON
"Elijah and the Angel"

24
GUSTAVE DORÉ
"Elijah Nourished by an Angel"

25
DIERIC BOUTS
Source

26
TINTORETTO
Source

27
FERDINAND BOL
Source

28
FERDINAND BOL
Source

29
JACOPO VIGNALI
"Elijah Awakened and Fed by an Angel in the Desert"

30
MORETTO DA BRESCIA
Source

31
GIOVANNI LANFRANCO
Source

32
JUAN ANTONIO DE FRÍAS Y ESCALANTE
"El Profeta Elias y el Angel"

33
GEORGE RICHMOND
Source

34
LUDWIG MEIDNER
Source

35
DANIELE DA VOLTERRA
Source

36
ANDREA ZUCCHI
"An Angel Saves a Thirsting Elijah"

37
MARC CHAGALL
Source

38
"Elijah Fed by the Angel"

39
SALVATORE BIANCHI
"Elia e l'angelo"

40
CORNELIS BISSCHOP
"Elijah and the Angel"

41
"Der Engel weckt Elias in der Wüste"

42
PALMA IL GIOVANE
"Elijah Fed by the Angel"

43
Source

44
PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE
"The Prophet Elijah's Dream"

45
Source

46
"Elijah and the Angel"

47
Source

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

48
DANIELE DA VOLTERRA
"Elijah in the Desert"

The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

New International Version ©1984, Abrdgd, EMPHASES Added
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To be continued…

[Hebrews 11:6]

R E S O U R C E S
Read 1st KINGS 17-18 in full
Hear MAX McLEAN reading it
Hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
Read J-F-B's COMMENTARY
BIBLE TIMELINE

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The Bible In Paintings 2
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The Bible In Paintings 1


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[Hebrews 11:6]

E L I J A H
GOD SENDS RAVENS TO FEED ELIJAH
A GENTILE WIDOW FEEDS ELIJAH
ELIJAH RAISES THE WIDOW’S SON
ELIJAH vs. BAAL’S 450 PROPHETS
ELIJAH RUNS FROM AHAB & JEZEBEL
THE LORD APPEARS TO ELIJAH
ELIJAH'S CHARIOT OF FIRE, Part 1
ELIJAH'S CHARIOT OF FIRE, Part 2

[Red Badger]

This has always puzzled me.

Why did Elijah run to hide in a cave when he had the Lord on his side?

He had just slew 450 prophets of Baal and had called down fire from Heaven.

Was he vacillating in his faith at a crucial moment?

Every major character in the Old Testament had a flaw somewhere, even Moses and David.

Maybe this was Elijah’s..........................

[left that other site]

Good Morning, Dan! :-)

[stars & stripes forever]

Excellent. This thread never disappoints!

(Wonder what was in that bread and water to give 40 days of energy.)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Hiya, Mary-Lou!

[Hebrews 11:6]

The Holy Spirit, Debbie, the Holy Spirit.

[wbarmy]

It has always amazed me a little when I see the angels in these paintings with the softer more feminine drawing styles.

However, the vast majority of mentions of angels in the Bible came with the words “Fear Not”, or with the images of drawn swords and military gear.

Where are the Angels of fearsome visage?

[Red Badger]

[Hebrews 11:6]

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.
“I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

He got out to the end of his faith, having exercised all of it, and became in his own power overwhelmed, exhausted and depressed.

[stars & stripes forever]

RED BULL. LOL

[stars & stripes forever]

HOLY SPIRIT,

Our STRENGTH, SHIELD, COMFORTER, and FRIEND.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Good point, one I have pondered, too. My conclusion has been that the fearsomeness of an angel’s appearance is due largely to the fact of it, that appearing suddenly out of nowhere startles and amazes.

[Big Red Badger]

Been There but invigorated not depressed.
Thanks.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Yes, it is invigorating, but simultaneously it is enervating: I can’t do this any more.

[etabeta]

An exceptional #15 by Frederic Leighton, one of the most influential artists of the Victorian era. He put great emphasis on beauty, particularly the beauty of the male body, gentle, seductive and, at the same time, imposing.

# 25 by Bouts; #35 by Daniele da Volterra and #44 by Philip de Champaigne are also excellent.

[Hebrews 11:6]

A very good morning to you, Alba!

[etabeta]

Thank you! A great day to you also, Dan.

[fidelis]

It has always amazed me a little when I see the angels in these paintings with the softer more feminine drawing styles. However, the vast majority of mentions of angels in the Bible came with the words “Fear Not”, or with the images of drawn swords and military gear. Where are the Angels of fearsome visage?

I think the idea is that, not only are angels powerful, but they are also beautiful. In art, feminine form is considered the exemplar of beauty. A good artistic balance would be to portray them as both beautiful AND powerful. That's hard to do, as you might wind up with a masculine-looking female figure or a feminine-looking male figure (which is what usually results).

[spankalib]

I've heard it preached, in almost a tongue-in-cheek way, that although Elijah could face off against almost a thousand foes (& the fire-from-heaven thing)

...it was fear of an angry woman that sent him runnin...

(I actually think there's something to that)