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King Ahab and the people of Israel had fallen away from the worship of the God, worshipping instead the pagan god, Baal, and God had punished them for this with a long drought. To resolve the deadlock, the prophet Elijah arranged a test or trial between God and Baal on Mount Carmel. The priests of Baal went first: they prayed long and earnestly to their god to ignite miraculously the sacrifice they had prepared for him, but all to no avail. Elijah then prayed to God to ignite 'his' sacrifice. His prayer was heard; King Ahab and his people returned to the worship of the one, true God and rain came, bringing an end to the drought. The kindling beneath a sacrifice on an altar is bursting into flames, miraculously ignited by God with a thunderbolt.
Title
The Sacrifice of Elijah
Date
1651
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 46.7 x W 60.3 cm
Accession number
B.M.627
Acquisition method
bequeathed by the Founders, 1885
Work type
Painting
