Who painted Elijah's ascent in a chariot of fire?

Gustave Doré painted Elijah's ascent in a chariot of fire.

What Bible passage does Elijah's ascent in a chariot of fire depict?

Elijah's ascent in a chariot of fire depicts the biblical scene from 2 Kings 2:1-18.

Elijah's ascent in a chariot of fire by Gustave Doré

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Jesus, the son of Sirach, offered a vivid description of Elijah, stating that "he rose up as a fire, and his word blazed as a torch." These words beautifully capture the fervent nature and brilliant trajectory of Elijah's life. He truly was the fervent and radiant luminary of the ancient covenant. When it comes to passionate action and unwavering commitment, few can compare to him. He stood alone, boldly confronting kings and queens, challenging a royal court and an entire nation. Despite sharing the same human vulnerabilities as the rest of us, his prayers could stop the rain for three and a half years, and with another prayer, he could bring rain again, causing the earth to bear fruit (James 5:17-18). When he called upon the heavens, fire descended upon Mount Carmel and consumed a water-soaked sacrifice. Furthermore, when armed adversaries attempted to apprehend him, his invocation summoned fiery thunderbolts from the skies, consuming them. During the awe-inspiring solitude of Mount Sinai, when the Lord revealed Himself to Elijah, it included the manifestation of a devouring fire, reminiscent of the fiery presence that enveloped the mountain on the day the law was given. It was only appropriate that a life marked by such uniqueness and wonder would have a similarly extraordinary conclusion, which indeed it did.

The account provided by the sacred historian is straightforward yet profoundly impactful. As Elijah and Elisha were walking along the road beyond the Jordan, an extraordinary event unfolded. Suddenly, a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared, separating the two of them, and Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. This is the scene the artist has sought to capture: the sweeping clouds, the winged horses, the outstretched hand of the prophet, and Elisha, awestruck and fallen in the presence of this breathtaking spectacle. And thus, the heroic man departed from the earthly realm. Like Enoch, he vanished from sight, for God took him. This translation marked the culmination and ultimate glory of the heroic and saintly life that had preceded it.

Remarkably, a thousand years later, he made a return to the earthly realm. During the magnificent transfiguration of our Lord, Elijah, along with Moses, came to meet and converse with Him concerning the forthcoming accomplishment of His mission in Jerusalem (Luke 9:30). Just as Moses represented the great lawgiver, Elijah embodied the role of the preeminent prophet, both emerging to pay tribute to the beloved Son of God.

Details

Artist: Gustave Doré
Medium: engraving
Passage: 2 Kings 2:1-18

Found in: 2 Kings, 2 Kings 2

2 Kings 2:1-18

1 When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?” He said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?” He answered, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”

6 Elijah said to him, “Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” Then they both went on.

7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan.

8 Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they both went over on dry ground.

9 When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”

10 He said, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so for you; but if not, it will not be so.”

11 As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” He saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.

13 He also took up Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

14 He took Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha went over.

15 When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16 They said to him, “See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. Perhaps Yahweh’s Spirit has taken him up, and put him on some mountain, or into some valley.” He said, “Don’t send them.”

17 When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send them.” Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.

18 They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go?’”

2 Kings 2:1-18 · World English Bible

The artist

Gustave Doré

1832 - 1883

Strasbourg, France

Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré (6 January 1832 – 23 January 1883) was a French artist, printmaker, illustrator, comics artist, caricaturist, and sculptor who worked primarily with wood-engraving.