Saturday, June 12, 2010

Job Picture 3

Picture 3: Job appears to be absent here. And God is absent, to be replaced by one of Blake's most repulsive figures (it appears in several of the prophecies; for example look at the Epilogue to the Gates of Paradise.)

The scene is havoc! the primitive pillars of a primitive (Druidic) religion come crashing down. It also represents the children's house (their garments), their death.

The sons and daughters of Job, making merry, are visited by the most virulent destruction; their house has collapsed, their bodies been killed. The scene is reminiscent of the horrors of Dante's Inferno.

Perhaps the prone figure still in one piece at the bottom of the picture might represent Job in a nightmare.

The text above the Picture say, "the Fire of God is fallen from Heaven", and we're reminded of Hebrews 12:29 Job's Unconscious has burst into his mind, which is a fearful thing; it's not for nothing that it's unconscious!

Here's the Bible text for this Picture in Job 1:
"13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,
14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,  
15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,
19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

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