JAN VICTORS (AMSTERDAM 1619-1676 EAST INDIES)

Though often wrongly identified as The Dismissal of Hagar, the subject of the revival of the son of the Shunammite woman was a favored theme with Rembrandt and his students. The story, recounted in 2 Kings 4:8-37, tells how the prophet Elisha travelled to Shunem, and as he was passing through met a wealthy woman, who encouraged him to stop and eat some food. The two became acquainted with one another and the woman recognized Elisha as 'a holy man of God'. She and her husband had a room built for the prophet on the roof of their house so that he might stay when he travelled through. In recognition of her goodness, Elisha interceded on her behalf with God and informed her that she would conceive a child. Years later the young boy went out to reap the fields with his father but complained of a headache and upon his return home collapsed and died. The Shunammite woman placed her deceased son on Elisha's bed and rode to retrieve Elisha from Mount Carmel. Upon his arrival, Elisha rescuscitated the boy, to the amazement of his mother. The scene depicted by Victors is the happy conclusion of this event.