Monday, June 16, 2014

Hagar and Ishmael: The Journey Continues

Abel Pann's lithograph of Hagar and Ishmael follows the Biblical text: So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 

It may be worth considering, though, whether Hagar and Ishmael looked much different after the angel helped Hagar. The text says that God showed her where to find water, that she refilled her water container and that Ishmael drank. God was with the boy, Genesis says, and Ishmael was saved.

But what then? Hagar still had to make a life for herself and her son. She still had the water container, though it was now full of water. They were still in the wilderness. So she put the water on her shoulder, took her son by the hand and continued their journey. 

You can see more of Abel Pann's work at the Mayanot Gallery in Jerusalem. 

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