1 Kings 19 and Its Emotional Repertoires

Biblical scholarship and cognate disciplines have seen a surge in publications on emotions, affects, and related matters. The focus of this article is on human and divine emotions in the Horeb theophany in 1 Kgs 19. Analysing the prophet Elijah’s suicidal ideation, which is expressed verbally, somatically, and ritually, this article argues that YHWH ’s self-disclosure at Horeb is tailored to address Elijah’s condition, and the enigmatic קול דממה דקה (1 Kgs 19:12) is part of YHWH ’s emotional response to it. Given Elijah’s state of mind, i.e., fear, loneliness, dejection, and his resolve to end it all, YHWH ’s appearance at Horeb should be viewed as a compassionate reaction to the suicidal prophet.