‘The Death of Eglon,’ by Ford Madox Brown. 6 x 7½ inches. Plate 46. Proof wood engraving cut by the Dalziels. Brown illustrates the very moment when Ehud is about to draw his sword and kill the tyrant, King Eglon of Moab (Judges 3:15–25). The text specifies Eglon’s obesity, a detail the artist reproduces, but the illustration is otherwise an imaginative, and highly dramatic, take on the story. Brown focuses on contrasted facial expressions and gestures, with Ehud raising one hand in reprimand, with an outstretched finger, while the other hand reaches for his blade. Eglon is likewise animated at the very moment of his response, with one arm grasping his chair as if to move out of it, an expression of alarm breaking on his face. Other, small details add to the situation and theme. Eglon’s movement spills a glass from his table and a tiny snake, emblem of evil, squirms on the floor; an armlet, worn by Eglon, further links the evil king to the serpent and reflects on his moral character. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Image scan and text by Simon Cooke. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned it and (2) link to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.
Bibliography
Dalziels’ Bible Gallery. London: Routledge, 1881 [1880].
Created 4 August 2026