1. Thomas Slade-Jones married Annie Slade-Jones, née Dawson, in April 1864; they had five daughters and a son, ranging in age from 1 to 11 years. Mr van Gogh wrote the following about this period to Theo: ‘From Vincent a letter of Saturday. He was waiting for the family to come home on Tuesday. He had been very much alone. May he find satisfaction in his new work. He’s going through a difficult time. May God give him wisdom and a happy outcome’ (FR 2763, 2 August 1876).

2. The boys at the boarding school were still on holiday.

3. See the appended text for the extensive passages Van Gogh copied from 1 and 2 Kings.

4. Acts 20:37.

5. Cf. 2 Cor. 7:6, ‘Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down...’.

a. Meaning: ‘wandluizen’ (bedbugs).

6. Rhy. ps. 84:1, ‘My soul succumbs to earnest longing’.

7. Cf. Matt. 3:11 and Luke 3:16.

8. Cf. Rhy. ps. 103:3.

9. Rhy. ps. 73:13.

10. Ps. 73:25.

11. Biblical, cf. Ps. 120:5; Isa. 6:5; and Jer. 4:31, 10:19 and 15:10.

12. Rom. 7:24.

13. Regarding the Rev. Eugène Bersier, see letter 40, n. 7.

14. A memento mori, probably derived from ‘Hodie mihi, cras tibi’ or ‘Mihi heri & tibi hodie’ (Ecclesiasticus [Jesus Sirach] 38:23); in the English Apocrypha 38:22. As a pictorial device it is placed in the mouth of a skeleton or as an inscription in churchyards.

15. Willem Valkis.

16. 1 Kings 17:1-24.

17. 1 Kings 18:17-46.

18. 1 Kings 19:4-13.

19. 2 Kings 2:1-14.

20. Acts 20:32-38.