4:2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a {d} pot of oil.(d) Thus God permits his to be brought many times to extreme necessity, before he helps them, that afterward they may praise his mercy even more. read more
THE WIDOW'S OIL (vv.1-7) The history of the Kings is again interrupted to make way for the ministry of Elisha. The bad example of the kings had brought about poverty in the land, and God provided grace in the ministry of Elisha the prophet to meet this condition of poverty. The sons of the prophets were not always dependable men. A widow of one of these men pled with Elisha for help because her deceased husband had not provided for his family and the creditor wanted to take his two sons as... read more
ELISHA ’S MINISTRY BEGINS MANEUVERING AN ARMY (2 Kings 3:0 ) The incident about Mesha (2 Kings 3:4-5 ) is interesting from the point of view of Biblical criticism. This is the only time he is mentioned in Sacred Writ and his name does not appear in profane history. For this cause objectors to the Bible have demanded proof of his existence at the time named. Also, was Moab noted for its wool? Was it tributary to Israel at this period? Did this rebellion occur? etc. It was impossible to... read more
The Bane and the Antidote 2Ki 4:38-44 There was rest in the days of the early ministry, as we may see the from thirty-eighth verse. A very beautiful picture is given in that verse, and yet a very ghastly one; the ghastliness being seen in the dearth or famine that was in the land, the seven years' dearth of which Elisha had prophesied; and the beauty of it is seen in the simplicity with which service was rendered to the prophet and the sons of the prophets: "Set on the great pot, and seethe... read more
CONTENTS In this chapter the prophet Elisha is again introduced. He multiplieth the widow's oil. A son is given her. The child dieth. Elisha raiseth the child again. At Gilgal he healeth the poison in the pot. He feedeth an hundred men with twenty loaves of barley and ears of corn. These are among the contents. 2 Kings 4:1 The conduct of this widow may serve to teach us where we are to apply in our insolvency and distresses, even to the Lord God of the prophets. You and I, Reader, may truly say... read more
So may all the faithful servants: of the Lord say, by way of leading the minds of the needy to Jesus; - What shall I do for thee? But Jesus can do all. read more
Prophets. Josephus ([Antiquities?] ix. 4.) intimates that this man was Abdias; (3 Kings xviii. 13.) and the Rabbins pretend that Joram was the creditor. But these traditions are destitute of proof; and we know not that Abdias was a prophet. (Calmet) --- Serve him, not as slaves, for the Hebrews were not thus to be sold, except they had commited some crime. (Salien, the year before Christ 913.) See Leviticus xxv. 39. --- But the condition of mercenaries was perhaps little different; (Haydock)... read more
Anoint me, for delicacy or health, Matthew vi. 17. (Menochius) --- To abstain from this unction, in the East, was a great mortification, 2 Kings xiv. 2., and Deuteronomy xxviii. 40. Sanctius supposes, that the woman intended the oil to anoint her body for interment, Matthew xxvi. 12. Hebrew asuc, occurs no where else, and my signify a pot, or "skin of oil." The woman had nothing else. The original does not say what she intended to do with it. (Calmet) --- She might use it for food: (3 Kings... read more
1-7 Elisha's miracles were acts of real charity: Christ's were so; not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power. Elisha readily received a poor widow's complaint. Those that leave their families under a load of debt, know not what trouble they cause. It is the duty of all who profess to follow the Lord, while they trust to God for daily bread, not to tempt him by carelessness or extravagance, nor to contract debts; for... read more
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Geneva Study Bible - 2 Kings 4:1
4:1 {a} Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did {b} fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be {c} bondmen.(a) 2 Kings 2:3.(b) And therefore did not fall into debt by carelessness or excess but by the hand of the Lord.(c) Because I am poor and not able to pay. read more