So she left him, and after she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing jars to her, and she kept pouring. So she left himThis phrase refers to the widow leaving the prophet Elisha. In the context of 2 Kings 4, Elisha is a prophet in Israel during the 9th century BC, a time when the nation was divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The widow's obedience to Elisha's instructions demonstrates her faith in God's provision through His prophet. This act of leaving to follow divine instruction is reminiscent of other biblical figures who acted in faith, such as Abraham leaving his homeland ( Genesis 12:1-4). and after she had shut the door behind her and her sons
Shutting the door signifies privacy and a focus on the task at hand, free from distractions or interruptions. This act of closing the door is similar to Jesus' instruction in Matthew 6:6 about praying in private, emphasizing a personal and intimate encounter with God. The presence of her sons highlights the family unit's involvement in the miracle, teaching them about faith and reliance on God. they kept bringing jars to her
The act of bringing jars is a direct response to Elisha's earlier command to gather as many vessels as possible (2 Kings 4:3). This reflects the principle of preparation and expectation for God's provision. The jars symbolize the capacity to receive God's blessings, and the number of jars collected would directly impact the extent of the miracle. This mirrors the principle found in Luke 6:38, where the measure given is the measure received. and she kept pouring
The continuous pouring of oil represents the miraculous provision of God, reminiscent of the manna provided to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16). The oil, a valuable commodity in ancient Israel used for cooking, lighting, and anointing, symbolizes the Holy Spirit and God's abundant grace. This miracle foreshadows the New Testament account of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:13-21), demonstrating God's power to provide beyond natural limitations. Persons / Places / Events 1. The WidowA woman whose husband, a prophet, had died, leaving her in debt. She sought help from Elisha to save her sons from being taken as slaves. 2. ElishaA prophet of God who performed miracles and provided guidance to the widow, instructing her to gather empty jars. 3. The SonsThe widow's children, who assisted her in gathering jars and witnessed the miracle of the oil. 4. The JarsEmpty vessels collected by the widow and her sons, which were miraculously filled with oil. 5. The Miracle of the OilA divine intervention where the limited oil the widow had was multiplied to fill all the jars, providing her with the means to pay her debts. Teaching Points Faith in ActionThe widow's obedience to Elisha's instructions demonstrates faith in action. She trusted God's provision even when the solution seemed improbable. God's Abundant ProvisionThe miracle of the oil illustrates God's ability to provide abundantly beyond our limited resources when we trust Him. Involvement of FamilyThe widow's sons were involved in the process, teaching the importance of involving family in faith and witnessing God's work. Shutting the DoorThe act of shutting the door signifies a private, intimate setting for God's work, emphasizing the importance of personal faith and prayer. Preparation for BlessingThe widow's preparation by gathering jars shows the importance of being ready to receive God's blessings. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the widow's response to Elisha's instructions demonstrate her faith, and how can we apply this kind of faith in our own lives? 2. In what ways does the miracle of the oil reflect God's provision in other parts of the Bible, and how can these accounts encourage us in times of need? 3. What role did the widow's sons play in the miracle, and how can we involve our families in our spiritual journeys? 4. Why is the act of "shutting the door" significant in this account, and how can we create spaces for personal encounters with God in our daily lives? 5. How can we prepare ourselves to receive God's blessings, and what practical steps can we take to demonstrate our readiness and faith? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:8-16The account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, where God provides for the widow through a miraculous supply of flour and oil. John 2:1-11Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where He turns water into wine, demonstrating God's power to transform and provide. Philippians 4:19The assurance that God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, reflecting the provision seen in the widow's account. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Behind, Bringing, Containers, Door, Herself, Jars, Kept, Nigh, Oil, Poured, Pouring, Shut, Shutteth, Sons, VesselsDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:3-6 1418 miracles, responses
7773 prophets, role 2 Kings 4:3-7 1416 miracles, nature of 2 Kings 4:4-5 5299 door Library When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband! is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 4:5 NIV2 Kings 4:5 NLT2 Kings 4:5 ESV2 Kings 4:5 NASB2 Kings 4:5 KJV
2 Kings 4:5 Commentaries
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