# Overview 2 Kings Chapter 4 presents a series of miraculous events performed by the prophet #Elisha, demonstrating #God's power and provision through His prophet. The chapter begins with the account of a widow of one of the sons of the prophets who is in dire financial straits. She approaches Elisha, who instructs her to gather as many empty vessels as possible and pour her small amount of oil into them. Miraculously, the oil continues to flow until all the vessels are filled, allowing the widow to sell the oil, pay her debts, and secure her family's future. This story illustrates #God's provision and care for those who trust in Him, even in desperate circumstances. The chapter continues with the story of the Shunammite woman, who shows great hospitality to Elisha by providing him a room in her home whenever he passes through. In gratitude, Elisha promises her a son, despite her husband's old age. The promise is fulfilled, but the child later falls ill and dies. The woman, exhibiting immense faith, seeks Elisha's help. Elisha returns to her home and, through persistent prayer, raises the child back to life. This narrative highlights the themes of faith, hospitality, and the power of God's intervention through His prophet. The chapter concludes with two more miracles: the purification of a deadly stew and the multiplication of twenty loaves of barley bread to feed a hundred men, both further testaments to #God's miraculous provision and care for His people through #Elisha. ## Theological Insights 2 Kings 4 is rich with illustrations of God's miraculous provision and the demonstration of His power through the prophet #Elisha. This chapter underscores themes of faith, divine intervention, and the compassionate nature of God towards His people. 1. **Divine Provision and Faith**: The chapter opens with the story of the widow's oil (verses 1-7). This miracle shows God's ability to provide abundantly beyond human limitations. The widow's faith in following Elisha's instructions without question is a testament to trust in God's word. The multiplication of oil not only meets her immediate needs but also secures her future and her sons', highlighting God's care and concern for the vulnerable. 2. **The Shunammite Woman's Hospitality and Reward**: The narrative of the Shunammite woman (verses 8-37) reveals the blessings of hospitality and the power of God's promises. Elisha's promise of a son to the childless woman is a reminder of God's ability to fulfill His promises, drawing parallels with other miraculous births in the Bible, such as Isaac to #Sarah and Samuel to #Hannah. The subsequent death and miraculous revival of the child emphasize themes of hope and resurrection, foreshadowing New Testament themes of life overcoming death. 3. **Miracles as Signs of God's Presence**: The poisonous stew incident (verses 38-41) and the feeding of a hundred men with twenty loaves (verses 42-44) further demonstrate God's power to sustain life. These miracles are reminiscent of God's provision through manna in the wilderness ([[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 16]]). The multiplication of food prefigures the miracles of Jesus feeding the multitudes ([[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 14|Matthew 14]]), showing continuity in God's provision across both the #OldTestament and #NewTestament. 4. **The Role of the Prophet**: Throughout the chapter, Elisha acts as God's representative, channeling divine power and wisdom. His actions reflect the prophetic role as mediator between God and humanity, a theme consistent with other prophets such as #Moses and #Elijah. This reinforces the understanding of prophets as instruments through whom God reveals His will and performs mighty acts. Overall, 2 Kings 4 offers a tapestry of narratives that highlight God's compassionate intervention in the lives of His people, encouraging believers to trust in His provision and power, and to recognize the enduring nature of His promises. ## Thematic Connections ### Miraculous Provision and Divine Compassion In 2 Kings 4, the theme of miraculous provision emerges prominently. The multiplication of the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7) and the feeding of the multitude with a small quantity of food (2 Kings 4:42-44) echo similar acts of divine provision found throughout Scripture, such as [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 16|manna for the Israelites]], [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 17|Elijah’s provision for the widow at Zarephath]], and [[John/John Chapter 6|Jesus feeding the 5000]]. These stories highlight God's compassion and ability to meet the needs of His people in miraculous ways. ### The Power of Faith and Obedience The widow's faith in the instruction given by #Elisha results in the miraculous multiplication of oil, showcasing the power of faith and obedience (2 Kings 4:1-7). This theme is mirrored throughout Scripture in stories such as [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 22|Abraham's obedience in sacrificing Isaac]] and [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 6|the Israelites' faith in marching around Jericho]], illustrating that God often responds to acts of faith with His divine power. ### Resurrection and Restoration The account of the Shunammite woman's son, who is restored to life by Elisha (2 Kings 4:18-37), echoes the theme of resurrection and restoration, seen throughout the Bible. This connects to [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 17|Elijah raising the widow’s son]], and foreshadows New Testament resurrections such as [[John/John Chapter 11|Lazarus]] and ultimately, the resurrection of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], emphasizing God’s power over life and death. ### God's Care for the Faithful The stories in 2 Kings 4 illustrate God's care for those who are faithful and serve Him. The Shunammite woman receives a miraculous gift of a son and later has him restored to life because of her hospitality and kindness to Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-37). This theme is reminiscent of [[Ruth/Ruth Chapter 2|God’s provision for Ruth]], and underscores the biblical principle that God honors those who honor Him. ### Prophetic Authority and the Word of God Elisha's actions in 2 Kings 4 demonstrate the authority of the #prophets and the power of God's word. Elisha’s ability to perform miracles affirms his role as a true prophet of God, similar to the authority seen in [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 18|Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal]] and [[Acts/Acts Chapter 3|Peter’s healing of the lame man]]. This theme underscores the importance of recognizing and adhering to the word of God delivered through His prophets. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Multiplication of Resources In 2 Kings 4, the story of #Elisha and the widow’s oil is a profound demonstration of God’s ability to multiply resources, which echoes the miraculous provisions seen throughout Scripture. This narrative prefigures the miracles of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], such as the feeding of the 5,000 in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 14|Matthew 14:13-21]] and the feeding of the 4,000 in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 15|Matthew 15:32-39]], where Jesus multiplies loaves and fish to feed large crowds. These acts of provision point to God's ongoing care and sustenance for His people, fulfilling the divine promise of provision seen throughout the Bible. ### The Resurrection and Life Elisha’s raising of the Shunammite woman’s son in 2 Kings 4 parallels the resurrection power seen in the New Testament. This miracle anticipates the resurrection of #Lazarus in [[John/John Chapter 11|John 11]], where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating His authority over life and death. Both stories highlight God's power to restore life and foreshadow the ultimate resurrection through Jesus Christ, as prophesied by passages such as [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 26|Isaiah 26:19]], where it is foretold that the dead shall live and rise again. ### The Provision of Bread The miraculous feeding of 100 men with 20 loaves of barley in 2 Kings 4:42-44 prefigures the miraculous feedings performed by Jesus Christ. This event is reminiscent of the feeding of the multitudes, as seen in the Gospels, and serves as a precursor to Jesus’ miracles of feeding large groups with limited resources. The miracle of the bread in 2 Kings 4 points to Jesus as the Bread of Life, fulfilling the spiritual and physical needs of His followers, as highlighted in [[John/John Chapter 6|John 6:35]], where Jesus declares Himself as the true bread from heaven. ## Verses - **2 Kings 4:1** - "One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, 'My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.'" - #Elisha #prophet #widow #servant #creditor - See also [[2 Kings/2 Kings Chapter 2]] for Elisha’s earlier activities. - **2 Kings 4:2** - "'What can I do to help you?' Elisha asked. 'Tell me, what do you have in the house?' 'Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,' she replied." - #Elisha #oliveoil - **2 Kings 4:3** - "And Elisha said, 'Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors.'" - #Elisha #jars - **2 Kings 4:4** - "'Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.'" - #Elisha #miracle - **2 Kings 4:5** - "So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another." - #obedience #miracle - **2 Kings 4:6** - "Soon every container was full to the brim! 'Bring me another jar,' she said to one of her sons. 'There aren’t any more!' he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing." - #miracle #provision - **2 Kings 4:7** - "When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, 'Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.'" - #Elisha #provision #miracle - **2 Kings 4:8** - "One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat." - #Elisha #hospitality #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:9** - "She said to her husband, 'I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God.'" - #Elisha #holy #discernment - **2 Kings 4:10** - "'Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.'" - #hospitality #Elisha - **2 Kings 4:11** - "One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to this upper room to rest." - #Elisha #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:12** - "He said to his servant Gehazi, 'Tell the woman from Shunem I want to speak to her.' When she appeared," - #Elisha #Gehazi #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:13** - "Elisha said to Gehazi, 'Tell her, "We appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?"' 'No,' she replied, 'my family takes good care of me.'" - #Elisha #gratitude #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:14** - "Later Elisha asked Gehazi, 'What can we do for her?' Gehazi replied, 'She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.'" - #Elisha #Gehazi #childlessness - **2 Kings 4:15** - "'Call her back again,' Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway," - #Elisha #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:16** - "'Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!' 'No, my lord!' she cried. 'O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.'" - #Elisha #promise #child - **2 Kings 4:17** - "But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said." - #Elisha #miracle #promise - **2 Kings 4:18** - "One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters." - #child #harvest - **2 Kings 4:19** - "Suddenly he cried out, 'My head hurts! My head hurts!' His father said to one of the servants, 'Carry him home to his mother.'" - #child #illness - **2 Kings 4:20** - "So the servant took him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died." - #child #tragedy - **2 Kings 4:21** - "She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there." - #faith #Elisha #child - **2 Kings 4:22** - "She sent a message to her husband: 'Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back.'" - #faith #Elisha - **2 Kings 4:23** - "'Why go today?' he asked. 'It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.' But she said, 'It will be all right.'" - #faith #trust - **2 Kings 4:24** - "So she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, 'Hurry! Don’t slow down unless I tell you to.'" - #urgency #faith - **2 Kings 4:25** - "As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, 'Look, the woman from Shunem is coming.'" - #MountCarmel #Elisha #Gehazi #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:26** - "'Run out to meet her and ask her, "Is everything all right with you, your husband, and your child?"' 'Yes,' the woman told Gehazi, 'everything is fine.'" - #Elisha #faith #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:27** - "But when she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground before him and caught hold of his feet. Gehazi began to push her away, but the man of God said, 'Leave her alone. She is deeply troubled, but the Lord has not told me what it is.'" - #Elisha #compassion #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:28** - "Then she said, 'Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say, "Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up"?'" - #faith #Elisha #promise - **2 Kings 4:29** - "Then Elisha said to Gehazi, 'Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.'" - #Elisha #Gehazi #staff - **2 Kings 4:30** - "But the boy’s mother said, 'As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me.' So Elisha returned with her." - #faith #Elisha #Shunem - **2 Kings 4:31** - "Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child’s face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, 'The child is still dead.'" - #Elisha #Gehazi #miracle - **2 Kings 4:32** - "When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet’s bed." - #Elisha #miracle #faith - **2 Kings 4:33** - "He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord." - #Elisha #prayer #faith - **2 Kings 4:34** - "Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again!" - #Elisha #miracle #resurrection - **2 Kings 4:35** - "Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!" - #Elisha #miracle #resurrection - **2 Kings 4:36** - "Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. 'Call the child’s mother!' he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, 'Here, take your son!'" - #Elisha #miracle #resurrection - **2 Kings 4:37** - "She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs." - #gratitude #faith #miracle - **2 Kings 4:38** - "Elisha now returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. One day as the group of prophets was seated before him, he said to his servant, 'Put a large pot on the fire, and make some stew for the rest of the group.'" - #famine #Elisha #Gilgal - **2 Kings 4:39** - "One of the young men went out into the field to gather herbs and came back with a pocketful of wild gourds. He shredded them and put them into the pot without realizing they were poisonous." - #Elisha #provision #danger - **2 Kings 4:40** - "Some of the stew was served to the men, but after they had eaten a bite or two, they cried out, 'Man of God, there’s poison in this stew!' So they would not eat it." - #Elisha #provision #danger - **2 Kings 4:41** - "Elisha said, 'Bring me some flour.' Then he threw it into the pot and said, 'Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat.' And then it did not harm them." - #miracle #Elisha #provision - **2 Kings 4:42** - "One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, 'Give it to the people so they can eat.'" - #Elisha #provision #BaalShalishah - **2 Kings 4:43** - "'What?' his servant exclaimed. 'Feed a hundred people with only this?' But Elisha repeated, 'Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the Lord says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!'" - #Elisha #miracle #provision - **2 Kings 4:44** - "And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the Lord had promised." - #miracle #provision #Elisha ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Elisha's Miracles** - [[2 Kings/2 Kings Chapter 2]], [[2 Kings/2 Kings Chapter 5]] - **Miraculous Provision** - [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 17]], [[John/John Chapter 6]] - **Resurrection Accounts** - [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 17]], [[Luke/Luke Chapter 7]], [[John/John Chapter 11]] - **Faith and Trust** - [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 11]]