V. 1:…wife of one of the sons of the prophets… Jewish historian Josephus states that this widow is the wife of ProphetObadiah mentioned in 1 King 18. …creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves… ln the ANE (Ancient Near East), this widow was considered as inferior. But this miracle demonstrates the saving power of God irrespective of their status. He is God of suppressed and oppressed. Also, it was the responsibility of the head of the sons of Prophets to save the families of the sons of Prophets, like kinsman-redeemer. The proceeds from the sale of the multiplied oil was sufficient to pay off the debt and for the living expenses for the widow and her sons.
Elijah = Yahweh is my God. 8 MIRACLES
1. I Kings 17:1 NO RAIN FOR 3 1/2 YEARS Authority with nature.
2. I Kings 17:14 MEAL AND OIL FAILED NOT Food supply to sustain life.
3. I Kings 17:22 RAISED THE DEAD – WIDOW’S SON. Healing and restoration.
4. I Kings 18:38-40 Mt. CARMEL. CLEANUP OF THE PROPHETS OF BAAL. Religion has to go!
5. I Kings 18:41 RAIN RELEASED After ‘Baal’ cleaned up.
6. II Kings 1:10 ANTI-GOD ARMY – FIRST 50 CONSUMED BY FIRE. False (in spirit) revivals!!!
7. II Kings 1:12,14 SECOND JUDGMENT OF 50.
8. II Kings 2:8 JORDAN OPENED. Veil split so that all may enter into the land of promise.
ELISHA = Yahweh is my Salvation. 16 MIRACLES
1. II Kings 2:14 JORDAN RIVER OPENED.
2. II Kings 2:20 HEALED THE WATERS.
3. II Kings 2:24 42 CURSING MOCKERS DESTROYED.
4. II Kings 3:17 VICTORY THRU WATER IN A TRENCH.
5. II Kings 4:5 OIL FLOWED ON TO PAY OFF DEBTS.
6. II Kings 4:16 SON GIVEN TO SHUNAMITE.
7. II Kings 4:35 DEAD SON RAISED — SNEEZED 7 TIMES.
8. II Kings 4:41 POISONED POT PURIFIED.
9. II Kings 4:43 FOOD MULTIPLIED.
10. II Kings 5:14 NAAMAN HEALED OF LEPROSY.
11. II Kings 5:27 LEPROUS JUDGMENT ON GEHAZI
12. II Kings 6:6 THE AXE-HEAD (IRON) SWAM.
13. II Kings 6:17 SERVANT’S EYES OPENED TO SEE IN THE SPIRIT.
14. II Kings 6:18 ARMY DEFEATED BY BLINDNESS.
15. II Kings 6:20 ARMY’S BLINDNESS REMOVED.
16. II Kings 13:21 DEAD MAN RAISED VIA ELISHA’S BONES.
The Shunammite obtains a son. (8-17):
Elisha goes to a rich woman’s house from a poor woman’s house. Elisha was a frequent visitor as this town of Shunem. It is said to be one the way from Mt. Carmel to Gilgal. Also, Shunem is acentral where Elisha traveled (refer the map).
V. 8:…notable woman…persuaded him… This lady’s name is immaterial because she was notable and noble woman of the town.
V. 9…this is a holy man of God… She carefully identified Elisha as the man of God, not at first instance but after watching him for a while.
V. 10…small room on the roof… Roofs ancient Israel was a multipurpose space. They use it for a time of being alone (2 Sam 11:2), used it as a worship place and some made an altar kept pagan idols (2 Kings 23:12; Jer. 19:13), furnished Guest room (Luke 22:12, Acts 1:13) and so on.
Vs. 11-17…what is to be done for you?… embrace a son (v. 16). Shunammite received a miraculous son.
The Lord sees the secret wish which is suppressed in obedience to his will, and he will hear the prayers of his servants in behalf of their benefactors, by sending unasked-for and unexpected mercies; nor must the professions of men of God be supposed to be delusive like those of men of the world. – Mathew Henry Concise Commentary.
The Shunammite’s son restored to life. (18-37):Act of a woman of faith:
Vs. 18-20…My head, my head (19)… and then died (20)… Her son might have died from inflammation of the brain caused by sunstroke.
V. 21…laid him on the bed of the man of God… This is an act of faith and not a hero worship.
V. 22…I may run to the man of God and come back… She neither disclosed the death of her son to her husband nor cried. Her faith gave her boldness to handle the situation with spiritual confident.
V. 23…All is well…was answer to her husband’s enquiry about the reason for her requested travel.
Vs. 24 & 25…Mount Carmel…The distance between from 51.7 Kms. It will take about 10 hrs to reach Mt. Carmel (now, it will take about an hour to reach by car).
V. 26…It is well…was her answer to Gehazi. She did not want either her husband or Gehazi to get in her way.
V. 27…her soul is in deep distress…the LORD has hidden it from me…Prophets are not all knowing and they are to depend on God’s revelation only. He did not pretend that he knew somehow.
V. 28 did I ask a son of my lord?…
Vs. 29 & 30…take my staff in your hand…Elisha tried to send Gehazi to heal the son. But the mother insisted Elisha’s personal involvement. May the she listened to Elisha’s instructions carefully and thought what if the instructions were not sincerely followed.
V. 31…the child has not awakened…Elisha’s instruction to Gehazi failed for some reason.
V. 32-34…Elisha’s first attempt appears like it worked half-way through.
V. 35-37… and the child open his eyes…In these mysterious actions the child’s life came back.
The miracle of healing the stew. (38-41): This famine may not be a widespread one, but lack of money or provision with the sons of prophets. Flour put in the pot is a visible sign of the LORD’s power working through Elisha.
Feeding the sons of the prophets. (42-44): A man brought 20 loaves of barley bread as the firstfruits, and some grain (may be corn) to the servant of God. Thought it was not enough for 100 prophets, the power of God multiplied them. The Word of the LORD was ‘They shall eat and have some left.’ This miracle resembles Jesus’ miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish.