Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 4

Elisha advises the widow what she should do with the oil

2 Kings 4:7

In an astonishing manner, God had provided oil to the widow. It was the kind of oil that people used for food and in their lamps. Usually, people would make that oil from the fruit of the tree called the olive. For poor families, that oil was expensive. However, God had given this widow more than enough oil to pay all her family’s debts.

The woman was desperate to repay those debts. If she did not pay, her sons would become slaves. That was why she originally appealed to Elisha about this matter.

However now that she had the oil, she seemed unsure what to do with it. It was clearly very special oil that God had provided in such an astonishing manner. She needed advice on how to use this special oil in a manner that pleased God. For example, God might want her to give it to a poor person, or to a very holy person.

So, before she used or sold any of it, she went back to Elisha. She carefully explained to him about the wonderful way that God had provided the oil.

Elisha replied that God had provided that oil in order to help the widow and her sons. It was right and proper that they should sell it on this occasion. God wanted them to have the money to pay their debts. The sale of the oil would provide more money than they needed for that purpose. God gave them the extra money to help them with their daily expenses for a period of time.

Next part: A room for Elisha in Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-10)

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