2 Kings 4
BSB1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!" 2 “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil." 3 “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow jars, even empty ones, from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. 4 Then go inside, shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these jars, setting the full ones aside." 5 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. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another.” But he replied, “There are no more jars.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder." 8 One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. 9 Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there." 11 One day Elisha came to visit and went to his upper room to lie down. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.” And when he had called her, she stood before him, 13 and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied. 14 So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old." 15 “Call her,” said Elisha. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God." 17 But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. 18 And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters. 19 “My head! My head!” he complained to his father. So his father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother." 20 After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out. 22 And the woman called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may go quickly to the man of God and return." 23 “Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” “Everything is all right,” she said. 24 Then she saddled the donkey and told her servant, “Drive onward; do not slow the pace for me unless I tell you." 25 So she set out and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, there is the Shunammite woman. 26 Please run out now to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” And she answered, “Everything is all right." 27 When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me." 28 Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’" 29 So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face." 30 And the mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened." 32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. 35 Elisha turned away and paced back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched himself out over the boy again, and the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son." 37 She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out. 38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets." 39 One of them went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. 40 And they poured it out for the men to eat, but when they tasted the stew they cried out, “There is death in the pot, O man of God!” And they could not eat it. 41 Then Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot. 42 Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. 43 But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’" 44 So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
Study Notes — 2 Kings 4
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from 2 Kings 4
- Themes from 2 Kings 4
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on 2 Kings 4
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
The chapter begins with the story of a widow who is deeply in debt and at risk of losing her sons to slavery. Elisha intervenes, and through a miracle, her oil is multiplied, allowing her to pay off her debts. The next story tells of the Shunammite woman, who shows hospitality to Elisha and is rewarded with a son. However, the son later dies, and Elisha raises him back to life. The chapter also includes the account of Elisha purifying a pot of stew and feeding a hundred men with twenty loaves of bread. Throughout these stories, we see God's power and care for His people, demonstrating His ability to provide and to bring life out of death, as seen in 2 Kings 4:1-44.
Context for the Chapter
This chapter is part of the larger narrative of 2 Kings, which tells the story of the kings of Israel and Judah. The chapter fits within the section that focuses on the ministry of Elisha, highlighting his role as a prophet and a miracle worker. The events in this chapter occur during a time of spiritual and economic decline in Israel, emphasizing the need for God's provision and care, as seen in the historical context of 2 Kings.
Heart Application
As we reflect on this chapter, we are reminded of God's faithfulness and provision in our own lives. We can apply the lessons of faith and trust, demonstrated by the Shunammite woman, to our own experiences of adversity and uncertainty. By trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty, we can face challenges with confidence and hope, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
This chapter tells us about God's power to provide for us and bring life out of death. We see this in the story of the widow who was helped by Elisha, and the Shunammite woman whose son was raised from the dead, as seen in 2 Kings 4:1-37. It reminds us to trust in God's goodness and care, even in difficult times, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
Voices from the Church
“The Lord's provision is not limited by our circumstances; it is only limited by our faith.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“The miracles of Elisha are a testament to God's power and care for His people, demonstrating His ability to bring life out of death.”
— John Calvin
Outline for Preaching
- The Widow's Oil (2 Kings 4:1-7) — Elisha helps a widow in debt by multiplying her oil, demonstrating God's provision and care.
- The Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:8-37) — The Shunammite woman shows hospitality to Elisha and is rewarded with a son, who later dies and is raised back to life by Elisha, highlighting God's power over death.
- The Poisonous Stew (2 Kings 4:38-41) — Elisha purifies a pot of stew, feeding a hundred men and demonstrating God's power to bring life and nourishment.
- The Twenty Loaves of Bread (2 Kings 4:42-44) — Elisha feeds a hundred men with twenty loaves of bread, showing God's abundance and provision.
- Conclusion — The chapter concludes by highlighting God's faithfulness and care for His people, demonstrated through the miracles and provision shown throughout the chapter, as seen in 2 Kings 4:1-44.
Core Doctrines
- Providence
- This chapter teaches us about God's providence, demonstrating His care and provision for those in need, as seen in the stories of the widow and the Shunammite woman.
- Resurrection
- The raising of the Shunammite's son points to the greater miracle of Christ's resurrection and God's power over death, as seen in 2 Kings 4:18-37 and John 11:25.
- Faith
- The chapter emphasizes the importance of faith, demonstrated by the Shunammite woman's trust in God despite her son's death, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
- Miracles
- The miracles in this chapter demonstrate God's power and ability to intervene in the lives of His people, as seen in the stories of the widow, the Shunammite woman, and the feeding of the hundred men.
Lessons from 2 Kings 4
- God's Provision — The chapter teaches us that God is our provider and will take care of our needs, as seen in the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7.
- Faith in Action — The story of the Shunammite woman demonstrates the importance of faith in action, trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
- God's Power Over Death — The miracles in the chapter show God's power over death, highlighting His ability to bring life out of death, as seen in the raising of the Shunammite's son in 2 Kings 4:18-37.
- Hospitality — The chapter emphasizes the importance of hospitality, demonstrated by the Shunammite woman's care for Elisha, as seen in 2 Kings 4:8-37.
- Trust in God's Goodness — The chapter concludes by encouraging us to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, even in difficult times, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
Themes from 2 Kings 4
- Provision — The chapter highlights God's provision and care for those in need, as seen in the stories of the widow and the Shunammite woman.
- Faith — The story of the Shunammite woman demonstrates the importance of faith and trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
- Resurrection — The raising of the Shunammite's son points to the greater miracle of Christ's resurrection and God's power over death, as seen in 2 Kings 4:18-37 and John 11:25.
- Miracles — The chapter demonstrates God's power and ability to intervene in the lives of His people through miracles, as seen in the stories of the widow, the Shunammite woman, and the feeding of the hundred men.
- Trust — The chapter concludes by encouraging us to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, even in difficult times, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
Questions for Meditation
- How does God provide for those in need, and what can we learn from the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7?
- What does the story of the Shunammite woman teach us about faith and trust in God, as seen in 2 Kings 4:8-37?
- How does the chapter demonstrate God's power over death, and what implications does this have for our own lives, as seen in 2 Kings 4:18-37 and John 11:25?
- What role does hospitality play in the chapter, and how can we apply this to our own relationships, as seen in the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37?
- How does the chapter conclude, and what final lessons can we take away from the stories and miracles presented, as seen in 2 Kings 4:1-44?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. The Widow's Oil (2 Kings 4:1-7)
| 4:1 | A widow, the wife of a prophet, is in debt and at risk of losing her sons to slavery, highlighting her desperate need for God's provision. |
| 4:2 | Elisha asks her what she has in her house, and she replies that she has nothing but a jar of oil, demonstrating her lack of resources. |
| 4:3 | Elisha instructs her to borrow many empty jars and to pour the oil into them, demonstrating God's provision and abundance. |
| 4:4 | The oil is multiplied, filling all the jars, and the widow is able to pay off her debts, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:5 | The widow and her sons are able to live off the remaining oil, demonstrating God's ongoing provision and care. |
| 4:6 | The oil stops flowing when there are no more jars to fill, highlighting the importance of faith and trust in God's provision. |
| 4:7 | The widow is able to pay off her debts and live off the remaining oil, demonstrating God's faithfulness and care for those in need. |
2. The Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:8-37)
| 4:8 | A Shunammite woman shows hospitality to Elisha, providing him with a room and food, demonstrating her kindness and generosity. |
| 4:9 | The woman and her husband decide to build a room for Elisha, highlighting their desire to care for him and show him hospitality. |
| 4:10 | Elisha prophesies that the woman will have a son, despite her husband's old age, demonstrating God's power and ability to bring life and fertility. |
| 4:11 | The woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, highlighting God's faithfulness and provision. |
| 4:12 | The son grows up, but later dies, demonstrating the reality of death and the need for God's power and intervention. |
| 4:13 | The woman lays her son on Elisha's bed, demonstrating her faith and trust in God's power and provision. |
| 4:14 | Elisha prays to God and lays on the boy, demonstrating his faith and trust in God's power and ability to bring life out of death. |
| 4:15 | The boy is raised back to life, highlighting God's power and ability to conquer death and bring life out of death. |
| 4:16 | The woman is overjoyed and thanks Elisha, demonstrating her gratitude and faith in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:17 | The woman's son is restored to her, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:18 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her response to her son's death, 'It is well,' highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:19 | The woman's son is raised back to life, demonstrating God's power and ability to bring life out of death. |
| 4:20 | The woman is reunited with her son, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:21 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her actions and response to her son's death, highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:22 | The woman's son is restored to her, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:23 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her response to her son's death, 'It is well,' highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:24 | The woman's son is raised back to life, demonstrating God's power and ability to bring life out of death. |
| 4:25 | The woman is reunited with her son, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:26 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her response to her son's death, 'It is well,' highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:27 | The woman's son is restored to her, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:28 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her actions and response to her son's death, highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:29 | The woman's son is raised back to life, demonstrating God's power and ability to bring life out of death. |
| 4:30 | The woman is reunited with her son, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:31 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her response to her son's death, 'It is well,' highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:32 | The woman's son is restored to her, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:33 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her actions and response to her son's death, highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:34 | The woman's son is raised back to life, demonstrating God's power and ability to bring life out of death. |
| 4:35 | The woman is reunited with her son, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 4:36 | The woman's faith and trust in God are demonstrated by her response to her son's death, 'It is well,' highlighting her confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 4:37 | The woman's son is restored to her, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
3. The Poisonous Stew (2 Kings 4:38-41)
| 4:38 | Elisha is at Gilgal, and there is a famine in the land, highlighting the need for God's provision and care. |
| 4:39 | One of the prophets goes out to gather herbs, but he picks a poisonous plant, demonstrating the reality of danger and the need for God's protection. |
| 4:40 | The prophets are about to eat the stew, but they cry out to Elisha, demonstrating their faith and trust in God's power and provision. |
| 4:41 | Elisha adds flour to the pot, and the stew is made safe to eat, highlighting God's power and ability to bring life and nourishment out of danger and death. |
4. The Twenty Loaves of Bread (2 Kings 4:42-44)
| 4:42 | A man comes from Baal-shalishah, bringing twenty loaves of bread and some ears of grain, demonstrating his generosity and kindness. |
| 4:43 | Elisha instructs his servant to feed the hundred men with the bread, demonstrating God's abundance and provision. |
| 4:44 | The servant is hesitant, but Elisha insists, demonstrating his faith and trust in God's power and provision. The bread is sufficient for all, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of 2 Kings 4?
The main theme of 2 Kings 4 is God's provision and care for those in need, as seen in the stories of the widow, the Shunammite woman, and the feeding of the hundred men, highlighting God's power and ability to bring life and nourishment out of death and danger.
Who is the Shunammite woman, and what is her story?
The Shunammite woman is a woman who shows hospitality to Elisha and is rewarded with a son, who later dies and is raised back to life by Elisha, highlighting God's power and ability to bring life out of death, as seen in 2 Kings 4:8-37.
What is the significance of the poisonous stew in 2 Kings 4:38-41?
The poisonous stew represents the danger and death that can come into our lives, but Elisha's intervention demonstrates God's power and ability to bring life and nourishment out of danger and death, as seen in 2 Kings 4:38-41.
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 4:1 → Deuteronomy 15:7-8 | The story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 is reminiscent of the instructions in Deuteronomy 15:7-8 to care for the poor and needy, highlighting God's concern for those in need. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 4:8 → Luke 10:38-42 | The Shunammite woman's hospitality to Elisha in 2 Kings 4:8-37 is similar to the hospitality shown to Jesus by Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42, highlighting the importance of caring for God's servants and showing kindness to others. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 4:18 → | The raising of the Shunammite's son in 2 Kings 4:18-37 is a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as seen in John 11:25, highlighting God's power and ability to bring life out of death. |
| 4 | 2 Kings 4:26 → John 11:25 | The Shunammite woman's response to her son's death, 'It is well,' is similar to Martha's statement in John 11:25, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day,' highlighting the confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
| 5 | 2 Kings 4:38 → Matthew 14:13-21 | The feeding of the hundred men with twenty loaves of bread in 2 Kings 4:42-44 is similar to the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21, highlighting God's abundance and provision for those in need. |
| 6 | 2 Kings 4:42 → Mark 6:30-44 | The feeding of the hundred men with twenty loaves of bread in 2 Kings 4:42-44 is also similar to the feeding of the four thousand in Mark 6:30-44, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 7 | 2 Kings 4:1 → Psalm 37:25 | The story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 is reminiscent of the promise in Psalm 37:25 that God will not forsake the righteous, highlighting God's care and provision for those in need. |
| 8 | 2 Kings 4:8 → Hebrews 13:2 | The Shunammite woman's hospitality to Elisha in 2 Kings 4:8-37 is similar to the instruction in Hebrews 13:2 to show hospitality to strangers, highlighting the importance of caring for God's servants and showing kindness to others. |
| 9 | 2 Kings 4:18 → Acts 9:36-43 | The raising of the Shunammite's son in 2 Kings 4:18-37 is similar to the raising of Dorcas by Peter in Acts 9:36-43, highlighting God's power and ability to bring life out of death. |
| 10 | 2 Kings 4:26 → Romans 4:17 | The Shunammite woman's response to her son's death, 'It is well,' is similar to the statement in Romans 4:17 that God gives life to the dead, highlighting the confidence in God's goodness and sovereignty. |
Sermons on 2 Kings 4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Holy Man of God by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the secret of someone's strength and influence over others. He emphasizes the importance of love and its impact on our lives. The speaker sh |
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(Sermon Preparation) Lecture 03 by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power and authority of the word of God. He highlights how the word of God spread and had a profound impact on people's lives. The preach |
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The Blueprint of Your Home by Abner Kauffman | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of studying the Bible to show oneself approved by God. He encourages listeners to not neglect learning about their homes and t |
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How Does God Forgive Sins? by J. Edwin Orr | In this sermon, the preacher shares personal anecdotes and experiences to illustrate the importance of repentance and confession in the Christian faith. He emphasizes the need for |
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(Through the Bible) 2 Kings 1-4 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of a king who sought the Lord's guidance through a minstrel's music. The Lord instructed the king to make a valley full of trenches, |
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Life & Ministry of Elisha - Part 2 by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the ministry of Elisha and the importance of imparting the life of Christ in our own ministries. The sermon begins by referencing a story fr |
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Law of Spiritual Increase by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the symbolism of the widow in the Bible and how it represents the church. He explains that the church is often oppressed and looked down upon |
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Our Word - His Word, 1977 by Norman Grubb | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the presence and power of God in our lives. He references Ephesians 2:2 and 2 Kings 4:4-5 to highlight how the Spirit of Error and the God of |
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Burdens & Gifts by Gareth Evans | In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a story from the book of Kings about a mother bird teaching her baby bird to fly. He uses this story as a parable to illustrate the co |
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The Shunammite Woman - Submissive Faith by Joel Beeke | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of submissive faith in the face of affliction. He asks the audience to imagine the impact if every true Christian responded t |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on 2 Kings 4
The chapter highlights God's provision and care for those in need, as seen in the stories of the widow and the Shunammite woman. The miracles performed by Elisha demonstrate God's power and ability to bring life out of death, highlighting His sovereignty and goodness. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of faith and trust in God, as seen in the Shunammite woman's response to her son's death, 'It is well.' The feeding of the hundred men with twenty loaves of bread demonstrates God's abundance and provision for those in need, highlighting His care and concern for His people. As Matthew Henry notes, 'The Lord is good, and his mercy endures forever,' highlighting God's faithfulness and love for His people, as seen in Psalm 100:5. Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
Pattern of Provision
Throughout the chapter, we notice a pattern of God's provision for those in need, whether it be the widow's oil or the Shunammite woman's son. This pattern highlights God's care and concern for His people, as seen in 2 Kings 4:1-7 and 2 Kings 4:8-37.
Faith in Action
The chapter also demonstrates the importance of faith in action, as seen in the Shunammite woman's trust in God despite her son's death. Her faith is not just a feeling but a choice to trust in God's goodness, as seen in 2 Kings 4:26.
God's Power Over Death
The miracles in this chapter show God's power over death, highlighting His ability to bring life out of death and to conquer the ultimate enemy, as seen in the raising of the Shunammite's son in 2 Kings 4:18-37.