Name:
Date:
Section:
Studying the Old Testament Narratives
Passage: 2 Kings 4:1-7
Instructions:
For this assignment, you will be studying the Old Testament story of Elisha and the Widow’s Oil
found in 2 Kings 4:1-7. You will use the template below in order to complete a study of this
passage. In your study, you will use the skills of Observation, Interpretation, Correlation, and
Application that you have become familiar with through your reading in Everyday Bible Study.
I. Observation
A. I have read 1 Kings 21:1- in both a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. You will
find a copy of the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NLT in your myWSB Library.
oYes
oNo
B. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying
1. Main characters: (List them)
Elisha, The Widow, & The Widow’s Sons.
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
After her husband died, a widow is in poverty, and her late husband’s creditor is now
seeking repayment in the form of slave work from her two sons. Desperate, she seeks the
prophet, Elisha whom her husband served. After receiving careful instructions from the
prophet, she quickly does as he instructed, gathering empty jars from her neighbors and
pouring into them the only possession she has, a small jar of olive oil, which
miraculously multiplies behind closed doors. After selling it, she is left with more than
enough money to pay her debt and provide for herself and her sons.
3. Narrative Structure: (50-100 words)
Introduction:
The Widow’s confrontation and plea for help from Elisha.
Inciting incident:
Elisha’s willingness to help The Widow, and his question of her possessions. Then, his
instructions to her.
Rising action:
The Widow does as she is instructed and collects empty jars from her neighbors. Then
takes them, and her sons, into her home and closes the door.
Climax:
As her sons hand her empty jars, The Widow fills each one with the oil that
miraculously continues to multiply, until the last is full.
Falling Action:
Elisha instructs her to sell the oil.
Resolution: The widow has repaid her debt and is left with enough money to care for
herself and her two sons.
C. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
1. Who:
Elisha
The Widow
The Widow’s Sons
The Debtor
The neighbors
2. What:
The Widow’s husband was a servant to the prophet Elisha. He was the person she
decided to seek out when in need. She knew that he was a man of God, as was her
husband, and that he would surely help her in her crisis.
Her husband owed money prior to his death. Instead of having mercy on this
Widow and her sons, he instead chose to threaten them with slavery. Though this
was common for the times, Deuteronomy warned a curse against those who
mistreated the fatherless and the widows. (Deut. 27:19 ESV)
The Widow was basically barren of all needs. She had a home, but nothing of
value inside it. Not even food, aside from a very small jar of olive oil. This would
not have been worth much, but she offered it up anyway.
The Widow’s neighbors were willing to lend her empty jars when asked. But
apparently, they were not quick to realize her dire situation or willing to help pay
her debts. Otherwise, she would not have needed to seek out the prophet.
The Widow’s Sons help her to fill the jars behind closed doors. Seemingly, the
jars are filling faster than they can replace them, until there are none left empty.
The debtor is paid, and The Widow’s family is provided for.
3. Where:
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
4. When:
During the reign of King Jehoram.
During the ministry of Elisha, the prophet.
849 BC
5. Why:
Why is the Widow in debt?
Her late husband owed the creditor before his death.
Why did Elisha instruct The Widow to borrow empty jars from her neighbors?
To prepare her in faith for the miracle God was about to perform in her life.
Why was olive oil the chosen method of redeeming this woman and her sons?
The olive oil represents the smallest things we have, placed in the hands of God,
becoming something significant by faith. Nothing is too small to be used by God.
6. How:
How did the small jar of olive oil fill so many empty jugs?
God performed a miracle to save The Widow and her sons from indentured
servitude.
II. Interpretation
A. Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (100-400 words) explain what you
think the author is trying to communicate in this passage. Remember, the Old Testament
narratives frequently communicate truth by showing it to us in story form instead of
telling it to us by way of teaching or sermon.
The story of The Widow’s oil signifies God’s provision for the destitute and endangered.
He is the God who can take what little we have and turn it into exactly what we need and
more. This theme is repeated throughout the Old and New Testaments. There was another
time Elisha had a hand in God’s multiplication plans, 2nd Kings 4:42-44 tells us how 22
barley loaves were multiplied to feed one hundred, with leftovers. Before him, Elijah was
instructed by God to visit a widow in Zarephath and ask for bread. She only had enough
flour and oil for one last meal for herself and her son, however she chose to trust in God.
By His mercy, every morning after her sacrifice, she had full jars of flour and oil to feed
herself and her son. (1st Kings 17:7-16) The story of Jesus feeding the five thousand also
comes to mind. From the sacrifice of a small boy giving up his lunch so someone else
wouldn’t go hungry, the miraculous grace of God filled his belly and five thousand
men… not even counting the women and children… with twelve basketfuls left over.
(Matthew 14:13-21) God’s grace and provision will never run out, and whatever we bring
to Him in faith is just the right size… never too small.
B. Based on your answer above, write out one principle from this passage. You should be able
to express this principle in 1-3 sentences.
God is a God of mercy and endless provision. He cares for the fatherless, the motherless,
the widows, the grieving, the impoverished, the homeless, the hungry. He is able to take small,
insignificant items and turn them into everything we need and more. We need not worry about
tomorrow.
III. Correlation
A. How does this Old Testament narrative fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State what
type of story you believe this to be (creation, fall, redemption, or new creation) and
explain why you believe this to be so. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
The story of Elisha and The Widow’s oil is one of redemption. Not only were her sons in
danger of being made slaves for life, this family was also in immediate need of food and
necessities which they could not afford. However, one commodity this woman was not
lacking in—faith. She could have easily said ‘no’ when asked if she had anything inside
her house, thinking the oil was too insignificant to offer to God. Or to laugh when
instructed to fill neighbors’ empty pots with her tiny flask. But she simply did as she was
instructed… allowing God’s provision to take over any need in her life.
B. How does your principle fit with the rest of the Scripture? This principle is the one you have
written out in 1-3 sentences in the Interpretation section. If your principle is a true
Biblical principle it will be reflected throughout the Scriptures. Where is the principle
discovered in this Old Testament narrative found elsewhere in the Scriptures? Your
explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
Expanding on the fact that God is merciful, stories of His constant provision for those in
need can be found in almost every book of the Bible. In Genesis, God provided Sarai’s
maidservant, Hagar, and her son, Ishmael, with a well of water in the desert of Beersheba.
In Exodus, He rained down sweet bread and quail for the children of Israel during their
journey to the land He’d freed them to find. In Ruth, a beautiful story of love takes place
because God worked through the heart of a generous man in order to provide for the
widow, Ruth and her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. In Hosea, one of the books that
demonstrates God’s love to the highest degree… parallels are made to the story of the
prophet Hosea’s care for his unfaithful wife, Gomer, even as she is sleeping with other
men. It was the same way for God and His unfaithful bride of Israel, he continued to
provide for them as they worshiped false idols. There is no end to God’s unfailing care
for His children.
C. How does this Old Testament narrative reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ? State
and explain at least one way that the principle of this narrative can be identified in the
person and work of Jesus Christ. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
Jesus was the very embodiment of the Mercy of God. Even when hesitant or tired or
discouraged, Jesus took the time to help the ones in need. At the wedding of Cana, Mary,
Jesus’ mother came to Him looking for a solution to her friend’s dilemma of no more
wine. Jesus replied that it was not yet His time, however, His heart went out to the family
and he provided them with wine even better than they’d started with. In Matthew 14:13-
14, Jesus left by Himself in a boat to find a quiet place where He could be alone…
however the crowds followed, a multitude even, and He had compassion on them. Even
when tired and needing time to take care of Himself as every human does, He put
Himself second and healed the sick first.
IV. Application
What points of application can be made using the Four Questions for Application? State and
explain 1 point of application for each of these four questions. Your explanation for each of
these points should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
A. The question of duty
When God calls us to do something, it is always in our best interest not to call His plans
into question… but simply to do as He asked us to. This lesson is repeated time and again
in the stories of the Bible. Joshua was called to a battle in Jericho that was humanly
impossible. God’s solution: march around Jericho’s walls for seven days. His fellow
soldiers were skeptical, but Joshua chose not to question God. Instead he chose to have
the faith to simply do as God instructed. Had he not, perhaps the Promised Land would
never have been delivered to the Israelites. In the same way, had The Widow not been
willing to try the impossible, had she been concerned for what her neighbors would think,
perhaps she and her sons wouldn’t have been redeemed from their debtor. We should
always look to God for our solutions and obey His instructions, no matter how unlikely
they seem. “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)
B. The question of character
In Elisha, we see a man with strong Godly character. He is willing to stop everything to
help The Widow in her crisis. It would perhaps have been easy for him to keep steady in
his plans for that particular day, thinking he doesn’t need to be sidetracked, or that his
plans of doing God’s work were more important that this woman’s need. But instead, he
does not look down on her in her time of poverty and prioritizes her above all else. He
also has a strong connection to God and is able to use that spiritual relationship to guide
others along their paths. We should, as servants of The Most High, always be willing to
drop everything, no matter how important or urgent we think it is, to help the ones in
need. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40)
C. The question of goals
God’s goal in how He provided The Widow’s miracle was not for show. It was not to
demonstrate far and wide how he can make olive oil multiply. His audience was not the
world, or even all of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His only audience was The Widow
and her two sons, whom He loved. His point was to show them privately, behind closed
doors, that by faith and grace, He would always provide for them and redeem them. In
the same way, when we do good deeds for others, our goal should not be recognition. If
even the Almighty who is deserving of all recognition chooses to do His work behind
closed doors, so also should we. “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-4)
D. The question of discernment
God’s love, just like the oil, keeps on flowing. He does not stop when we, the empty
vessels, are being filled with Him. His love is so powerful, it not only fills us, but heals
and redeems us, much in the same way the oil represented His love as it redeemed The
Widow and her sons and also restored them to a place of not being in need. We should not
only be willing to help our neighbors, but to ask for God’s discernment as we do so.
Perhaps we will be the “oil” that will demonstrate God’s unfailing, overflowing love!
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