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 2 Kings 4:1-7 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
Widow’s neighbor
Two sons
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
When a creditor came to the widow’s house demanding her to pay her debit she went to Elisha.
She told him her sons would be sold as slaves if she did not pay her debt. So Elisha asked her
what she has in her house, she replies just a small jar of oil. Elisha then tells her to go to her
neighbors and get all the empty jars she can. She then gets home and closes the door with her
sons and fill each jar with olive oil. The widow was able to fill every single jar and more. The
widow then sold off the jars of olive oil to pay off her debts and keep her sons.
3. Narrative structure: (50-100 words)
Introduction:
The widow tells Elisha that her husband is dead, and a creditor has come to sell her sons
into slavery to pay off her debts.
Incident:
Elisha tells the widow to gather all the empty jars she can from her neighbors.
Rising action:
The widow does what Elisha told her to do. She brings all the empty jars she got into her
house and shuts the door with her sons.
Climax:
The widow was able to fill every jar with olive oil and more.
Falling action:
The widow realized that God had given them more olive oil than can fill the jars.
Conclusion:
The widow was able to pay off her debts and keep her sons.
C. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
1. Who:
Elisha
The Widow
Widow’s neighbor
Two sons
2. What:
A creditor came to the widow’s house to collect a debt.
The widow askes Elisha for help.
She gathers all the empty jars she can.
God fills the jars full of olive oil and had some left over.
The widow sells the jars of olive oil and can keep her sons.
3. Where:
The town of Zarephath
Modern-day Lebanon
4. When:
Took place when King Jehoram ruled.
852-841 BC.
5. Why:
Why did the widow come to Elisha for help? Her husband died and a creditor
came to her to sell her sons to pay off her debt.
Why did Elisha tell her to gather as many empty vessels as she can? So, she
can fill the vessels with oil to pay off her debt.
Why is there olive oil left over? God wanted to provide the widow with
however much olive oil she needed.
6. How:
How well did Elisha’s instructions help the widow? More than she ever could
have thought.
How was the widow able to pay off her debt? She sold all the jars of olive oil.
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 and Elisha shows the amazing power of God when His people are in
need. It also reminds us that when all seems bad, and you are going to lose everything, God is
still here to protect and provide for His people. In the story the widow lost her husband and was
also going to lose her sons because of the debt that has accumulated. However, instead of losing
everything, God used Elisha and his instructions to help the widow pay off her debt and keep her
sons from being sold into slavery.
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.
When God’s people are in need, He can do supernatural work for them.
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 the widow has a great relationship with the new testament story of redemption,
where Jesus sacrificed himself upon the cross for love. The story shows us that no matter the
situation we find ourselves in we should always trust God. The widows story reminded me of
when Jesus fed about 5000 people with only a few pieces of bread and some fish. God applied
what was at the peoples need, in the widow’s case, oil to sell. The oil brought to the widow by
God shows that God will do anything to help His people, just like he did to feed 5000 people in
the book of Matthew.
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.
The principles that stood out to me the most was obedience and humbleness. When Elisha told
the widow to get as many empty jars from her neighbors as she could, and she did so without
question or hesitation. Thus, making her obedient. When the oil kept flowing the widow did not
try and save as much as she could, instead she only filled the oil in those jars. She could have
easily grabbed a bowl or something and start to fill that with the oil. She trusted God would
provide what she needed, thus making her humble. God’s miracle of the oil shows that God
keeps his promises to those who that trust in Him and follow his commands. The story of John
feeding 5000 people in need shows that when people are in need, they must be humble. The
goods from God are always available if you trust in Him.
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 here to serve and save, just like Elisha was in the department to do the same work. In
his entire ministry, Jesus changed people’s lives through preaching, acts of kindness, and
sometimes miracles. To that note Elisha performed miracles that were in service to God. Jesus
had his disciples do significant works without choosing who to give them to, or who to show
kindness to. Jesus healed the sick, saved the sinners, and provided to those in need, the same way
Elisha was a blessing to those people he ministered. Through Jesus Elisha interacted with those
who are less fortunate.
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
Elisha was a prophet of God. Because Elisha is prophet, he taught the widow of God’s love and
protection for His people. Through this miracle the widow was able to experience the amazing
power of God firsthand. It was Elisha’s duty to show people who God really is, and the widow
experienced this firsthand. The question of duty also relates to the Great Commission where the
goal is to convert as many people as one can to believe, and trust in God, as it is your duty. In
Matthew 28:19 it states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
B. The question of character
Elisha makes a great example for a role model. A widow came to Elisha when she was faced
with losing everything she has, her sons. Elisha could have told the widow he is too busy, there is
nothing he can do, or that he just did not want to. Instead, Elisha knew the power of God, and
what he can and will do for her, so Elisha told the widow to gather all the empty vessels she
could. Elisha had a lot of faith in God, so he did not need see the future nor did he know the
future, he did not know if God would fill the vessels or not either. However, Elisha’s faith in God
was so great he believed something had to happen. As believers it is important to have faith in
the Lord.
C. The question of goals
Elisha tells the widow to gather as many empty jars as she could from her neighbors and take
them back to her house. The widow listened to Elisha and get the jars. The widow could have
easily told Elisha, “what am I going to do with all these empty jars”, or “I need money to do
this”. However, by faith the widow followed his directions and then started pouring the oil. The
widow waited for God to do His work for her. This should the goal for all Christians, it may look
like everything is going downhill, but have faith God is working. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 it states,
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” This is a great scripture all Christians should live by.
D. The question of discernment
It is especially important to be able to discern what God wants for us. We can break this down
into two major aspects of the discernment of God. The first being His plan for our lives and how
to live. The second is being able to discern weather something is good or bad. The plan for our
lives is especially important because without Gods we would all be husks roaming about the
earth with no purpose. Also, discernment of good and evil is just as important as with out it we
would be doing all kinds of things we would normally not do because we would not know it is
bad.
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