Name: Rachel Beckett
Date: 1/31/2020
Section: BIBL 104-B31 LUO
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)
Widow, her two sons, and Elisha (note: secondary characters were her
deceased husband, the creditor, neighbors, and a handmaid)
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
A widow approached Elisha deeply troubled that her two sons would be taken by a
creditor as slaves since she could not pay her debts. Elisha told her to ask her to borrow
jars from neighbors and to fill them with her only asset to her name, a small amount of
oil. She miraculously filled every available jar available as the oil continued to flow.
When she recanted what happened to Elisha, he told her to sell the olive oil to repay her
debts and to live on what money was left over.
3. Narrative structure: (50-100 words)
Introduction:
The reader is told about a nameless widow that approaches Elisha for guidance on how to
save her sons from becoming slaves to the creditor due to her inability to pay debts
without her husband.
Inciting Incident:
The creditor has come and threatened to take her two sons as slaves.
Rising Action:
Elisha told the widow to borrow jars from neighbors and, in the privacy of her home, fill
them with what small amount oil she owned.
Climax:
Oil miraculously poured from her flax until every available jar was filled.
Falling Action:
She returned to Elisha to tell him what happened.
C. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
1. Who:
Widow, Elisha, two sons, deceased husband, creditor, neighbors
2. What:
A widow approached Elisha for help to save her sons from the creditor due to her
inability to pay her debts.
Elisha asked what she owned. She replied that she had a flask of olive oil. He
instructed her to borrow all the empty jars she could from her neighbors and to fill
each one from that flask. She was to do this in privacy with her sons.
After filling all the jars, she returned to tell Elisha what had happened.
Elisha instructed her to sell all the oil for money to pay the creditor. She was to then
live from the remaining money.
3. Where:
•Likely written by Jerimiah for the people of Judah before the exile. The intended
audience would have been “the Jews of the Babylonian captivity and the
dispersion” (Hindson p.127)
4. When:
During the ministry of Jeremiah, the prophet
During the Reign in King Joram
During the ministry of the Prophet Elisha
In the years between 852 and 841 BC (Hindson p.127)
5. Why:
Why did the widow come to Elisha for help?
Her husband served Elisha as a member of the group of prophets, and after his
death she was faced with losing her two sons to a creditor.
Why did Elisha instruct her to fill the many jars?
The widow would prove her trust and obedience in God in how many empty
vessels she would collect.
Why did she trust Elisha?
She knew that God worked miracles through Elisha because of his reputation,
plus her husband was a follower of his.
Why did she return to Elisha once the jars were filled?
She trusted that God was in control through Elisha. She wanted God to
instruct her on how to use her newfound blessings of oil.
Why did God want to help this woman?
God does not discern one person from the next. All are equal of his love,
mercy and blessings. God also asks that we give special attention and care to
widows and children.
6. How:
How did the widow know where to seek help?
Her husband feared the Lord and was a member of the group of prophets.
Elisha was known to have performed miracles. She knew God acted through
him.
In what way did Elisha help the widow?
He told her to fill every jar full of oil from her own small amount of stock,
although this seemed impossible in privacy. In privacy, it would make obvious
the fact that it was indeed God, not Elisha, acting out the miracle.
In what way was the widow obedient and faithful?
She followed Elisha’s instructions immediately and without question and did
not fail. She did not limit the number of empty vessels she was to fill.
In what way did God intervene?
Elisha’s instructions came to him through divine means. God allowed the oil
to continue to flow until all jars were filled. This would eliminate her debt as
well as provide for her family.
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.
Author’s main point: In the story of Elisha and the Widow’s Oil, it is made obvious that
God does not forget who his devoted and faithful followers are, even after death. God
worked through Elisha to create a miracle. This showed that God cares for not only an
entire nation, but also for the single individual. God saw a woman who was raising her
two sons alone. He took and multiplied what small asset she did have so that she was able
to clear her debts and have enough left over to live from and live comfortably. She
proved her faith by collecting the jars from her neighbors even though she technically
didn’t have enough to fill them all. Her actions proved her trust in the Lord.
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 cares for not only the whole flock, but the individual sheep as well. He does not
forget those who were faithful to him. No problem is too big or too small for God.
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.
I believe that this is a story of redemption. The widow was destitute, owning only a small
amount of oil. She was facing debts left to her family after the death of her husband, and
she was unable to pay them. Soon, the creditor would take her sons as collateral, which
was a completely acceptable method of collection in those times. Yet God was willing to
meet her needs by multiplying what she had available since she was an obedient and
faithful servant of the Lord. She demonstrated her obedience by acting on Elisha’s
directions without hesitation or question. She acted in faith, just as God wanted her to do.
The verse is a reminder that God is merciful, full of grace, powerful and cares for His
children as would a father throughout the metanarrative of the whole Bible: “He is the
father of the orphan, the friend of the widow, the Shepherd of the sheep, and the Protector
of His under-shepherds and their families (cf. Psalm 145:14ff).
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 idea that God cares for the whole flock is found throughout the entire Bible. For
example, Psalm 22:26, “The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD
will praise him may your hearts live forever!” God does not care how many problems
we’ve faced in our lives; He is willing and able to meet the needs of those who obey him.
The widow wasn’t well known, but she was known to God. She demonstrated her
faithfulness to the Lord by trusting Him to fulfill her financial needs. She trusted that He
would fill all the vessels full of oil from what small amount she had. God did not see her
personal troubles as too small of a job for Him; God cares about all details. In Matthew
10:30, God expressed “the very hairs on your head are all numbered” (NLT). Also, note
that Psalm 147:4 tells us that God “counts the stars and calls them all by name” (NLT).
He desires an intimate relationship with us all, not just those of notoriety.
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.
The elements of helping the individual is paralleled between them both. Both Elisha and
Jesus performed miracles, turn small amounts of liquid or food into large amount for the
people. Jesus constantly fed the hungry, healed the sick, and cared for the poor and less
fortunate in the same manner Elisha and the other disciples in the Old Testament were
known for.
In a paralleling passage, Matthew 14, Jesus was able to feed over 5,000 people by
multiplying all they could bring forward, five loaves of bread and two fish. There were
even twelve baskets full of leftovers for later. This mirrored how there was leftover
oil/money from paying off the widow’s creditors that she and her sons could live from for
some time. Both Elisha and Jesus wanted the people to remember to bring their needs to
God, no matter how big, small or seemingly impossible.
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
We are called upon by God to always bring our troubles to Him. No issue is too big or small to
bring before God, doing so demonstrates our ability to trust and obey him. Also, when
considering helping others, we are called to always love thy neighbor. We should not turn anyone
away who needs help due to their lack of social status or public image. Elisha and Jesus never
hesitated to help anyone, and neither should we. In fact, we are encouraged to seek to interact
with those who are less fortunate just as Elisha, Jesus and the other disciples did. Furthermore,
we should never assume that God will not want to meet our needs. In order do prove this to God,
we should prove our faith by not limiting how many “empty vessels” we set before God to have
filled. The only limit to what God can do lies in our level of trust in God to meet our needs.
B. The question of character
Through the examples of the Elisha and widow, we are shown characteristics that we should
follow. The widow showed humbleness to go before Elisha and ask for help and admit her
financial problems. Elisha demonstrated God’s love for the individual by instantly offering her a
solution. She was still humble as she willingly asked each neighbor for an empty vessel. We
should trust in God as she did as she filled the vessels in the privacy of her own home, just as she
was instructed. She could have been tempted to brag or boast to others as the miracle of the oil
continued to flow before her, but she once again, remained humble and obedient. She then
proved faithful by asking Elisha what to do with her newfound riches, instead of choosing what
to do on her own. She did not allow the miracle to take her to a place of seeking attention, and
she did not abuse God’s generosity by filling more vessels than she truly needed. In conclusion,
we should follow her examples of humbleness, obedience, and trust. Also, we should always
come to the aid of those in need, as did Elisha.
C. The question of goals
The widow could have come to Elisha for help completely unprepared to accept and follow his
commands. Also, she did not assume Elisha wouldn’t help her just because she was not of any
societal significance to him. She had faith that Elisha would be able to help her, and that God
helps all those who are of faith, trust and obedience who cry out to him in their hour of need. We
should all have our goals/ needs as detailed as the widow did before we present them to God.
Also, the widow did not ask for frivolous things or for more than she would need. On another
note, Elisha showed compassion to the widow, although she was personally unknown to him. He
gave her the same level of attention and care that he would give the King or royalty. We should
all remember to emulate the same compassion to our “neighbors” and those in need. We must
also remember to never limit what God can accomplish in our lives, as well as keeping our greed
in check.
D. The question of discernment
God demands of us to cast aside judgement to those who present their needs. We must realize
that God is the ultimate decision maker in all matters related to who’s prayers He answers and
when He answers them, even if we find ourselves in the middle of the situation. God has a
special place in his heart for children and widows. Deuteronomy 10:18 says, “He ensures that
orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives
them food and clothing.” Also, James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God,
the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained
from the world.” God’s compassion flowed through Elisha towards the widow.
Also, God notices when we trust him with all our needs. He sees that as a show of faith and
obedience. We must empty ourselves, just as the vessels were, so that God can fill us with the
Holy Spirit, and he will multiply our lives in line with his purposes.
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