"Go," said Elisha, "borrow jars, even empty ones, from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. Go, said ElishaThe word "Go" is a command, an imperative that signifies action and faith. Elisha, the prophet, is speaking with authority given by God. In the Hebrew context, the word used here is "לֵךְ" (lekh), which is a common directive in the Old Testament, often used by God to instruct His people to move forward in faith. Elisha's role as a prophet is to convey God's instructions, and his command here is a call to obedience and trust in God's provision. borrow empty jars
The act of borrowing signifies humility and dependence on the community. The Hebrew word for "borrow" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which can also mean to ask or request. This reflects a posture of humility and reliance on others, which is often necessary in the life of faith. The "empty jars" symbolize potential and readiness to be filled by God's miraculous provision. In the ancient Near Eastern context, jars were common household items used for storing oil, water, or grain, and their emptiness here underscores the widow's dire need and the opportunity for God's intervention. from all your neighbors
This phrase emphasizes community involvement and the interconnectedness of God's people. The Hebrew word for "neighbors" is "שָׁכֵן" (shaken), which refers to those who dwell nearby. This instruction highlights the importance of community support and the role of neighbors in God's plan. It also suggests that God's miracles often involve the participation and witness of others, thereby strengthening communal faith and testimony. Do not gather just a few
This phrase is a call to expect great things from God. The Hebrew word for "gather" is "אָסַף" (asaph), which means to collect or assemble. Elisha's instruction not to gather just a few jars is an encouragement to have abundant faith and to prepare for a significant blessing. It reflects the biblical principle that God's provision often exceeds human expectations, as seen in other scriptural accounts of miraculous provision, such as the feeding of the 5,000 in the New Testament. This phrase challenges believers to trust in God's limitless power and to prepare for His abundant blessings. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet in Israel, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and providing guidance to the people of Israel. 2. The WidowA woman whose husband, a member of the company of prophets, has died, leaving her in debt and at risk of losing her sons to slavery. 3. NeighborsThe people living around the widow, from whom she is instructed to borrow jars. 4. JarsEmpty vessels that the widow is instructed to collect, which will be used in the miracle of multiplying oil. 5. The Miracle of OilAn event where God, through Elisha, miraculously provides for the widow by multiplying the oil she has, allowing her to pay her debts and live off the remainder. Teaching Points Faith in ActionThe widow's obedience to Elisha's instructions demonstrates active faith. We are called to trust and act on God's word, even when the outcome is not immediately visible. Community InvolvementThe widow's need to borrow jars from her neighbors highlights the importance of community and mutual support. We should be willing to both give and receive help within our communities. God's Abundant ProvisionThe miracle of the oil shows that God provides abundantly beyond our immediate needs. We should trust in His provision and be grateful for His blessings. Obedience Precedes BlessingThe widow's blessing came after her obedience to Elisha's command. Our obedience to God's instructions often precedes the blessings He has in store for us. Preparation for God's WorkGathering jars was a preparatory act for the miracle. We should prepare our hearts and lives for God's work, making room for His blessings. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the widow's situation before the miracle reflect our own times of need, and how can we apply her example of faith in our lives? 2. In what ways can we involve our community in our journey of faith, as the widow did by borrowing jars? 3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision in an unexpected way. How did it strengthen your faith? 4. What are some areas in your life where you need to act in obedience to God's word, even if the outcome is uncertain? 5. How can you prepare your heart and life to receive God's blessings, similar to how the widow prepared by gathering jars? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:8-16The account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, where God provides for the widow through a miraculous supply of flour and oil. John 2:1-11Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where He turns water into wine, demonstrating God's power to provide abundantly. Philippians 4:19Paul's assurance that God will supply all needs according to His riches in glory, reflecting the theme of divine provision. James 1:5Encouragement to ask God for wisdom, paralleling the widow's act of seeking help from Elisha. Matthew 7:7-8Jesus' teaching on asking, seeking, and knocking, which aligns with the widow's active faith in seeking out jars. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Abroad, Borrow, Containers, Empty, Jars, Large, Neighbors, Neighbours, Outside, Thyself, VesselsDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:3 5233 borrowing
8452 neighbours, duty to 2 Kings 4:3-4 5445 potters and pottery 2 Kings 4:3-6 1418 miracles, responses
7773 prophets, role 2 Kings 4:3-7 1416 miracles, nature of Library When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband! is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 4:3 NIV2 Kings 4:3 NLT2 Kings 4:3 ESV2 Kings 4:3 NASB2 Kings 4:3 KJV
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