2 Kings 4

Elisha and the Widow's Oil

1 A certain woman of the wives of a the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming b to take my two sons to be his slaves." 2 So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil." 3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors - empty vessels; c do not gather just a few. 4 "And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones." 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest."

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to d Shunem, where there was a 1 notable woman, and she 2 persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, "Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 "Please, let us make 3 a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there."

11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to e Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite woman." When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?' " She answered, "I dwell among my own people." 14 So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old." 15 So he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, 4 "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, f do not lie to your maidservant!" 17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.

Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son

18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, "My head, my head!" So he said to a servant, "Carry him to his mother." 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, "Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back." 23 So he said, "Why are you going to him today? It is neither the g New Moon nor the Sabbath." And she said, 5 "It is well." 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, "Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you."

25 And so she departed, and went to the man of God h at Mount Carmel.
So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, "Look, the Shunammite woman!
26 "Please run now to meet her, and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?' " And she answered, "It is well." 27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me." 28 So she said, "Did I ask a son of my lord? i Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?" 29 Then he said to Gehazi, j "Get 6 yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, k do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but l lay my staff on the face of the child." 30 And the mother of the child said, m "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not n leave you." So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, "The child has o not awakened."

32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He p went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, q and prayed to the LORD. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and r he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up s and stretched himself out on him; then t the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite woman." So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, "Pick up your son." 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she u picked up her son and went out.

Elisha Purifies the Deadly Stew

38 And Elisha returned to v Gilgal, and there was a w famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were x sitting before him; and he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." 39 So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were. 40 Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, "Man of God, there is y death in the pot!" And they could not eat it. 41 So he said, "Then bring some flour." And z he put it into the pot, and said, "Serve it to the people, that they may eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot.

42 Then a man came from a Baal Shalisha, b and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, "Give it to the people, that they may eat." 43 But his servant said, c "What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?" He said again, "Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: d 'They shall eat and have some left over.' " 44 So he set it before them; and they ate e and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

  1. Cross References
    1 Kings 20:35
    Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor by the word of the LORD, "Strike me, please." And the man refused to strike him.
    2 Kings 2:3
    Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent!
  2. Cross References
    Leviticus 25:39 - 41
    And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave.
    Leviticus 25:48
    After he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him.
    1 Samuel 22:2
    And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
    Nehemiah 5:2 - 5
    For there were those who said, "We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
    Matthew 18:25
    But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
  3. Cross References
    2 Kings 3:16
    And he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'Make this valley full of ditches.
  4. Cross References
    Joshua 19:18
    And their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem.
  5. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:29 - 31
    Then he said to Gehazi, "Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.
    2 Kings 5:20 - 27
    But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.
    2 Kings 8:4
    Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.
    2 Kings 8:5
    Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.
  6. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:28
    So she said, "Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?
  7. Cross References
    Numbers 10:10
    "Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God."
    Numbers 28:11
    At the beginnings of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish.
    1 Chronicles 23:31
    And at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD.
  8. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:25
    Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
  9. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:16
    Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!
  10. Cross References
    1 Kings 18:46
    Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
    2 Kings 9:1
    And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, "Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.
  11. Cross References
    Luke 10:4
    Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 7:19
    Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.'
    Exodus 14:16
    But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
    2 Kings 2:8
    Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
    2 Kings 2:14
    Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
    Acts 19:12
    So that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
  13. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:2
    Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.
  14. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:4
    Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.
  15. Cross References
    John 11:11
    These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.
  16. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:4
    "And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."
    Matthew 6:6
    But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
    Luke 8:51
    When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.
  17. Cross References
    1 Kings 17:20
    Then he cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?
  18. Cross References
    1 Kings 17:21 - 23
    And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him.
    Acts 20:10
    But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.
  19. Cross References
    1 Kings 17:21
    And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him.
  20. Cross References
    2 Kings 8:1
    Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.
    2 Kings 8:5
    Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.
  21. Cross References
    1 Kings 17:23
    And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!
    Hebrews 11:35
    Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
  22. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:1
    And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
  23. Cross References
    2 Kings 8:1
    Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.
  24. Cross References
    Luke 10:39
    And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
    Acts 22:3
    I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
  25. Cross References
    Exodus 10:17
    "Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that He may take away from me this death only."
  26. Cross References
    Exodus 15:25
    So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them.
    2 Kings 2:21
    Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'
  27. Cross References
    1 Samuel 9:4
    So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
  28. Cross References
    1 Samuel 9:7
    Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?
    1 Corinthians 9:11
    If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
    Galatians 6:6
    Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
  29. Cross References
    Luke 9:13
    But He said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.
    John 6:9
    "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"
  30. Cross References
    Luke 9:17
    So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.
    John 6:11
    And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
  31. Cross References
    Matthew 14:20
    So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
    Matthew 15:37
    So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
    John 6:13
    Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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