2 Kings 4:1-49 The Lord Saves the Widow's 2 Sons Through Elijah

The Lord Saves the Widow's 2 Sons Through Elijah

2 Kings 4:1-49                              2 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, [one] of the wives of the [prophet's] sons cried [out] to Elijah, saying, My husband, your servant, is dead & you know that [he feared/ respected] the Lord: And the creditor [has] come to take my 2 sons [into indentured servitude to repay my husband’s debt.]

And Elisha [asked] her, What shall I do for you? Tell me what you have in the house? She said, Your handmaid [has nothing] in the house, [except for] a pot of oil. Then, [Elisha] said, Go [all around] & borrow [lots] of empty [jugs] from your neighbors.

And when you & your sons [have] come [inside,] shut your door & pour oil [into the jugs] & set aside [those that are] full. So, she [left Elisha] & shut the door with her & her sons, who brought the [jugs] to her & she poured [the oil] out.

And it [happened,] when the [jugs] were full, that she [asked] her son, Bring me [another jug.] And he said to her, There [isn’t even 1] more [jug] & the oil [ceased.] then, she told the man of God & [Elisha] said, Go, sell the oil & pay your debt & you & your children live [off] the rest.

And it [happened] on a day, that Elisha [crossed] to Shunem, where [there] was [an important] woman & she [compelled] him to eat bread. So it was, as [often] as he passed by, he turned in [there] to eat bread.

And she said to her husband, [Look,] I now [know] this is a holy man of God, [who continues] to pass by us. I pray [that] you let us make him a little [room] on the wall. Let us [put:] a bed, table, stool & a candlestick there for him, so he [can lodge there] when he comes to us.

It [happened] on a day, that he came [there] & he turned into the [bedroom] & lay there. And [Elisha] said to Gehazi, his servant, Call [the] Shunammite [woman] & when he had called her, she stood [in front of] him.

And [Elisha told] Gehazi, his servant, Now say to her, [Look,] you have [taken great care of] us, what [can] be done for you? Would you [like us to speak] to the king, or to the captain of the [army?] And she answered, I [live] among [my] own people.

And [Elisha asked,] Then what is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, [Truly,] she [doesn't] have [a] child & her husband is old. And [Elisha] said, Call her & when [she was] called, she stood in the [doorway.]

And [Elisha] said, [About this time next year,] you shall embrace a son. She said, [No,] my lord, you man of God, don't lie to [me,] your handmaid. And the woman conceived & bore a son, according to [what] Elsiah had said.

And when the child [had] grown, [he] fell on a day that he went out to his father, [who was with] the reapers. He said to his father, My head, my head. And [his father] said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. [After] he had brought him to his mother, [the son] sat on her knees [until] noon & then died.

And she went up & laid him on the bed of the man of God & shut the door & went out. And she [asked] her husband, I pray [that] you send me 1 of the young men & a [mule, so] I may [go] to the man of God & [return.]

And he said, [For what reason would] you go to him today, [Since it's] neither a new moon, nor a Sabbath? She said, It shall be [alright.] Then, she saddled [the mule] & said to her servant, Drive [fast & don't slow down] for me [unless] I [ask] you.

So, she went & came to the man of God [at] Mount Carmel. And it [happened,] when [Elisha] saw her [in the distance,] he said to Gehazi, his servant, [Look,] the Shunammite is yonder. I pray [that] you run to meet her & [ask her,] Is all well with you? Your husband? Your child? And she answered, It is well.

And when she came to the hill, to the man of God, she caught [Elisha] by the feet, but Gehazi came [close] to [push] her away. And [Elisha] said, [Leave] her alone; for her soul is [troubled] within her & the Lord has [hidden] it from me & hasn't told me.

Then, she said, Did I [request] a son [from you,] my lord? Didn't I say, [Don't] deceive me? Then, [Elisha told] Gehazi, [Strap up your belt] on your [waist] & take my staff in your hand & go [on] your way.

If you meet any man [don't] salute him & if [anyone salutes] you, [don't] answer [them.] And lay my staff upon the face of the child. The [child's] mother said, As the Lord lives & as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And [Elisha] arose & followed her.

And Gehazi [went on ahead of] them & laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. [For this reason, Gehazi] went again to meet [Elisha] & told him, The child [hasn't awakened.]

And when Elisha [came] into the house, [he saw that] the child [lying] on his bed was dead. Therefore, [Elisha] went in [the room] & shut the door upon the [2 of them] & prayed to the Lord.

And [Elisha] went up & lay upon the child & put his mouth upon the [child's] mouth & his eyes, upon the [child's] eyes & his hands upon the [child's] hands & stretched himself [out] upon the child. The flesh of the child [became] warm.

Then, [Elisha] returned & walked [back & forth inside] the house. [Elisha went up & stretched] himself upon [the  child again] & the child sneezed 7 times & opened his eyes. And [Elisha told] Gehazi, Call the Shunammite [woman.]

So, he called her. And when she [came] to [Elisha,] he said, [Pick up your] son. Then, she went in & fell at [Elisha's] feet & bowed herself to the ground & [picked] up her son & went out.

And Elisha [went] again to Gilgal & there was [famine] in the land & the sons of the prophets were sitting [in front of] him. And [Elisha] said to his servant, [put the large] pot on & [boil stew] for the [prophet’s] sons.

And [someone] went out into the field to gather herbs & found a wild vine. [He] gathered wild gourds [from it, until] his lap [was] full & [shredded] them into the pot of [stew,] for they weren't [familiar with them.]

So, they poured out [the stew] for the men to eat. It [happened,] as they were eating the [stew,] they cried out, O you man of God, there is death in the pot & they couldn't eat [of it.]

But [Elisha] said, Then bring [corn] meal. And [Elisha threw] it into the pot & said, Pour [it] out for the people, [so] they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. And a man came from Baal Shalisha & brought the man of God of his first fruits [of his harvest,] 24 loaves of barley [bread ] & full ears of corn in [its husks.]

And [Elisha] said, Give [it] to the people, [so] they may eat. His [servant] said, What, should I [put] this before [these] 100 men? [Elisha] said again, Give [it to] the people, [so] they may eat.

For the Lord says [this,] They shall eat & leave [some.] So, [Gehazi] set it before them & they [ate] & left [some of it,] according to the Word of the Lord.