The author of 2 Kings took some time to record the large number of miracles occurring through the ministry of Elisha. These demonstrate Yahweh’s power in sustaining the prophetic word through Elisha and his prophets during times of anguish and expansion. 

Yahweh’s power triumphs over:

• Debt (4:1-7)

• Death (4:8-37)

• Disease (5:1-27)

• Difficulty (6:1-7) 

First, Elisha helped the widow of a prophet pay off a debt. Then, he favored a supporter of the prophets by giving her a son and then resurrecting that son. Next, Elisha purified some mulligan stew for prophets to eat to get them through a famine season, and then he multiplied some bread. 

The Oil Miracle (1-7) 

A prophet of Elisha’s prophetic order had died, leaving a wife, two sons, and a hefty debt. His wife called him “a servant who feared Yahweh.” She had faced her husband’s death, and now she was about to face insolvency. A family dedicated to faithful and wholehearted worship, they were reduced to slaves.  

The creditor was coming to take her sons in payment for the debt, which drove the widow to Elisha for help. Oddly, she did not make demands on the prophet, and she did not propose a solution; she simply cried out (1-2). The widow may not have had means, but she had the most important gift anyone could have possessed at the time: the privilege of access to Yahweh’s man, thus to Yahweh’s presence. 

Elisha asked what she had in her home of value. She had nothing left except a jar of oil. Of course, the widow wasn’t thinking, “I have something”; rather, she was stating her destitution. 

Elisha directed her to go to all her neighbors, everyone she knew, and borrow vessels—as many as she could collect. She was then directed to go into her home with her sons, behind closed doors, and begin to pour the oil she possessed into the empty vessels. The miracle was to take place out of the sight of others. 

As soon as she filled one vessel, she was to set it aside and begin filling another (3-4). She did just as she was told, having her sons bring her empty vessels until none remained to fill. As soon as no vessels were left, the oil stopped flowing (5-6). The prophet then told the widow to go back to her neighbors from whom she had borrowed the vessels and sell the oil back to them to pay off the debt (7).

The witness of God’s presence is more powerful than seeing the miracle. The impact of the miracle is greatest when told by another, when explained along with the impact the miracle had on one’s emotions, spirit, and life. God often does miracles in secret so that the person’s testimony of God’s love through the miracle will spread and impact those who hear. 

The Birth Miracle (8-17) 

Elisha often traveled and passed through Shunem, a city 15 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. In Shunem lived a wealthy woman who would feed Elisha, and she, in turn, would feed on Elisha’s prophetic insight (8). Over time, the wealthy woman came to realize Elisha was not just another prophet she was feeding, but a man separated and specially belonging to Yahweh. She convinced her husband to add a small room on the roof of their home, enough for a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so whenever the prophet stopped for food, he could also have a place of solitude (9-10).

On one trip, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, was traveling with Elisha and staying at the wealthy woman’s home. Elisha sent Gehazi to ask the woman to come and stand before him so he might thank her for her kindness by conferring on her a blessing. Elisha imagined that with his access to the palace and the military commanders, he might mention her name before someone of distinction, and they might favor her and her husband with some honorary position, affording them financial consideration. Gehazi asked the woman in Elisha’s presence what she might wish as a favor from him. The wealthy woman assured the prophet she was well provided for by her already rich and well-known family (11-13). Still wanting to do something for the kind woman, Elisha asked Gehazi further what they might do, and Gehazi mentioned the obvious: she was married to an old man, and they were without children (14).

Elisha told her she would be nursing a son within the year (15). The phrase “about this time next year” was used in one other place—in Genesis 18, where Yahweh made a “this time next year” promise to Abraham and Sarah. 

The miracle of birth to barren women is traced through Scripture: Sarah (Isaac), Rebekah (Jacob and Esau), Rachel (Joseph), Mrs. Manoah (Samson), Hannah (Samuel), and, in time, Elizabeth (John the Baptist). In every other case, a son was born who was necessary for the survival or deliverance of God’s people. This miracle birth was in response to God’s covenant love alone. We are reminded: God does mammoth miracles just for the sake of covenant love.   

Of course, the woman was beside herself at the thought of having a child. She begged caution from the man of God, not wanting to be deceived with hope and later disappointed (16). Yet, regardless of her doubt, the next year she was nursing a son (17).