# 1 Kings 17 š: Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Elijah Visits a Widow in Sidonian Territory
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, āAs certainly as theĀ LordĀ God of Israel lives (whom I serve),Ā there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.ā
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā TheĀ Lordās message came to him:Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā āLeave here and travel eastward. Hide out in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan.Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā Drink from the stream; I have already toldĀ the ravens to bring you foodĀ there.āĀ
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā So he carried outĀ theĀ Lordās message; he went and lived in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan.Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā The ravens would bring him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he would drink from the stream.
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā After a while,Ā the stream dried up because there had been no rain in the land.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā TheĀ Lordās message came to him,Ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā āGet up, go to Zarephath in Sidonian territory, and live there. I have already toldĀ a widow who lives there to provide for you.āĀ
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā So he got up and went to Zarephath. When he went through the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. He called out to her, āPlease give me a little water in a cup, so I can take a drink.ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā As she went to get it, he called out to her, āPlease bring me a piece of bread.āĀ
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā She said, āAs certainly as theĀ LordĀ your God lives, I have no food, except for a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. Right now I am gathering a couple of sticks for a fire. Then Iām going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation.āĀ
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā Elijah said to her, āDonāt be afraid. Go and do as you planned.Ā But first make me a small cakeĀ and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā For this is what theĀ LordĀ God of Israel has said: āThe jar of flour will not be empty and the jug of oil will not run out until the day theĀ LordĀ makes it rain on the surface of the ground.āāĀ
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, in keeping with theĀ Lordās message that he had spoken through Elijah.
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā After thisĀ the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. His illness was so severe he could no longer breathe.Ā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā She asked Elijah, āWhy, prophet, have you comeĀ to me to confront me withĀ my sin and kill my son?āĀ
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā He said to her, āHand me your son.ā He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him down on his bed.Ā
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā Then he called out to theĀ Lord, āOĀ Lord, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?āĀ
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to theĀ Lord, āOĀ Lord, my God, please let this boyās breath return to him.ā
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ answered Elijahās prayer; the boyās breath returned to him and he lived.Ā
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room to the house, and handed him to his mother. Elijah then said, āSee, your son is alive!ā
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā The woman said to Elijah, āNow I know that you are a prophetĀ and that theĀ Lordās message really does come through you.ā
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Elijah's name means "My God is the Lord."
2. Elijah came from Tishbe in Gilead (17:1), east of the Jordan River.
3. Baal was worshiped as a storm god who brought rain, so the drought directly challenged him.
4. The ravens that fed Elijah (17:6) were birds listed as unclean in the Law (Leviticus 11:15).
5. The Kerith Ravine was east of the Jordan (17:3).
6. Zarephath belonged to Sidon (17:9), the homeland of Jezebel and her father Ethbaal.
7. The widow's flour and oil lasted until the rain returned (17:14-16).
8. This is the first time in the Bible someone is raised from the dead.
9. Jesus pointed to Elijah and this widow when He was rejected in Nazareth (Luke 4:25-26).
10. James says Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and a half years (James 5:17).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Lord of life who gives sons back to grieving mothers. Elijah prayed and the widow's son lived (17:22), and Jesus raised the widow's son at Nain by His own word (Luke 7:11-16).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. God sent Elijah to be fed by ravens and then by a poor widow (17:4, 9). Why do you think God provides in such unexpected ways?
2. The widow had to give first before she saw God's provision (17:13-16). Where is God asking you to trust Him before you see the outcome?
3. Elijah brought his grief and questions honestly to God (17:20-21). How does this shape the way you pray in hard times?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 1: Elijah declares there will be no dew or rain except at his word.
- š verse 16: The flour jar is not empty and the oil jug does not run dry.
- š verse 24: The widow confesses that Elijah is a true prophet and the Lord's word through him is true.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[Deuteronomy 11#Verse 16.|Deuteronomy 11:16-17]] - Idolatry will shut up the sky.
- š [[Luke 04#Verse 25.|Luke 4:25-26]] - Elijah was sent to a widow in Sidon.
- š [[Luke 07#Verse 11.|Luke 7:11-16]] - Jesus raises the widow's son at Nain.
- š [[James 05#Verse 17.|James 5:17-18]] - Elijah was a man like us, and he prayed.
- š [[2 Kings 04#Verse 32.|2 Kings 4:32-37]] - Elisha raises the Shunammite's son.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[1 Kings 17 - SOAP|Does Prayer Matter?]]
## š Internal Notes