2 Kings 4:7

7 Forsooth she came, and showed it to the man of God; and he said, Go thou, sell the oil, and yield to thy creancer; and thou and thy children live ye off the remnant, or the residue. (And she came, and showed it to the man of God; and he said, Go thou, sell the oil, and yield what thou owest to thy creditor; and then thou and thy children live ye on the rest.)

2 Kings 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God
Elisha the prophet, what had been done, what a quantity of oil she had, and advised with him what was to be done with it:

and he said, go, sell thy oil, and pay thy debt;
what was thus miraculously produced was no doubt very good and excellent, and would fetch a good price; and she is therefore bid to turn it into money, and pay her debts with it; she was not to keep it all for her own use, and indulge to luxury with it, but first pay her just debt, as everyone ought to do that is able:

and live thou and thy children of the rest;
so that it seems there was enough to pay her debt with it, rid her of her troubles, and somewhat remaining for the support of herself and children.

2 Kings 4:7 In-Context

5 Therefore the woman went, and closed the door on herself and on her sons, (and) they brought the vessels, and she poured in(to them).
6 And when the vessels were full, she said to her son, Bring yet a vessel to me. And he answered, I have not. And then the oil stood, increasing no more. (And when all the vessels were full, she said to her son, Bring me another vessel. And he answered, I have no more. And then the oil stood still, or stopped, and increased no more.)
7 Forsooth she came, and showed it to the man of God; and he said, Go thou, sell the oil, and yield to thy creancer; and thou and thy children live ye off the remnant, or the residue. (And she came, and showed it to the man of God; and he said, Go thou, sell the oil, and yield what thou owest to thy creditor; and then thou and thy children live ye on the rest.)
8 Forsooth a day was made, and Elisha passed by a city, Shunem; and a great woman was there, which held him, that he should eat bread, that is, busily prayed (him to come) to meat. And when he passed oft thereby, he turned to her, that he would eat bread with her (And often when he passed by, he would turn in at her home, so he could share a meal with her).
9 And she said to her husband, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, that passeth oft by us (who often passeth by us);
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.