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Theosis · English Bible
3 Kingdoms (1 Kings)

3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 17

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1And Eliu the prophet, the Thesbite of Thesbæ of Galaad, said to Achaab, As the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be these years dew nor rain, except by the word of my mouth. 2And the word of the Lord came to Eliu, saying, 3Depart hence eastward, and hide thee by the brook of Chorrath, that is before Jordan. 4And it shall be that thou shalt drink water of the brook, and I will charge the ravens to feed thee there. 5And Eliu did according to the word of the Lord, and he sat by the brook of Chorrath before Jordan. 6And the ravens brought him loaves in the morning, and flesh in the evening, and he drank water of the brook. 7And it came to pass after some time, that the brook was dried up, because there had been no rain upon the earth. 8And the word of the Lord came to Eliu, saying, 9Arise, and go to Sarepta of the Sidonian land: behold, I have there commanded a widow-woman to maintain thee. 10And he arose and went to Sarepta, and came to the gate of the city: and, behold, a widow-woman was there gathering sticks; and Eliu cried after her, and said to her, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11And she went to fetch it; and Eliu cried after her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of the bread that is in thy hand. 12And the woman said, As the Lord thy God lives, I have not a cake, but only a handful of meal in the pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse, and, behold, I am going to gather two sticks, and I shall go in and dress it for myself and my children, and we shall eat it and die. 13And Eliu said to her, Be of good courage, go in and do according to thy word: but make me thereof a little cake, and thou shalt bring it out to me first, and thou shalt make some for thyself and thy children last. 14For thus saith the Lord, The pitcher of meal shall not fail, and the cruse of oil shall not diminish, until the day that the Lord gives rain upon the earth. 15And the woman went and did so, and did eat, she, and he, and her children. 16And the pitcher of meal failed not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by the hand of Eliu. 17And it came to pass afterward, that the son of the woman the mistress of the house was sick; and his sickness was very severe, until there was no breath left in him. 18And she said to Eliu, What have I to do with thee, O man of God? hast thou come in to me to bring my sins to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19And Eliu said to the woman, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and took him up to the chamber in which he himself lodged, and laid him on the bed. 20And Eliu cried aloud, and said, Alas, O Lord, the witness of the widow with whom I sojourn, thou hast wrought evil for her in slaying her son. 21And he breathed on the child thrice, and called on the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, let, I pray thee, the soul of this child return to him. 22And it was so, and the child cried out, 23and he brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; and Eliu said, See, thy son lives. 24And the woman said to Eliu, Behold, I know that thou art a man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true.

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3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 17:10

John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom4th century

It is important to examine the prophet’s reliance on a widow, illustrating how this lofty and divine figure, the courageous and esteemed Elijah, approached the door of a widow while appearing as a traveler and a supplicant, voicing a request for sustenance: "give me bread, give me water" (1 Kings 17:10-11). This highlights the notion that a widow's dwelling is perhaps the most suitable of places, a humble abode devoid of material wealth and the troubles that accompany it. Such a space is serene, imbued with wisdom, and quieter than any bustling port. These humble surroundings are particularly sought after by the spirits of the saints. Thus, the prophet chose to visit the widow, serving as a critique of the Jewish people's unwillingness to extend hospitality, and illustrating how the Jews justly faced consequences for their actions.

When God intends to discipline someone, He does not merely execute punishment or rest content with His decree; rather, He justifies His actions before humanity through demonstrative deeds, much like a judge presiding in a courtroom, surrounded by a multitude. Just as judges, poised high upon their seats, raise the veils, gather all witnesses, and proceed to hear the accused before everyone, God, as if from a celestial throne, surveys sins in the open. Instead of summoning records or documents, He presents the very transgressions of humanity.

Now let us return to the widow. The Scriptures state, "And he arose and went to Sarepta," where he found the widow gathering sticks—a humble beginning reflective of her inner poverty. What was his reaction? Upon witnessing her meager hospitality, did the prophet turn away? No, he followed the divine command, calling out to her, “Give me a little water in a vessel to drink...”

Elijah traveled to Sarepta of Sidon and encountered a widow collecting firewood. Observe the depth of his spirituality and trust. He did not question God, asking, "To whom are You sending me? Why must I face these dangers and approach a widow amid such famine? Are there not wealthier individuals who could alleviate my need? I have journeyed far to seek a widow in dire straits, and a poor one at that?" Yet the servant of God remained silent on such matters, placing his faith in his Lord, who transforms the impossible into reality. "Go," the Lord instructed, "to Sarepta of Sidon... and behold, there is a widow there gathering firewood."

Why do you seek a widow, Elijah? You see her in her state of poverty—do not probe deeper; you are at the threshold of her humble home. Why do you request sustenance from one who gathers wood? Nevertheless, following the word of the Lord, Elijah engaged the widow in conversation. He began with a simple request: "Give me some water... to drink." Notice the wisdom of Elijah; he did not start with a demanding request but chose to ask for something less substantial. He did not say, "Give me bread," but rather, "Bring me a little water," believing that if she could provide water, bread might follow.