Wesley Corpus

Chapter IV Elisha multiplies the widow's oil, ver. 1 - 7. Obtains a son for the Shunamite, ver. 8 - 17. Raises him again to life, ver. 18 - 37. Heals the deadly pottage, ver. 38 - 41. Feeds an hundred men with twenty small loaves, ver. 42 - 44. Prophets - Who, though they were wholly devoted to sacred employment, were not excluded from marriage, any more than the priests and Levites. Fear the Lord - His poverty therefore was not procured by his idleness, or prodigality; but by his piety, because he would not comply with the king's way of worship, and therefore lost all worldly advantages. Bondmen - Either, to use them as his slaves, or to sell them to others, according to the law. What shall I - How shall I relieve thee, who am myself poor Unto her son - To one of them: for she had two, ver.1. The oil stayed - To teach us, that we should not waste any of his good creatures; and that God would not work miracles unnecessarily. We are never straiten'd in God, and in his power and bounty, and the riches of his grace. All our straitness is in ourselves. It is our faith that fails, not his promise. Were there more vessels, there is enough in God to fill them, enough for all, enough for each. Great - For estate, or birth and quality. This is - A prophet, and that of eminent holiness: by our kindness to whom, we shall procure a blessing to ourselves. On the wall - That he may be free from the noise of family business, and enjoy that privacy, which, I perceive, he desireth for his prayers and meditations. A bed, &c. - He will not be troublesome or chargeable to us: he cares not for rich furniture or costly entertainment, and is content with bare necessaries. She stood - The relation seems to be a little perplexed, but may be thus conceived.