A good overview of a rarely talked-about site. and of the New Testament . Widow of Zarephath: Bible by Frank Frick In Brief Ninth century B.C.E. 2022 12 Sep Scripture is filled with accounts of amazing people and the ways in which God works through their lives. Perhaps Elijah knew that the first woman he encountered would be the widow of Gods instruction. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food. Shes merely letting Elijah know why she cant provide for him. Both were in pagan lands surrounded by evil idolators. What is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath? The story of a widow, who remained unnamed in the Bible, was important enough to have her faith and obedience recorded in the Bible. I love storytelling. Is there any desperation so great as that of a parent who cannot feed their child? But she wasnt. Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you. She was a woman and a foreigner, considered disposable by the framers of Israels scriptures who used her as a narrative tool. Did you know that before starting this podcast I was a filmmaker? This woman didn't know that the LORD is a loving LORD. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 1 Kings 17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. Obadiah 1:20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. The Widow of Zarephath 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Youve gone through the motions. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT History: 1 Kings 17:9 Arise get you to Zarephath which belongs (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. In grief, she lashed out at Elijah, fearing that her own sin had killed her son. She felt forsaken. 8Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there, for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.(A) 10So he set out and went to Zarephath. What did it take for you to discover Him as Your God and to establish a personal relationship with Him? Lets keep in touch. The world is about to turn, in fact the world is already turning. The Widow of Zarephath - BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in She was faithful and obedient to the commands of the LORD. . This page has collected information from several different sources, mainly Bible dictionaries. He was there to have his needs met. For the way that You provide for our needs, going above and beyond what we expected, we thank You. Biblical Principles Elijah who suffered from the famine obeyed God's command to go to Zarephath. Have you heard talk, it sounds interesting, but you dont really understand it all and you have no idea where to begin? Women of the Bible: The Widow of Zarephath - My Life. His Story. Like this podcast, they all share stories of faith and redemption. She ran at them clapping her hands shouting, Shoo! Ras esh-Shiq was the site of a Roman quay, and Ras el-Qantara was the site of the Phoenician Iron Age tell. What is the story of the widow of Zarephath? - BibleAsk The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. People are hungry for justice in this country, some folks, black folk, are starving for justice. He said to her, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink," and, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand" (verses 11-12). It was located betwixt the obsolete city-domains.. It appears in the Greek form Sarepta in Luke 4:26 (the King James Version), and is said to be in the land of Sidon. And he called to her and said, Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. 12And she said, (D)As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. This was trying times in her life and there was no guarantee there was going to be more meal or oil enough to sustain Elijah, her dying son and herself. The Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath illustrates the biblical story of the encounter between prophet Elijah and a widow and her son gathering sticks when he arrives at the town of Zarephath. And then in v 12 she responds to Elijah using the Name of his God: As the Holy One your God lives if she did not have a conversation with God how did she learn Gods most sacred and unpronounceable Name rendered here as the Holy One? 8Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9Arise, go to (A)Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. After Elijah prophesied to King Ahab that there would be no rain in the land until the Lord ordained it, God sent Elijah to find shelter at the brook of Cherith. Go home to your mothers. She bent back over the bramble she was breaking into manageable pieces and she heard it again: Umma!, Who speaks to me? she cried. PDF L2 The Widow of Zeraphath Instead of asking for forgiveness and repenting, we dwell on the short comings of our sins blaming everything bad that has happens in our lives. But real life often has unexpected plot twists. art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? Hunger for the transformations of soul, practice and, faith on the other side of the Lenten wilderness. Here Elijah sojourned with a poor widow during the "great famine," when the "heaven was shut up three years and six months" Zarephath - Meaning, Biblical Definition and Location. People are hungry for freedom, for the freedom to be who they are on the inside and on the outside. Start for FREE. She explained to Elijah she was gathering two sticks that she could prepare the meal for her and her son that they may eat it, and die. Imagine her joy when he said, thus says the Lord God of Israel and proceeded to tell her that God would provide for her. The raising of the son of the widow of Zarephath is a miracle of the prophet Elijah recorded in the Hebrew Bible, 1 Kings 17, taking place in the Phoenician city of Zarephath . Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. And Elijah said to her, Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. In verse 8, the Lord commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. Elijah asked her for water. Umma does as Elijah and God bid her. One day she heard a voice as strong as thunder and as gentle as rain. However, given what she will subsequently disclose, it may simply be that her well was dry, the well of her soul. Why did God allow the widows son to die? 18:10, 15; 22:14; 2 Kgs. 3:14; 5:16; See Ruth 3:13. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you. 10So he arose and went to (B)Zarephath. Amen. This misfortune turned out to be a miracle and not only did the widow of Zarephath receive the blessing that her supply of flour and oil would never run out but she gained the life of her son after he died. Sometimes God puts us where we are supposed to be in order to be blessed. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Elijah knows thats not how God works, but hes equally confused as to why God would allow this kind womans son to die after she had proven so selfless. (1 Kings 17:17-23). It is not because of our righteousness or any of our good works that we were saved by Him. When the situation looked beyond hopeless, God sent a miracle. Umma and her son were also food insecure. We meet the Widow of Zarethath in 1 Kings 17. Giving, not getting, is the way. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. Travel & Appearances: Community & Congregational Presentations, A Lineage in Bethlehem: Advent III Year A, Good Fruit. The boys mother acknowledges Elijah is a man of God. The Widow at Zarephath and the Provision of God - Jesus Plus Nothing Her joy: To experience repeated miracles of God's provision. She did not believe in God. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die. 13And Elijah said to her, Do not fear; go and do as you have said. Unlikely because the distinctions between Israelite and Canaanite were thin; indeed, many understand Israelite to be a sub-genre of Canaanite. This is the hermeneutics of reversal. Not all of these things were beyond her material resources. It wasnt until I began researching her, though, that I realized that she wasnt actually a Hebrew, but was instead a native of Zidon, the homeland of Jezebel. Most important she learned that the word of the LORD is the truth. They live in northwest Illinois with their two children. All rights So the widow was aware that the man of God was coming, and that she was to provide for him. And always, always, involuntary hunger for those whose deprivation is not an ancient religious practice tied to a particular liturgical season. [See ver. Then, God took her son. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. He told her God would replenish what she had so it would last until the famine ended. Elijah was told to dwell by the brook Cheribth. The widow, who is nameless throughout the scripture, like many of the people of Israel worshiped a pagan god. EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE) Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (9) Zarephath the Sarepta of the LXX. (2 Corinthians 4:4), Elijah who suffered from the famine obeyed Gods command to go to Zarephath. Youre missing that personal connection. Otherwise, Elijah is just another would be colonizer using religious language to couch his demands expecting native folk to hand over their resources without question. The LORD God had commanded this widow woman to sustain someone she did not know during a time of great drought and starvation. But her troubles were not over. south-southwest of Sidon. She has no prepared food to offer. And liminal spaces are the places where the holy divine often breaks through into the needs and hunger of this world. 8-16. the word of the Lord came to himZarephath, Sarepta, now Surafend, whither he was directed to go, was far away on the western coast of Palestine, about nine miles . Even when they are disposable to the constructed and contrived God in the text, no one is disposable to the God who transcends the text, the God beyond the text. When the prophet arrived she determined to do as he asks, only that and nothing more. 19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. But when God delivered her son from the dead, she understood that He wasnt just a God for the Israelites. Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? Hunger for time with God. She trusted Elijah. 28 Daily Devotional | Widow of Zarephath: Now I Know March 27, 2022 | 1 Kings 17:1-24 Devotions Imagine that your pantry is empty.even the shelves of your refrigerator are bare. The LORD God told His prophet Elijah that because of the wickedness of the people He would cause there not to be rain in the land for three and a half years. Indeed, the soaring language of Gods fidelity in the psalm is muddied by the portrayed of God as the Great Colonizer giving Israel the heritage and land of the other nations. Elijahs prophecy is that her containers of oil and flour will continue undiminished until the drought is broken. Bad Fruit. She is a great example of having faith, trust and obedience to the LORD. 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. Youve prayed. The Widow of Zarephath is a picture of faith. Reading the story from Ummas perspective requires us to tell a different story, preach a different sermon. The Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath, The LORD had been preparing her to be an instrument in His hand. Elijah took the boys body to his upper room and prayed until God restored his life. When her son became sick and died the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he was revived. The distraught mother blames herself. It would have been nice had he been healed before he died so that she didnt have to go through all that anguish. We might imagine that she was dressed or veiled in a particular way signifying her status as a widow though there is no archaeological or anthropological evidence to suggest that but, let us not let scholarship get in the way of storytelling. She feeds Elijah in her home. The Lord had commanded this poor widow to feed Elijah. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Lord God, we come to You thanking You for your goodness. Remember the LORD had commanded a widow woman to sustain Elijah. She is a leading authority on historical development of Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults. What do you learn about King Ahab and his reign over Israel? For thus says the LORD God of Israel: The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth. . See our. The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. When the brook of Cheribth dried up the LORD told Elijah to go to the city of Zarephath where there was a widow woman there that would sustain him. We are never alone, He hears our every prayers, He answers our prayers in ways we would never imagine. Why did Elijah go to Zarephath? Biblical History During the severe famine in the reign of King Ahab, Elijah sought out lodging with a widow in Zarephath. APA Style Citation: Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah - Jewish Women's Archive My husband and I produced 7 feature films, 5 of which are currently available. - Arise, get thee to Zarephath [Cf. She saw some children playing. But he could have been any Israelite. Why is her conversation with God missing from the text? How perfect that when Elijah fled Israel in order to escape the wrath of Jezebel that he found refuge with a destitute widow in Jezebels pagan homeland. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there, for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." 10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. Hunger for time to spend with God. Zarephath is preserved in the name of the modern village, Sarafand. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. We ask that You provide us respite and remind us that You are in control. Verse 10. Twenty-two kilns were discovered, the earliest of which dated to the 13th century BC. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. Shes not being melodramatic or seeking sympathy. The Widow of Zarephath, the mother of the dying boy was afraid it was her fault because her sins were remembered and they were so bad that the LORD God slayed her son. The pressures and fears of our daily lives often feel more immediate than Your presence, Father. Lets start at the beginning. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. So she raised her son in that faith. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. Then those who had something gave something and it was enough. If you are in that situation, turn to God for help and deliverance today. Hers was not the only hungry mouth in town. He was her God, too. Why Is the Widow of Zarephath Important in the Bible? Miraculously, the widows small supply of flour and oil was not consumed until the famine came to an end. His request highlights the leanness of her hospitality. God sent Elijah to this city, within the very heart of the country ruled by the kings of Baal, to be nourished by a widow who was not an Israelite. But because she knew Elijah was a man of God, and of Elijahs petition to God to revive her son she experienced Gods grace and mercy. It is common for us all to blame ourselves and our sins for things that happen to us. Luke 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And God heard his cries and healed the boy. In todays episode of All Gods Women we look at the Widow of Zarephath a pagan woman living in Jezebels homeland who discovered that God wasnt just the Israelites God, He was hers, too. This is why following the tradition of the rabbis I gave Umma the name Ummashtarte, reflecting her religious heritage just as Elijahs name reflected his. Study of the scriptures and meditation upon them. Join PLUS . As it is written, this story is Elijahs story and she is a supporting player. When did you first hear about God? What was the widow doing when Elijah found her? (1 Kings 17:9), When Elijah instructed the widow to feed him first and then herself and her son, she obeyed him in faith (1 Kings 17:15). A Widow who received back her dead son back alive. And when her son died, Elijah brought him to life again (1 Kings 17:8-24). Obadiah 1:20.The name points to furnaces or workshops for the refining of metals, , liquavit.LXX. In the words of the Canticle of the Turning, she knew that the world was about to turn. People are hungry. June 25, 2023 - Pride Sunday | Scripture: Acts 17:1-9 (NRSV) | By San She explains to him that she doesnt have any bread, that in fact, all she has is a handful of flour and a tiny big of oil in a jar and she was gathering the sticks so that she might prepare a last meal for her and her son before they die from starvation. Readings from Lent II, Year A, A Womens Lectionary for the Whole Church, Check here to Subscribe to notifications for new posts. Join with other women in theAll Gods Women Bible Study Facebook group. This story is a dangerous story in the world that reads the text. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink. 11As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. 12But she said, As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.(B) 13Elijah said to her, Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. The text does not tell us how he recognized her and knew that she was a widow. 1 Kings 17:9 Commentaries: "Arise, go to Zarephath, which - Bible Hub gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. 1 Kings 17:10 - The Widow of Zarephath - Bible Hub The Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith Watchtower ONLINE She was poor and had only enough flour and oil to make bread for her son and herself. God has filled the hungry with good things, Widow of Zarephath - Lockyer's All the Women of the Bible - Bible Gateway Copyright 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. In this case, the widows beloved young son takes a sudden sickness and dies. But this time, instead of calling down a miracle from heaven that few could replicate, this time Jesus called for those who follow him to be the means of the miracle that would see the hungry fed. In Christs name we pray. John 1:14 reassures us: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Once again in 1Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.. We need to know about the time period she lived in and the events that led to her faithfulness to the LORD. Amen. Without hesitation or reservation or checking the identity, ethnicity or nationality, passport or immigration status of those in his midst who were hungry, Jesus preached and lived the hermeneutics of reversal like his mama taught him. Nothing makes sense right now as you watch your world crashing all around you. Elijah carried the boy downstairs and presented him to his mother. During the severe famine in the reign of King Ahab, Elijah sought out lodging with a widow in Zarephath. Just as Elijah promised, her provisions lasted many days. zar'-e-fath (tsarephath; Sarepta): The Sidonian town in which Elijah was entertained by a widow after he left the brook Cherith ( 1 Kings 17:9 ). And we will turn this world around because things cannot stand as they are forever. Tell Him what youre thinking. The Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith; The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom2014; Read in The Watchtower (Simplified) Subheadings . When her provisions were replenished as Elijah said they would be, she knew God was working though Elijah to help her and her son survive the famine. All of you. Copyright 2022| Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians |, The Psychological Condition of Depression. 1600 BC, and the city is mentioned in Papyrus Anastasi I from the reign of Rameses II. Some choose to go hungry feeding their children the little they have. We trust that God will protect us and act on our behalf, even when the way before us seems troubled. Umma, short for Ummastarte because a woman needs a name, especially when the narrator and editor of a holy text decides its unnecessary Umma is at the gate of her community in Zarephath. Restore our faith. The Widow of Zarephath (7/6/2020) - Women of the Bible - Bible Gateway The Word of the LORD is in reality truth and reliable. Elijah took her son to an upper room and prayed to God to restore his life. I am the God of gods., What do you want with me? I am sending you my prophet. Try it free today. . Youve read the Bible. The liquid thunder voice spoke again, I am God Whose Name is Holy, the God of all creation., Are you Baal? Baal is a child playing at my feet. Chicago, IL 60610 (800) DL-MOODY, Home Education Radio Publishers Conferences Today in the Word, This site uses cookies to provide you with more responsive and personalized service and to collect certain information about your use of the site. she remembers her covenant perpetually. Forgive us those times we grow impatient and lose hope. He heard Elijahs prayers. In Brief The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijah's story. Maybe youre a believer and youre going through a really difficult time right now. But they heard talk. Thus he asks her to fetch him a cup of water meaning, she must interrupt her household labor for this strange man because once he has asked, some measure of hospitality is due. She unbent her aching back and looked around. She had been planning her last meal for her and her son before they would die (v. 12). Mar. Umma trusts Elijah and his God and does as asked without question. 24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth. We turn to You for the peace we crave. Skip to content. English Standard Version (ESV). But God doesnt seem to be listening. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." 10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you." So he arose and went to Zarephath. - So he arose and went to Zarephath [It does not follow that his route lay over the "White Promontory," or Ladder of Tyre, the way our Lord took when He "departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon" (Matthew 15:21).If his place of concealment was anywhere near 'Abara, or Bethshean, it is probable he would keep east of the Jordan, as far as Banias or Dan, where the river is fordable . Wisdom of the Ages, whisper to us words of life from your words and mine. Voluntary hunger for those who fast from food and sometimes water. She asks Elijah if he came to them just so that she might be made aware of her sin and watch her son die in response to her sinfulness. Moody Bible Institute 820 N. LaSalle Blvd. Elijah met the woman Faith rewarded with a miracle The second miracle Jesus commended the widow's faith The widow of Zarephath lived in a coastal town in Phoenicia, 9 mi. 50+ premium resources ($2,400+ value!). Was the widow of Zarephath a gentile? Elijah had received word from God that he was to go to Zarephath and stay with a widow. The earliest occupation of Zarephath dates to the Late Bronze Age, ca. That is how we feed the hungry today. and sent the rich away empty. . We love you. The Good Book is available on Amazon Prime, TubiTV, and the Dove Channel. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son.
