2 kings 3 and 4

Read 2 Kings 3 and 4 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Kin 3:1-3 {p} Jehoram, son of Ahab, began to reign/ he did evil in the sight of YHVH
2 Kin 3:4-10 {s} Moab rebelled against Israel/ Jehoram allies himself with Judah and Edom to fight against him
2 Kin 3:11-27 {p} The miraculous victory over Moab at the word of the LORD
2 Kin 4:1-7 {p} Elisha and the miracle of the oil to pay the widow’s debt
2 Kin 4:8-37 {p} Elisha and the miracle of the birth and raising from death the Shunammite’s son
2 Kin 4:38-41 {s} Elisha and the miracle of cleansing the poison from the pot of stew
2 Kin 4:42-44 {p} Elisha and the miracle of feeding 100 men with 20 loaves of firstfrutis barley

The strong themes are self-explanatory today.

The chiastic structure for chapter 4 is interesting:

1a) 2 Kin 4:1-7 {p} Elisha and the miracle of the jar of oil, that the widow and her sons might live

1a) 2 Kin 4:4:1, A widow cried to Elisha: a creditor is coming to take my sons for slaves;
1b) 2 Kin 4:2, Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil;
1c) 2 Kin 4:3, Elisha: Borrow vessels, not just a few;
central axis) 2 Kin 4:4-6a, As Elisha instructed, so the widow did: she poured oil and set aside the full ones;
2c) 2 Kin 4:6b, When there were no more vessels;
2b) 2 Kin 4:6c, The oil ceased;
2a) 2 Kin 4:7 {p} The widow told Elisha/ “Sell the oil +pay your debt + you, your sons live on the rest.”

1b) 2 Kin 4:8-16, The kindness of the Shunammite/ Elisha: Call her + you shall embrace a son;

1c) 2 Kin 4:16b-21, Shunammite: Do not deceive me/ she bore a son + however he took ill and died;

1) 2 Kin 4:16b, And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant;”
2) 2 Kin 4:17-21, She conceived + bore a son + he grew/ one day he took ill and died;

1d) 2 Kin 4:22-26, When asked, the Shunammite hid the news, only answering, “It is well;”

central axis) 2 Kin 4:27a, When she came to Elisha, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But Elisha said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress;”

2d) 2 Kin 4:27b, Elisha: the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me;

2c) 2 Kin 4:28-35, Shunammite: Did I not say, Do not deceive me/ her son was restored to life;

1) 2 Kin 4:28, She said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”
2) 2 Kin 4:29-35, Elisha went to her son, and the boy was restored to life;

2b) 2 Kin 4:36-37 {p} Elisha: Call this Shunammite woman + embrace your son;

2a) 2 Kin 4:38-44 {s+p} Elisha and the miracle of healing + multiplying the food, that the people might eat.

It reads like a chapter from the Gospels, doesn’t it? Notice also how many times Elisha is not named by name, but is called the man of God. This chapter is prophesying by type, that the Prophet like Moses who is to come, who is Messiah Yeshua, will walk in the power of the Spirit as the Man of God, or as He called Himself, the Son of Man.

Also notice, that all the miraculous working of the Spirit in this chapter, is in response to need. There is deliverance from debt and slavery, giving of life and deliverance from death (the sign of resurrection life is a sign of Messiah in Scripture), and providing food – bread to eat. This ministry of the Spirit is the same ministry as Messiah Yeshua, and it is the same ministry He has charged us to be doing, until His return:

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Mat 28:18-20

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mar 16:15-18

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” Joh 14:12

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Act 10:34-43