2 Kings 4:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

Sons

2 Kings 4:38

2 Kings 2:3

1 Kings 20:35

Thy servant did fear

The creditor

General references

Exodus 22:25

Job 24:9

Proverbs 22:27

Bible References

Sons

So Elisha returned to Gilgal. Now the famine [was] in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, put on the large pot and cook a stew for the sons of the prophets.

Then the sons of the prophets who [were in] Bethel came out to Elisha, and they said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh [is] going to take your master {from you} today?" He said, "I also know; be quiet!"

A certain man from the sons of the prophets said to his fellow countryman, "By the word of Yahweh, please strike me." But the man refused to strike him.

Thy servant did fear

And he said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the boy; do not do anything to him. For now I know that you are {one who fears} God, since you have not withheld your son, your only child, from me."

Ahab summoned Obadiah who [was] over the house. (Now Obadiah was fearing Yahweh greatly.

I gave command over Jerusalem to my brother Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the citadel. For he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

For as [the] heavens are high above the earth, [so] his loyal love prevails over those who fear him.

Praise Yah! Blessed [is the] man [who] fears Yahweh; he takes great delight in his commands.

He will bless [those who] fear Yahweh, the small with the great.

Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, the ones who hope for his loyal love.

Although the sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will be good for those who fear God--because they fear {his presence}.

Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

Then those who revered Yahweh spoke {with one another}. And Yahweh listened attentively and heard, and a scroll of remembrance was written {before him} of those who revere Yahweh and ponder his name.

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise, with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like {fattened calves}.

"Men [and] brothers, sons of the family of Abraham and those among you who fear God--to us the message of this salvation has been sent!

Who would never fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you [are] holy, because all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous deeds have been revealed."

And a voice came out from the throne, saying, "Praise our God all his slaves, and those who fear him, the small and the great!"

The creditor

" 'And if your countryman [who is] with you becomes poor, and he is sold to you, {you shall not treat him as a slave}.

There were those who were saying, "Our sons and daughters, we are many. We must get grain so that we may eat and live."

And the peoples of the land who bring merchandise and any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not accept it from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. We will forego [the crops of] the seventh year and [cancel] every debt.

"At [the] end of seven years you must let go each one his fellow countryman, the Hebrew who has been sold to you and who has served you six years, and you must let him go free from you." But your ancestors did not listen to me, and they did not incline their ears.

And [because] he did not have [enough] to repay [it], the master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and his children and everything that he had, and to be repaid.

For judgment [is] merciless to the one who has not practiced mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

General references

" 'If you lend money [to] my people, [to] the needy with you, you will not be to him as a creditor; you will not {charge him interest}.

"They snatch [the] orphan from [the] breast, and they take a pledge against [the] needy.

If there is nothing for you to pay, why will he take your bed from under you?