Thematic Bible




1 Kings 17:1 (show verse)

Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As certainly as the Lord God of Israel lives (whom I serve), there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command."

1 Kings 17:2 (show verse)

The Lord told him:

1 Kings 17:3 (show verse)

"Leave here and travel eastward. Hide out in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan.

1 Kings 17:4 (show verse)

Drink from the stream; I have already told the ravens to bring you food there."

1 Kings 17:5 (show verse)

So he did as the Lord told him; he went and lived in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan.

1 Kings 17:6 (show verse)

The ravens would bring him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he would drink from the stream.

1 Kings 17:7 (show verse)

After a while, the stream dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

1 Kings 17:8 (show verse)

The Lord told him,

1 Kings 17:9 (show verse)

"Get up, go to Zarephath in Sidonian territory, and live there. I have already told a widow who lives there to provide for you."

1 Kings 17:10 (show verse)

So he got up and went to Zarephath. When he went through the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. He called out to her, "Please give me a cup of water, so I can take a drink."

1 Kings 17:11 (show verse)

As she went to get it, he called out to her, "Please bring me a piece of bread."

1 Kings 17:12 (show verse)

She said, "As certainly as the Lord your God lives, I have no food, except for a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. Right now I am gathering a couple of sticks for a fire. Then I'm going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation."
Barrel » An earthen jar
Bible stories for children » David the giant killer 1sa 17 » The food that never grew less
Blessing » Temporal » From God » Examples of » To the widow of zerephath
Bread » How prepared » Cakes
Bread » Meal
Christian ministers » God's care of
Christian ministers » Hospitality to » Woman of zarephath to elijah
Elijah » By divine direction goes to zarephath, where he is sustained in the household of a widow, whose meal and oil are miraculousiy increased
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Ahab
human Limitations » Knowledge limited strength limited » A handful of meal and a cruse of oil
Limited resources » Man's limited resources » A handful of meal and a cruse of oil
Miracles » Catalogue of » Elijah » Increases the widow's meal and oil
Oil » For food
Oil » Used for food
Oil » Used » For food
Oil » Kept in » Cruises
Olive oil » For food
Poor » Kindness to » To the widow of zarephath
The poor » Exemplified » Widow of zarephath
Poverty » Of the righteous, examples of » The widow of zarephath
Power » Small things God uses » A handful of meal and a little oil
Select readings » Elijah's miraculous preservation
Self-denial » Exemplified » Widow of zarephath
Self-denial » Instances of » The widow of zarephath, in sharing with elijah the last of her sustenance
Weak » Instrumentalities » A handful of meal and a little oil
Widow's » Instances of great liberality in
Women » Good » Widow of zarephath, who fed elijah during the famine
Zarephath » Elijah performs two miracles in

1 Kings 17:13 (show verse)

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go and do as you planned. But first make a small cake for me and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son.
Bible stories for children » David the giant killer 1sa 17 » The food that never grew less
Blessing » Temporal » From God » Examples of » To the widow of zerephath
Bread » Was formed into » Cakes
Christian ministers » God's care of
Christian ministers » Hospitality to » Woman of zarephath to elijah
God's Claim's » Gives God priority of claim » Upon all the possessions of men
Elijah » By divine direction goes to zarephath, where he is sustained in the household of a widow, whose meal and oil are miraculousiy increased
Faith » Faith tested tested » By demanding the last morsel of bread
Faith » Instances of » Widow of zarephath in feeding elijah
Fear » Not » Supplies in famine
Fear nots » Supplies in famine
Giving » Sacrificial » The widow of zarephath
God » Examples of Leadership » Claims of, upon all the possessions of men
Hindrances » Faith tested » By demanding the last morsel of bread
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Ahab
Miracles » Catalogue of » Elijah » Increases the widow's meal and oil
Oil » Used for food
divine Ownership » Of men's possessions
Poor » Kindness to » To the widow of zarephath
Prophets » Commands
Select readings » Elijah's miraculous preservation
Sacrificial giving » The widow of zarephath
Self-denial » Exemplified » Widow of zarephath
Self-denial » Instances of » The widow of zarephath, in sharing with elijah the last of her sustenance
Seven » Fear nots » Supplies in famine
spiritual Tests » Faith tested » By demanding the last morsel of bread
Widow's » Instances of great liberality in
Women » Good » Widow of zarephath, who fed elijah during the famine
Zarephath » Elijah performs two miracles in

1 Kings 17:14 (show verse)

For this is what the Lord God of Israel says, 'The jar of flour will not be empty and the jug of oil will not run out until the day the Lord makes it rain on the surface of the ground.'"

1 Kings 17:15 (show verse)

She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family.

1 Kings 17:16 (show verse)

The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

1 Kings 17:17 (show verse)

After this the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. His illness was so severe he could no longer breathe.

1 Kings 17:18 (show verse)

She asked Elijah, "Why, prophet, have you come to me to confront me with my sin and kill my son?"

1 Kings 17:19 (show verse)

He said to her, "Hand me your son." He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him down on his bed.

1 Kings 17:20 (show verse)

Then he called out to the Lord, "O Lord, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?"

1 Kings 17:21 (show verse)

He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord, "O Lord, my God, please let this boy's breath return to him."

1 Kings 17:22 (show verse)

The Lord answered Elijah's prayer; the boy's breath returned to him and he lived.

1 Kings 17:23 (show verse)

Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room to the house, and handed him to his mother. Elijah then said, "See, your son is alive!"

1 Kings 17:24 (show verse)

The woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a prophet and that the Lord really does speak through you."