College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
2 Kings 4 - Introduction
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
PRIVATE MIRACLES IN THE MINISTRY OF ELISHA
Elisha was truly God's wonder worker among the Old Testament prophets. His ministry was undergirded by a large number and wide variety of miracles. In 2 Kings 4:1 to 2 Kings 6:7 eight of his miraculous works have been collected. All eight have to do with individuals or small groups of disciples. All save one were beneficent in character. Classification of these wondrous works is difficult, but perhaps the following breakdown will be useful: (1) miracles on behalf of two faithful women (2 Kings 4:1-37); (2) miracles on behalf of the sons of the prophets (2 Kings 4:38-44); (3) a miracle on behalf of an Aramean general (2 Kings 5:1-19); (4) a judicial miracle (2 Kings 5:20-27); and (5) a levitation miracle (2 Kings 6:1-7).
REVIEW OF CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I. FACTS TO MASTER
A. Important names to identify in relation to chapter seven teen:
1. Elisha
3. Naaman
2. Gehazi
4. Rimmon
B. Important places to identify in relation to this chapter:
1. Shunem
4. Abanah and Pharpar
2. Mt. Carmel
5. Damascus
3. Baal-shalishah
6. Jordan
C. Words and phrases which should bring to remembrance key events in this chapter:
1. creditor
6. a letter
2. jar of oil
7. two mule loads of earth
3. upper chamber
8. an axhead
4. staff
9. a stick
5. wild gourds
D. Who said?
1.
Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.
2.
Truly she has no son and her husband is old.
3.
My head, my head!
4.
Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath.
5.
There is death in the pot!
6.
Am I God, to kill and to make alive. ?
7.
Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me
8.
Alas, my master for it was borrowed!
E. Important numbers
1.
The amount of gold, silver and changes of raiment Naaman took to Israel
2.
Number of times Naaman was told to dip in Jordan
3.
Number of talents and changes Gehazi received from Naaman
4.
Number of times a dead boy sneezed as he revived
5.
Number of barley loaves brought to Elisha at Gilgal
6.
Number of prophets fed with the few loaves
II. QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.
What parallels are there between the miracles wrought by Elisha and those previously performed by Elijah?
2.
Who were the sons of the prophets?
3.
What did the meal have to do with the healing of the noxious pottage at Gilgal?
4.
Why did Elisha send Gehazi on ahead to Shunem when he learned of the lad's death?
5.
Why did Elisha stretch out on top of the body of the dead Shunammite boy?
6.
What spiritual lessons can be derived from the account of the multiplication of the widow's oil? The multiplication of the loaves?
7.
As Naaman sought cleansing from leprosy, he made several mistakes. The same mistakes are often made by those who want cleansing from sin. What are some of these mistakes?
8.
Who is the unsung hero of the Naaman story? In what way does this person challenge our lives?
9.
What kind of relations existed between Israel and Damascus during the time of Naaman?
10.
Why did Elisha not go out to greet the Aramean dignitary who came to call on him?
11.
What was there in the waters of Jordan that brought cleansing to Naaman? In this case, would one river have been just as good as another?
12.
For what purpose did Naaman wish to take two mule burdens of earth back to Damascus?
13.
To what degree was Naaman converted by his healing experience?
14.
In what sense was the miracle of Naaman's healing per formed for the benefit of the Israelites as well as the Arameans?
15.
What motivated Gehazi to follow Naaman and request a reward? Why the lie? How did Elisha know what Gehazi had been up to? Of what does Gehazi warn us?
16.
Why was the prophetic student so concerned about the axhead he had lost? What purpose did the stick serve in the recovery of the axhead? What spiritual lessons are there in this story?