(4) And when . . . thou shalt shut.—And go in and shut the door. The object was to avoid disturbance from without; perhaps, also, because publicity was undesirable in the case of such a miracle. (Comp. our Lord’s injunction of secrecy on those whom He healed, and His exclusion of the people, in Luke 8:51; Luke 8:54.)

Thou shalt set aside.—By the help of thy sons (2Kings 4:5-6).

2 Kings 4:4-6. Thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons — That none might come in to disturb or interrupt her in what site was doing; that she and her sons might not seem proudly to boast of this miraculous supply; and that they might have opportunity for prayer and praise on this, extraordinary occasion. And shalt pour out — Of the pot of oil which she had. Thou shalt set aside that which is full — Which one of her sons was employed to do, and the other to bring her the empty vessels. Bring me yet a vessel — Doubtless they were all amazed to find their pot, like a fountain of living water, always flowing, and yet always full. They saw not the bubbling spring that supplied it, but believed it to be in Him, in whom all our springs are. The oil stayed — When there was no vessel to receive it; to teach us that we should not waste any of God’s good creatures, and that God would not work miracles unnecessarily. This most signal miracle is like that which Elijah had wrought for the widow of Zarephath. How it was effected it is to no purpose to inquire, seeing it was the product of almighty power, of the operation of which, in its full extent, we cannot possibly have any conception. One important lesson we may learn from it; which is, that we are never straitened in God, in his power, or bounty, or the riches of his grace: all our straitness is in ourselves: it is our faith that fails, not his promise: he gives above what we ask: were there more vessels, there is enough in God to fill them; enough for all, enough for each.

4:1-7 Elisha's miracles were acts of real charity: Christ's were so; not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power. Elisha readily received a poor widow's complaint. Those that leave their families under a load of debt, know not what trouble they cause. It is the duty of all who profess to follow the Lord, while they trust to God for daily bread, not to tempt him by carelessness or extravagance, nor to contract debts; for nothing tends more to bring reproach upon the gospel, or distresses their families more when they are gone. Elisha put the widow in a way to pay her debt, and to maintain herself and her family. This was done by miracle, but so as to show what is the best method to assist those who are in distress, which is, to help them to improve by their own industry what little they have. The oil, sent by miracle, continued flowing as long as she had empty vessels to receive it. We are never straitened in God, or in the riches of his grace; all our straitness is in ourselves. It is our faith that fails, not his promise. He gives more than we ask: were there more vessels, there is enough in God to fill them; enough for all, enough for each; and the Redeemer's all-sufficiency will only be stayed from the supplying the wants of sinners and saving their souls, when no more apply to him for salvation. The widow must pay her debt with the money she received for her oil. Though her creditors were too hard with her, yet they must be paid, even before she made any provision for her children. It is one of the main laws of the Christian religion, that we pay every just debt, and give every one his own, though we leave ever so little for ourselves; and this, not of constraint, but for conscience' sake. Those who bear an honest mind, cannot with pleasure eat their daily bread, unless it be their own bread. She and her children must live upon the rest; that is, upon the money received for the oil, with which they must put themselves into a way to get an honest livelihood. We cannot now expect miracles, yet we may expect mercies, if we wait on God, and seek to him. Let widows in particular depend upon him. He that has all hearts in his hand, can, without a miracle, send as effectual a supply.A pot of oil - Or, "an anointing of oil" - so much oil, i. e., as would serve me for one anointing of my person. The word used occurs only in this passage. 2-4. a pot—or cruet of oil. This comprising her whole stock of domestic utensils, he directs her to borrow empty vessels not a few; then, secluding herself with her children, [the widow] was to pour oil from her cruse into the borrowed vessels, and, selling the oil, discharge the debt, and then maintain herself and family with the remainder. Shut the door upon thee; partly, that none may hinder thee from minding thy work of filling and removing the vessels, which will require attention and diligence; partly, that thou alone mayest enjoy the benefit of it; partly, lest any of thy creditors should break in upon thee, and seize upon thy borrowed vessels before they are filled; partly, that thy mind being freed from distraction, may be wholly employed in prayer and praising of God; and partly, that it may be manifest that this is the work of God alone.

Pour out; out of the pot, in which God multiplied the oil from time to time.

And when thou art come in,.... Into her house:

thou shall shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons; that they might be alone in the house while the miracle was working; that they might not be interrupted in what they were to do, by the creditor coming in upon them, or by neighbours, who would be for getting the oil from them in the vessels they had lent them: and that the miracle might appear the plainer, no oil being brought into the house by any:

and shalt pour out into all these vessels; out of the single pot of oil into all they borrowed:

and thou shalt set aside that which is full; by itself, and fill the rest of the empty ones.

And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into {e} all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

(e) The Prophet declares by this to her, that God never fails to provide for his servants, their wives and children, it they trust in him.