Administrators Gail Posted March 23, 2013 Administrators Posted March 23, 2013 In Josephus I just read about the widow in Elisha's day that came to him for help. The story is in 2 Kings 4. The Bible doesn't give the identity of the woman other than she was a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets. Josephus identifies her as the widow of Obadiah, the steward of King Ahab, who hid 100 prophets of God during the persecution of Jezebel. Obadiah was sent to find Eliljah during the time of the 3-year famine. He mentioned that Obadiah had borrowed money in order to provide for the prophets in hiding, and when he died the debt was transferred to his widow. The creditors threatened to take her sons as slaves to pay the debt. Elisha counselled the woman to find as many jars as she could which were miraculously filled with oil that the woman could sell to pay off the debt. Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
ClubV12 Posted March 24, 2013 Posted March 24, 2013 Well thats interesting! Josephus, a fascinating character, I always take his writings with a grain of salt. But over time, it's a smaller and smaller grain... :) Quote
Administrators Gail Posted March 24, 2013 Author Administrators Posted March 24, 2013 Yes, there are things that are strange to the mind of the translator (hence the copious footnotes). But I am taking it to be Jewish tradition, and what the mindset of the Jew would be in Bible times, or at least at the time of Jesus. Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
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