Rashi on the Former Prophets

A wife of one of the disciples of the prophets. She was the wife of Ovadyoh. Every expression of ‘בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים’ [lit., “the sons of the prophets”], in Scripture, is translated [by Targum Yonoson] as, “the disciples of the prophets.”
Now the creditor. He was Yehorom, son of Achov, who would lend him with interest, enabling him to sustain the prophets in his father’s time [according to] Midrash Rabbi Tanchuma. Therefore it is stated, “And struck Yehorom between his arms,” which he stretched out to take interest.

A jar of oil. Enough oil for anointment [=אָסוּךְ], and the ‘א’ is part of the root, like the ‘א’ of, “and my speech [=וְאַחְוָתִי] in your ears,” and the ‘א’ of, “the dread [=אִבְחַת] of those struck down by the sword.”

And close the door. [It affords] respect to the miracle [if] it comes about in secret.
And the full one[s] you shall remove. From before you, and you shall place another vessel in its place to fill it, but you must not move the jug of oil from its place, for the Holy One, Blessed Is He, is making it as a spring, and it is not customary to move a spring from its place. I heard this Midrash Aggadah.

They would bring [the containers] to her. The vessels.

Then the oil stopped. From coming anymore. [According to] Midrash Aggadah, the price of oil went up.

She came and told, etc. She came for advice, whether to sell [the oil] or to wait until it would become even more expensive. He said to her, “Go sell, for there is enough [to pay] all your debt, and for you and your sons to live with the remainder, until the dead are resurrected.”

There [lived] a prominent woman. [I.e.,] an important [woman]. And I saw in Pirkei of Rabbi Eliezer, that she was the sister of Avishag the Shunamis.
Thereafter, whenever he passed through. In that city, he would stop at her house to eat a meal.
He would go. [יור is] the present tense, [i.e.,] he would go there.

“Behold, now I know.” Because she never saw a fly at his table or semen on his sheet.

And the day came. And it was one day.

You have busied yourself with us. On our account.
With all this attention. To put your heart into this task, as in, “and shudders [=וחרד] concerning My word,” [i.e.,] is diligent concerning the task that it be accomplished, and puts his heart into it.
What can be done for you? What do you need that we do for you, for you busied yourself on our account.
“In the midst of my people.” Among my relatives, [i.e.,] no one harms me. I have no need for the king or for the general of the army.

And he said. Elisha [said] to Geichazi.
“Then what is there to do for her?” To reciprocate for this favor.

“At this season [next year] when the time comes to give birth.” Just as you are alive and well today, so will you be alive at this season [next year] at this time and embracing a son.
“Do not my master.” Do not say, “embracing a son.” Why do I need to embrace him if I will end up burying him? This is what she said to him when he died, “Did I not say, ‘Do not mislead me’?”
Do not deceive. Do not show me something that will fail. You have power to beg mercy, so that a son will be given to me. But I beg you, do not give me [any child], rather a child who will live.
Do not deceive. Like “whose waters will not fail.”

When the time was for her to give birth. Like this time when she was alive and well. Therefore, the word is voweled [to mean], like “this” time.

“My head! My head!” I am sick in my head.
He said. His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him to his mother.”

“Drive and go on.” [I.e.,] hurry.
Do not hold back from riding because of me. Do not hold back the riding [pace] because of me.

And she said, “[All is] well.” This is an abbreviated verse, for it should have been written, “And he asked her, and she said, ‘We are well.’”

Did I not say. To you, “Do not deceive your maidservant”?
“Do not mislead”? Do not mislead me concerning a mistake.

Do not greet him. Do not inquire about his welfare. All this [was done] to discourage conversation, where one might ask him, “Where are you going?” and he would say, “To revive the dead.” It is not respectful for the miracle when the maker brags about it. But, he did not obey. When anyone asked him [where he was going], he responded, “My master sent me to revive the dead.”

And he spread himself upon him. [Targum] Yonoson rendered ‘וְאַלְהֵי עֲלוֹהִי’, an expression of weariness. There is a similar word in the Beraisa of Ha’azinu and in Sifrei. But Menachem rendered ‘וַיִּגְהַר’, an interpretation of the word according to its context, “he prostrated himself upon him.”

[The boy] sneezed. He sneezed.

Put up the large pot. Place it on the stove.
A porridge. A cooked dish.
For the disciples of the prophets. For the disciples of the prophets.

To gather greens [herbs]. [‘אֹרֹת’ is] field-rocket which is called oruge, and it enlightens [=מֵאִיר] the eyes. Others interpret ‘אֹרֹת’ as herbs, as in, “like a clear heat on herbs [=אוֹר].”
And he found a vine in the field. A vine in the field.
And gathered wild gourds from it. Wild mushrooms sprouted from it, boleiz, in O.F., which are poisonous. And in the name of Rabbi Menachem I heard, “and he gathered in addition to the fruit that grew from it, wild gourds.”
And sliced [them]. Split them.

From Ba’al-Shalishah. The name of a province. But [Targum] Yonoson rendered, “from the land toward the south.” “בַּעַל” is an expression meaning “a plain.” There are many [such expressions] in Scripture.
Bread from the first crop. It was during Pesach, when the grain ripens.
In their shells. In its wrapper.
To the people. To the disciples [of the prophets] whom he sustained.

“How will I present this.” Each bread.