And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
And she said, 'As surely as the LORD your God lives, I don't have any bread. All I have is a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I'm gathering these two sticks so I can go in and prepare this last bit of food for me and my son. After we eat it, we will die.'
The widow is telling Elijah that she only has enough food for one final meal for herself and her son before they starve to death.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during a severe famine that God brought upon Israel because of King Ahab's wickedness and idol worship. The prophet Elijah had been hiding by a brook, but when it dried up, God sent him to this poor widow in Zarephath, a town outside Israel. Widows in ancient times had no social safety net and often faced starvation, especially during famines.
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