Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
A woman whose husband had been one of the prophet's students came crying to Elisha. She said, 'Your servant, my husband, is dead. You know that he honored and respected the LORD. Now a man he owed money to is coming to take my two sons as slaves to pay off the debt.'
A widow whose husband was a faithful prophet is facing the tragedy of losing her sons to slavery because she can't pay her late husband's debts.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, when someone couldn't pay their debts, creditors could legally take family members as slaves or servants until the debt was worked off. The 'sons of the prophets' were groups of men who studied under major prophets like Elisha, similar to students in a religious school. These prophet-students often lived in poverty, making their families vulnerable when they died.
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