ESV Reformation Study Bible – 1 Kings 17:9
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1 Kings 17:9

17:9 Zarephath. This town was on the Mediterranean coast between Tyre and Sidon. God commands Elijah to travel away from Israel into the area where Canaanite religion is supreme.

widow. The word is practically synonymous with “poor,” because in the ancient Near East widows were largely unprotected by the law and were easily exploited (Deut. 14:29; 16:11; 24:20; 26:12; Ps. 94:6; Is. 47:8, 9). This particular widow was not an Israelite.