מלכים א, פרק י״ז, פסוק ט׳

Following the drying up of the brook, Elijah receives divine instructions to travel to a new destination where his daily needs will be met. He is directed to Zarephath, a city located in the region of Sidon [רש"י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The specific geographical detail linking the city to Sidon serves to differentiate it from another town bearing the same name. Although it was situated near Sidon, this particular Zarephath was actually part of Israel [רלב"ג, רד"ק].

God assures the prophet that a local widow has been instructed to provide for him. However, the primary approach among commentators is that God did not speak directly to the woman, especially since she possessed absolutely nothing of her own. Rather, the divine instruction means that God had providentially arranged and prepared her for this specific task [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. Another perspective suggests this was a heavenly decree, established in the divine court before the world was even created [רש"י, חומת אנך]. Knowing that the widow lacked the means to feed even herself, Elijah immediately understood that God was hinting at a clear miracle that would unfold in her home. This realization gave him the confidence to approach her and ask for water and bread [רלב"ג, רד"ק].

The selection of this specific widow was highly intentional, serving both practical and spiritual purposes. Practically, she had no husband or extended family living with her, only a single child. This isolation made her home an ideal and safe place to hide the prophet [אברבנאל]. Spiritually, divine abundance could not descend directly to Elijah at that moment, as it conflicted with his spiritual readiness. Instead, the blessing was channeled through the merit of the woman's righteousness, allowing Elijah to be sustained by the abundance granted to her [מלבי"ם].

Jewish tradition identifies this widow as the mother of the future prophet Jonah. God orchestrated these events to bring merit to her household, ultimately saving both her and her son from the deadly famine. This divine arrangement also set the stage for the later miracle of her son's resurrection from the dead [רד"ק, אברבנאל].