A widow in this foreign territory provides for Elijah. Usually widows were the poorest of all the citizens, though the reference to her household may suggest she is a woman of some means (17:15, 17). She is herself preparing to die with her son because the drought has exhausted their entire food supply (v. 12). Her favorable response to the prophet’s request for water prompts him to ask her for bread as well. The woman, though a Sidonian, answers in the name of the God of Elijah. Elijah tests her