Several traditions credit Elijah and Elisha with helping the poorest of the poor, specifically widows and orphans (cf. 1 Kgs 17:8-16). This may reflect a popular story highlighting the prophetic response to those in greatest need. In this story, there’s a strong sense of injustice; the widow doesn’t seek justice from the king or the judges against her late husband’s ruthless creditor, who has become an enemy to her vulnerable family. Perhaps intentionally, the author has the widow go directly to the prophet, knowing that no official authority will help her. This isn’t just a story of a “miracle” by Elisha but also a critique of the monarchy and its systems, showing how only the prophet helps the most vulnerable among the people.