One widow's courage, hidden prophets, and an eternal miracle: The story of eishes Ovadiah

The wicked queen issued a decree: death for all of Hashem’s prophets. But in the king’s palace sat Ovadiah, and he refused to reconcile himself to the cruel decree. Together with his wife, Ovadiah prepared two large caves and hid 100 prophets within them.

Years passed. Ovadiah passed away, leaving behind his wife and their two orphaned sons. And when calamity struck, they witnessed a great miracle.

The story of the wife of Ovadiah is that of the strength of a Jewish mother, of prayers and faith, of walking uncompromisingly in the way of Hashem.

The woman for whose sake Chava was created

Year 2185 from the creation of the world.

A cool wind whirled on the summit of the mountain, spreading darkness like a dark cloth over the earth. Yaakov Avinu searched the gloom. He would not be able to continue his journey in this unexpected, rapid descent of night, so he piled stones around his head and fell asleep.

In his dream, a ladder stretched over him, reaching for the heavens. On the ladder, the angels of Eretz Yisrael ascended to their place, and the angels of chutz l’Aretz descended to escort him on his way.

When Yaakov rose, early in the morning, he was astonished to discover that the stones he had placed at his head had become a single unit, apart from one stone — a round stone, hollowed in its center like a jug.

Yaakov noticed that the hollow was filled with oil. He passed his hand over his damp forehead, and understood that during the night, the oil had dripped onto his head. Yaakov turned the strange stone over, and the oil spilled to the ground. And then something wondrous took place! The hollow refilled itself with clear, pure oil.

Yaakov knew then that this jug was designated for holiness and said, “It is not fitting to leave it here.”

He took the stone jug and carried it with him.

Twenty years passed, years of exile in the house of Yaakov’s uncle, Lavan. He married Leah and Rachel, fathered the Shevatim, and as he left his father-in-law’s house, he received an invitation from his brother, Eisav, to meet.

It would be their first meeting since Eisav’s first attempt to murder Yaakov.

On his way to the meeting point with his twin brother, Yaakov crossed the Yabok River with his family. He stood in the middle of the river and passed the children and the flock from one side to the other. Once they had crossed the river, Yaakov discovered that he had forgotten the jug of oil from Mount Moriah.

Through ruach hakodesh, Yaakov knew that with this jug of oil, the Mishkan and its vessels would be anointed, as would the Mizbeiach and kings. With this jug, a miracle would be done for the woman of Tzarfas and for the wife of Ovadiah. And so Yaakov decided to endanger himself to retrieve it from the other side of the Yabok River.

“And Yaakov was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the rise of dawn.” (Bereishis 32:25) ”He forgot small jugs and returned for them.” (Rashi)