Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 4

Verse 1

husband = man. Hebrew ' ish . App-14 .

bondmen. Compare Leviticus 25:39 and Nehemiah 5:5 .

Verse 3

borrow not a few = scant not.

Verse 5

who brought = they bringing.

she poured out. Elisha's fifth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15 .

Verse 7

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

debt = creditor.

children = sons.

Verse 8

Shunem. In the plain of Esdraelon. The native place of Abishag (1 Kings 1:3 ).

great = wealthy, or a person of position (2 Samuel 19:32 ).

Verse 9

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 10

chamber = upper chamber, or wall-chamber.

candlestick = lampstand. Very little furniture used in the East to-day.

Verse 12

servant = young man.

Verse 13

careful . . . care. Figure of speech Polyptoton = exceedingly careful.

spoken for to the king. This confidence in his influence with the king is accounted for by the miraculous aid recently given by Elisha in 2 Kings 3:16-19 .

Verse 15

door = entrance.

Verse 17

of life, or of spring. Read "that season about the time of spring of which Klisha had said unto her". The sixth miracle. Compare 2 Kings 2:15 .

Verse 18

child = progeny.

Verse 26

now. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "now therefore".

Verse 27

her soul = herself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

vexed = bitter.

Verse 28

deceive = cajole.

Verse 29

said. In what Elisha said the signs given are put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the things symbolized by them.

salute him not. Idiom. The salutation being ceremonial and taking time.

child. Hebrew. na'ar = youth.

Verse 30

thy soul = thou.

Verse 36

Take up thy son. The seventh miracle (2 Kings 2:15 ).

Verse 39

wild vine: i.e. a plant with vine-like tendrils. Not the grape, but probably the colocynth.

Verse 40

death. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for that which causes death.

Verse 41

no harm = no evil thing. Elisha's eighth miracle Compare 2 Kings 2:15 .

Verse 43

servitor = attendant. Old English = one who serves.

an hundred men. Elisha's ninth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15 . One of three ( App-10 ) miracles of feeding multitudes. Compare Matthew 14:20 ; Matthew 15:34 .