Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 4

Introduction

Second Kings Chapter 4

2 Kings 4:1 "Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen."

This one verse tells us a lot. Prophets were permitted to have wives. We must notice that she went to the prophet for help. Indirectly she is going to God. She knew there would be no mercy shown her by the worldly creditor. If the creditor cannot get the money, he will take her sons into servitude to pay the indebtedness. This is a type and shadow of all of us, who owe our lives for the debt of sin we committed. The penalty for sin is death. Jesus {our High Priest} paid our debt in full for us. Let us follow the story, and see what this man of God does to help this widow.

2 Kings 4:2 "And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil."

Elisha realizes that he must help her out of this problem. The verse above is as if he is thinking with the words he says. Notice, she submits to his decision, when she calls herself his handmaid. Her husband was a prophet, so the oil is, probably, a small portion of anointing oil.

2 Kings 4:3 "Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, [even] empty vessels; borrow not a few."

These vessels are like buckets, or pots. She is to gather all of the spare containers that all of her neighbors have.

2 Kings 4:4 "And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full."

God will multiply what she has, and everytime she pours one vessel full, she is to get another vessel and fill it, until all the vessels she has are full. Notice, God uses what she already had to bless her. It is like the five loaves and two fishes, which Jesus fed the multitude with.

2 Kings 4:5 "So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought [the vessels] to her; and she poured out."

2 Kings 4:6 "And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, [There is] not a vessel more. And the oil stayed."

She and her sons did just as Elisha had told her to do. They poured until all of the vessels were completely full. Then the oil stopped reproducing itself.

2 Kings 4:7 "Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest."

This oil was so much, that it easily paid her debt, and was a living for her and her two sons. There could have been more children, but we know there were two sons. She waited, until Elisha told her to sell it, before she did this. God is good. He will see to the needs of those in service for Him. In this case, He took care of even more than their needs.

2 Kings 4:8 "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where [was] a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And [so] it was, [that] as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread."

This is the beginning of a totally different happening. Shunem was in Galilee. The fact that the "woman was great" could mean great in stature, or it could mean well thought of. It, probably, means that she was a woman of financial means. This would be more likely, since it would be in direct contrast to the widow earlier in the lesson. She discovered Elisha passing her house, and she invited him in to eat. It seemed, that every time Elisha came this way, he made it a point to stop and eat here. Many people travelling in those days depended on the hospitality of the people to feed them. There were no restaurants.

2 Kings 4:9 "And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this [is] an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually."

He must not have told them that he was a prophet, but she had decided that he was by his clothes and his actions. Probably, he prayed before eating, or perhaps, he spoke of the LORD.

2 Kings 4:10 "Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither."

She felt that she would like to help Elisha more, than just feeding him when he came by. They would fix him a place to rest his weary bones.

2 Kings 4:11 "And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there."

We see, that she had been correct in assuming he needed a place of rest, when he came by. He did stop and rest for a while.

2 Kings 4:12 "And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him."

2 Kings 4:13 "And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what [is] to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people."

Elisha wanted to repay her for her kindness. He thought, perhaps, she wanted him to speak for her to the king, or the captain of the host. She was satisfied with her station in life, and told him she would rather live among her own people. Notice, she asked for nothing herself.

2 Kings 4:14 "And he said, What then [is] to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old."

Since she would not tell Elisha anything she wanted for her kindness, Elisha had Gehazi to check and see, if there would be anything she wanted, or needed. In the Hebrew families the women thought it was a curse from God not to have children. She had not mentioned this, but Gehazi found out for Elisha.

2 Kings 4:15 i

2 Kings 4:16 "And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, [thou] man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid."

There are several instances in the Bible, where people beyond childbearing age have children. They are a gift from God. It is more than she can believe. Her heart’s desire would be fulfilled. He tells her, the baby will be born before this time the next year.

2 Kings 4:17 "And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life."

His prophecy came true. She had her son.

2 Kings 4:18 "And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers."

2 Kings 4:19 "And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother."

Children, who live on a farm, love to go out and watch the fields being reaped. He was, probably, still a small child, but old enough to go to the field with his father. He suddenly grabs his head and begins to complain of pain. This could have been a sunstroke, or many other things. I personally have experienced extreme heat and fainted from it. Your head pounds severely with this.

2 Kings 4:20 "And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and [then] died."

Whatever happened to him in the field was very serious. He is not in a coma, he is dead.

2 Kings 4:21 "And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut [the door] upon him, and went out."

She knew her only help was the LORD. She left the child on the bed of Elisha. She put him in Elisha’s room, so no one would disturb him, until she could get back with Elisha.

2 Kings 4:22 "And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again."

Notice, she did not tell her husband, that their son was dead. He does know that she wants to go for the prophet Elisha, because the child is sick. She calls for an animal to ride, and an escort to go with her.

2 Kings 4:23 "And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? [it is] neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, [It shall be] well."

2 Kings 4:24 "Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not [thy] riding for me, except I bid thee."

The husband tries to tell her, that she will not be able to find Elisha. She knows in her heart, that she will be able to find him. She is saying to this servant, to go as fast as he can, and not to worry about her comfort.

2 Kings 4:25 "So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, [yonder is] that Shunammite:"

His home must have been at mount Carmel. It seems, she went directly to mount Carmel. Elisha saw her coming.

2 Kings 4:26 "Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, [Is it] well with thee? [is it] well with thy husband? [is it] well with the child? And she answered, [It is] well."

Elisha is concerned and sends his servant running to meet her to ask of her well being. She does not tell Gehazi her problem, the same as she did not tell her husband. Her problems are just for Elisha’s ears.

2 Kings 4:27 "And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul [is] vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid [it] from me, and hath not told me."

Gehazi thought that she should not have touched the prophet, and he was about to pull her away from the prophet, when Elisha told him to leave her alone. She had been a blessing to Elisha. He certainly wanted to hear of her problems. Generally, the Lord revealed to him ahead of time, about problems, but in this instance he did not.

2 Kings 4:28 "Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?"

2 Kings 4:29 "Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child."

Elisha sent Gehazi ahead, because he could travel faster. He sent his own staff.

2 Kings 4:30 "And the mother of the child said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her."

This mother was determined to get help for her son. She would not leave, until Elisha came with her. She was not satisfied with Elisha’s staff being carried to her son by Gehazi. Elisha would have to come to her son, himself.

2 Kings 4:31 "And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but [there was] neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked."

The woman was right. It must be Elisha. Elisha was not in error in sending the staff. We read of aprons and handkerchiefs being sent from the body of Paul, and healing people. Perhaps, Gehazi did not believe the boy would be restored by this. We know the mother did not believe this would restore him. For this type of miracle, there had to be a vast amount of faith.

2 Kings 4:32 "And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, [and] laid upon his bed."

Just as the woman had told Elisha, the boy is dead.

2 Kings 4:33 "He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD."

This means no one was in the room except Elisha and the boy. This prayer was an urgent request of the LORD.

2 Kings 4:34 "And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm."

This personal contact of his flesh upon the flesh of the child brought warmth to the child’s body, which was cold in death. When he put his mouth on the boy’s mouth, it could have been that he breathed into the boys mouth to get oxygen to him.

2 Kings 4:35 "Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes."

Again, he warmed the body of the child with his body. Also, virtue could have gone from him to the child. Of course, that virtue came from the LORD through Elisha to the boy. This sneezing seven times shows that his lungs were full of air, again. He is breathing. "Seven" means spiritually complete.

2 Kings 4:36 "And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son."

He did not allow the mother in the room, when he was praying for the boy. Gehazi was told to call the mother. The boy had to be a small child for the mother to be able to pick him up in her arms. He is alive. His mother’s faith in the LORD through Elisha, had caused him to live.

2 Kings 4:37 "Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out."

This was her way of thanking Elisha for the life of her child.

2 Kings 4:38 "And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and [there was] a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets [were] sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets."

Elisha had to be visiting the school of the prophets at Gilgal, when this verse begins. He, probably, was thought of as the head of the prophets in the land. He had taken the place of Elijah. It would be natural for him to check in, and see how things are going with the would-be prophets. This great pot was to make some sort of meal for the prophets.

2 Kings 4:39 "And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred [them] into the pot of pottage: for they knew [them] not."

2 Kings 4:40 "So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O [thou] man of God, [there is] death in the pot. And they could not eat [thereof]."

This type gourd was not edible. Food was so scarce, that the young prophet who went to the field to find something to eat, just got the first living thing he saw. Boiled gourd would taste terrible, and under some circumstances, could be poisonous. The wild variety would, probably, be poisonous.

2 Kings 4:41 "But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast [it] into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot."

Elisha poured meal into the boiling pot of gourds, as he had put salt in the water at Jericho to purify it. God told Elisha to put the meal in the water. The act of obedience to God purified the food in the pot.

2 Kings 4:42 "And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat."

This is a miracle feeding of lesser proportions, than the thousands Jesus fed with the five loaves and two fishes, but a miracle none the less. There were over 100 men to be fed, here, with twenty loaves. The man from Baal-shalisha is insignificant, as was the boy with the fishes.

2 Kings 4:43 "And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave [thereof]."

Elisha knew that God would multiply the food, as he had multiplied the oil for the widow. There would be plenty to eat, if they would eat in faith.

2 Kings 4:44 "So he set [it] before them, and they did eat, and left [thereof], according to the word of the LORD."

We see, in this, an entirely different miracle that Elisha brought from God, than the previous miracles he had done. When we say that Elisha did them, we mean that the LORD did them through Elisha. Their faith multiplied the food to fill them all.

2 Kings 4 Questions

1. Who was the woman who cried out to Elisha in 2 Kings 4:1?

2. Why could her husband not help her?

3. What was she crying out about?

4. What is this situation, in 2 Kings 4:1, a type and shadow of?

5. What was the only thing she had in the house?

6. What is she doing, when she calls herself handmaid?

7. What did Elisha tell her to do?

8. What was she to do with the vessels she borrowed?

9. Who helped her do what Elisha had told her to do?

10. What did she do, when all the vessels were full?

11. How much was the oil worth?

12. Where was Shunem?

13. What did the fact that the woman was great mean?

14. What did she tell her husband about Elisha?

15. What did they do for Elisha, besides feed him, when he came by?

16. Who was Elisha’s servant?

17. When he offered to speak for her to the king, what was her reply?

18. When Elisha inquired further of her needs, what did he find out?

19. What did Elisha promise her that seemed impossible?

20. When did the promise come true?

21. Where was the son, when he took sick?

22. What was the outcome of his sickness?

23. Where did the woman go for help?

24. Did she tell her husband he was dead?

25. Where did she find Elisha?

26. What did the servant of Elisha run ahead and do?

27. Who was in the sickroom, when Elisha prayed?

28. What did Elisha do, besides pray?

29. What did Elisha do the second time he went into the room?

30. What unusual thing did the child do, to show he was alive?

31. When the woman saw her son was restored to her, what did she do?

32. What was in Gilgal, where Elisha went?

33. What did Elisha tell the young prophet to do?

34. What was wrong with the food?

35. What did Elisha do to it to make it pure?

36. What did the man from Baal-shalisha bring to them to eat?

37. How many had to eat of this?

38. What did the servitor say about this food?

39. There would be plenty to eat, if they ate in __________.

40. What do we mean, when we say that Elisha did miracles?

Verses 1-7

2Ki 4:1-7

Introduction

FIVE OF ELISHA’S MIRACLES OF MERCY

"All of the miracles of this chapter are miracles of mercy. The first and the last consist of multiplying food, thus belonging to the same class as our Lord’s feeding of the four and the five thousands and Elijah’s increasing the meal and the oil of the widow of Sarepta (1 Kings 17:10-16)." Nobody knows how these miracles were performed. The sacred author has not informed us, and the speculative guesses of scholars are of no value whatever. "Rationalistic attempts to explain these wonders exhibit weakness and feebleness that are absolutely puerile."

In addition to the remarkable evidence of the supernatural in these events, we believe there are spiritual implications of tremendous importance; and we shall attempt to point out some of these.

This section of 2Kings (2 Kings 4:1 to 2 Kings 8:6) is not arranged in chronological order but is arranged so as to show how Elisha continued the work of Elijah in proving to Israelites the superiority and excellence of the God of Israel as contrasted with all the Canaanite gods such as the nonentity called Baal. "All of the miracles in this section occurred during the reign of Joram." It is very significant that the influence of the True God was extended even into foreign countries through Elisha.

2 Kings 4:1-7

SAVING THE SONS OF THE WIDOW FROM SLAVERY

"Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear Jehovah: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And thou shalt go in, and shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons; they brought the vessels to her, and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy sons of the rest."

"My husband is dead ... and the creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be bondmen" (2 Kings 4:1). Celibacy was never God’s rule either for prophets or priests, despite the fact that the majority of the sons of the prophets were apparently single men living in ascetic communities. This widow’s husband was one of the sons of the prophets.

We find no fault whatever with the Jewish tradition that this widow’s deceased husband was none other than the godly Obadiah, despite the knee-jerk response of most modern commentators that, "No dependence can be placed on it." Josephus accepted the tradition and even stated that the debt which the woman’s husband had acquired was contracted for the purpose of feeding the faithful prophets of Jehovah whom he had hidden in caves from the murderous wrath of Jezebel.

One of the great imperfections of the Mosaic Law was its toleration of the ancient custom of seizing the family of a debtor and pressing them into slavery as payment of a debt. Of course, there was a limitation in God’s law that terminated all such indentures in the Year of Jubilee, but the Jews seldom honored that Law. The passages that detail this practice may be found in Exodus 21:7; Leviticus 25:39; Amos 2:6 and Amos 8:6. Montgomery seemed to think that this practice disappeared after the exile, citing Nehemiah 5 as the basis of his opinion, but we learn from the Saviour’s parable in the N.T. that the practice was continued to the very end of the Jewish kingdom (Matthew 18:25).

"Thy handmaid hath not anything ... save a pot of oil" (2 Kings 4:2). "The Hebrew text here rendered `a pot’ of oil is unique"; and is found "only in this passage" in the whole Bible. "It may refer to a very small jar normally used for unguents." It appears likely that something similar to the precious box of nard that was used in the anointing of Christ is indicated here; and, as some have suggested, "The widow had probably reserved it for her burial." This type of product was very expensive; and the wholesale multiplication of it in this remarkable wonder not only enabled the woman to pay her debt but also to provide a means of her livelihood for a long time afterward. In this quality, the miracle reminds us of the enrichment of the young couple whose marriage was the occasion of Jesus’ changing the water into the very best quality of wine (some 400 quarts of it)!

Such a conclusion as this derives from the fact of the very small container of "the oil" and that the sale of it amounted to more than enough money to redeem two young bond-servants. "The word for jar (pot) here suggests a very small container." "No oil at all was left for cooking." Cooking oil does not appear at all in this narrative. Our modern equivalent of what is indicated is a very desirable and expensive type of perfume.

"Go, sell the oil, pay thy debt, and live" (2 Kings 4:7). Matthew Henry commented on God’s method of bestowing charity upon a worthy recipient. "God did not provide her with some small gratuity, but gave her real help. He set her up in the world to sell oil, and put a liberal stock into her possession to begin with. The greatest kindness one can do for poor people is, if possible, to help them into a way of providing for themselves by their own industry and ingenuity." The great need of our own nation, currently, is to enable all able-bodied persons to support themselves, instead of merely doling out a monthly check.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Kings 4:1. The sons of the prophets were sometimes married men, although only students of the older ones. The widow of one of them was the complainant before Elisha. It was a practice among certain ones to sieze upon human chattels as security for debts. In consideration of her devotion to the Lord, she thought the prophet should help her.

2 Kings 4:2. What shall I do for thee was asked in the sense of merely introducing the subject. It might be considered as a meditative form of speech, leading up to the more specific inquiry into her own resources.

2 Kings 4:3. There is no limit to divine power, whether in connection with human effort or not. But it has always been a rule of God to require man to do what he could. This woman had a supply of oil and it will be used as a starter. See a similar situation in the widow and the meal, in 1 Kings 17:12. Note that the woman in the present paragraph was admonished to borrow not a few.

2 Kings 4:4. Elisha left direct connection with the case after giving instructions.

2 Kings 4:5. In obedience to the order from Elisha, the woman closed the door and began filling the borrowed vessels, using the pot of oil that she had as a source.

2 Kings 4:6. The supply of oil was continuous as long as there was any provision to care for it. When that failed, the flow of oil stopped. This was what was signified when Elisha cautioned, "borrow not a few" in 2 Kings 4:3.

2 Kings 4:7. Olive oil, which was the only kind known in that day, was valuable in many ways. Now that the woman had a large store of it, she did not know what Elisha intended for her to do with it, until he authorized her to use it in meeting her debt, and as a source of future income.

Verses 8-17

2Ki 4:8-17

2 Kings 4:8-17

THE BIRTH OF A SON TO THE SHUNAMMITE WOMAN

"And it fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as off as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she spake unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, that passeth by us continually. Let us make, I pray thee, a little chamber on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a candlestick: and it shall be, that when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. And he said, What then is to be done And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no son, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, At this season, when the time cometh round, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thy handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said unto her."

Many have praised this narrative as a graphic picture of social life in that period of history. The details are exciting. Note the simple furniture in the room provided by this generous woman and her husband for Elisha and his servant Gehazi (evidently his constant attendant). Do not overlook the care with which all of the characters here avoided placing the Shunammite woman alone with her guest in his room. It is obvious that the woman was wealthy, her house was made of stone or brick; and Elisha’s chamber was built on the wall. It should be noted that this very generous couple were not solicited by Elisha for such help as they gave, but that they sought out the opportunity to do such a thing and "constrained" Elisha to accept it.

Elisha passed to Shunem (2 Kings 4:8). "This place was north of Jezreel, about 20 miles from Carmel where Elisha lived;" and Elisha was continually passing through it on his way to visit the various schools of the prophets. The Shunammite woman, "According to Rabbi Eliezer, was a sister of Abishag, the beautiful Shunammite woman, well known in the history of David."

"And he said unto him" (2 Kings 4:12). This shows that the conversation between Elisha and the woman was carried on through the servant Gehazi.

"Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host" (2 Kings 4:13). What an amazing offer by Elisha! From this, we learn that he was a frequent visitor in the king’s court and that he had free access to the king’s attention at all times, the king here being, not Joram, but Jehoshaphat the king of Judah. The contented happiness of this wonderful couple appears in her polite decline of such favors.

"And she answered, I dwell among mine own people" (2 Kings 4:13). "The eminent place of this great lady in her society is finely presented by this reply."

"And when he called her, she stood in the door" (2 Kings 4:15). Montgomery translated this last clause, as "She came in. The intermediate agency of Gehazi, standing outside, was good manners, for a lady might not easily speak to a man in his chamber."

"Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no son" (2 Kings 4:14). In this chapter we have the first appearance in the Bible of this character who eventually was afflicted with the leprosy of Naaman. Some suppose that the woman had confided this implied request to Elisha’s servant Gehazi, but the woman herself denied that in her rebuke of Elisha (2 Kings 4:28).

"At this season, when the time cometh round, thou shalt embrace a son" (2 Kings 4:16). This, of course, is Elisha’s prophecy of the birth of a son to the Shunammite and her husband. Calkins preferred the KJV rendition here, "About this season, according to the time of life," and gave the meaning as, "At this season of the year, according to the period of gestation."

"And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said unto her" (2 Kings 4:17). This type of miracle was performed a number of times in God’s long history of dealing with his people. "The Bible records a number of these wonder birth narratives in which aged and childless persons became parents."

These are: (1) the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:1-15); (2) the birth of Samson to Manoah and his wife (Judges 13:2 ff); (3) the birth of Samuel to Elkanah and his wife Hannah; (4) the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke and (5) the Most Wonderful Birth of all, that of the Lord Jesus Christ to The Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26 ff).

The great spiritual lesson of this miracle is the proof it brings of God’s merciful and provident oversight and love of his people who truly love and serve the Lord. No one who ever did God a favor by honoring and supporting his servants was ever left unrewarded or unblessed. No man ever gave God anything that he did not receive it again, doubled and redoubled. This was particularly evident also in the ministry of Christ. The lad who brought the loaves and the fishes to Jesus was the legitimate owner of the twelve baskets full of fragments that remained after the feast. What a great blessing was the birth of a son and heir to this childless couple of Shunem! Does God still do things like this? Assuredly, YES! "Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). See the teachings of Paul on this question (1 Corinthians 9:8-12).

E.M. Zerr:

2 Kings 4:8. It fell on a day is the same as if we would say, "one day Elisha came to Shunem." We are not told what business took him there this time or afterward. But a certain woman of some prominence saw him and offered him her hospitality. Having been treated thus kindly, he made it a regular thing to stop at this house.

2 Kings 4:9-10. Houses were built with flat roofs. A chamber on the wall was an "addition" to the main building, and could be entered and left independent of the rest of the house. That would be very appropriate for Elisha, as he was coming and going frequently, and this arrangement would accommodate him without always joining in with the family life. So a little furniture was installed and the guest room turned over for the use of the man of God.

2 Kings 4:11. It fell on a day is an obsolete form of saying, "so one day," etc. Elisha had accepted the hospitality with appreciation.

2 Kings 4:12. The woman of the house was called by the servant, Gehazi, and stood in talking distance of him, so that he could act as a go-between for her and Elisha.

2 Kings 4:13. The message passed from Elisha to the woman was to bid her name a wish. It was suggested that a good word be spoken in her behalf to the king or general of the army. Perhaps they would provide a more suitable place of residence. But she declined the offer and preferred to remain with her relatives.

2 Kings 4:14. Elisha asked his servant to suggest something for the woman. He was told that she had no child. She evidently was much younger than her husband, for only he was mentioned as being old. Had she been old as well as he, it certainly would have been as logical to refer to her age, as to his; if any difference, more so to her.

2 Kings 4:15. The woman was recalled and stood in the door of his room.

2 Kings 4:16. Time of life refers to the natural period of carrying the unborn child. The promise of a son seemed incredible to the woman. Nothing was said about her age or condition otherwise in view of becoming a mother. All we have that would bear on the subject is the remark of Gehazi, that her husband was old. That fact, and the remark of doubt by the woman, leaves the conclusion that the husband was thought of as being too old to beget a child. The word lie sounds so harsh to us that we shrink from it. To "deceive" is the same principle but not so severe on the ear; the original has been so rendered in other places. The woman was so surprised and taken aback that she instinctively used the term. The whole statement might be worded, "You are a man of God; surely, then, you would not deceive me about this."

2 Kings 4:17. The promise was fulfilled and the child was born at the time of life, meaning the proper time after conception.

Verses 18-24

2Ki 4:18-24

2 Kings 4:18-24

THE CHILD DIED AND HIS MOTHER APPEALED TO ELISHA

"And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to his servant, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the servants, and one of the asses, that I may go to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither new moon nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slacken me not the riding, except I bid thee. And so she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel."

It was harvest, the busiest time of the year, and the Shunammite woman avoided the kind of delay and commotion that would have resulted if she had passed along the knowledge of the death of their child. Her husband’s trust of her was so complete that, despite his wondering why his wife was undertaking such a journey on that particular day, he manifested perfect confidence in her good judgment.

"When the child was grown" (2 Kings 4:18). This cannot mean that the child had become an adult. He was at this time a small boy, easily carried by a servant to the child’s mother, and easily carried by her upstairs to the private room of the prophet.

"It shall be well" (2 Kings 4:23). The word thus rendered is actually "peace" in the Hebrew, and carried with it the implication that everything was ALL RIGHT. The dead child’s mother was absolutely unwilling to admit the child’s death to anyone until she had accomplished her appeal to Elisha.

LaSor tells us that the purpose of the servant’s attending this journey was that of "walking by the ass (or behind him) continually urging the beast forward."

E.M. Zerr:

2 Kings 4:18. Grown is from an original with indefinite meaning. It does not necessarily mean fully grown; but only that the child had grown enough to perform the action of walking out into the field to his father.

2 Kings 4:19. Lad is from NAAR and is sometimes translated "servant" in the A. V. Some convulsive attack came upon the boy that caused his complaint. Since it was a time of harvest (reapers), it is possible that it was a sunstroke.

2 Kings 4:20. The child was old enough to walk to the field, but young enough to be carried by the servant, and nursed in his mother’s arms until he died.

2 Kings 4:21. How natural it was for the mother to take the body of her child into the room of Elisha. He was the one who had promised the son to her, and through whose intercession the Lord had granted it. Besides, she must leave the body for a time, and she would desire it to have as much privacy as possible. Therefore she went up (the room was on the wall) and laid him on the bed of the man of God.

2 Kings 4:22. This verse would indicate that the regular dwelling places of Elisha and the woman were not far apart. Mount Carmel was a range 12 miles long. Shunem was in the same general territory of this range, hence the statement above. Furthermore, the distance could not have been too great, for it is evident that some of the actors in this drama traveled on foot.

2 Kings 4:23. It appears that the husband was not aware of the child’s death. The usual occasion for calling on the prophet was for observance of some feast, such as that on the new moon or on a sabbath day. It shall be well. The last word only is in the original, but the thought of the group is authorized. The word is from SHALOM and Strong defines it, "safe. I. e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i. e. health, prosperity, peace." The expression indicates the woman’s faith that it would finally be well with the child.

2 Kings 4:24. Some factors in this arrangement are not clear. Nothing is said about a second beast, yet the servant is urged not to slacken his riding. Neither is anything said about a vehicle for their common use; and that would have made the saddling of the beast unnecessary. The best solution in my mind is, they each rode a beast, and the servant was expected to stimulate the speed of hers by urging the one he was riding.

Verses 25-31

2Ki 4:25-31

2 Kings 4:25-31

ELISHA RETURNED WITH THE SHUNAMMITE TO SHUNEM

"And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is the Shunammite: Run, I pray thee, now to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and Jehovah hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. Then said she, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not, and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. And the mother of the child said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Wherefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked."

"And she answered, It is well" (2 Kings 4:26). This, of course, is the same ambiguous answer to Gehazi that the woman had previously given to her husband (2 Kings 4:23). She was apparently unwilling to admit the death of her son to anyone except the prophet.

"Gehazi came near to thrust her away" (2 Kings 4:27). The servant no doubt thought that the woman’s action was in some manner contrary to his master’s dignity and would have hindered her; but Elisha discerned the woman’s bitterness and anxiety and forbade it. Even then, the woman had not said, "My son is dead"; and Elijah, judging from her words seems to have conjectured that perhaps the child was He promptly dispatched Gehazi with his staff in the hope that such an action would suffice. However, the woman was far from satisfied with that action. She knew that Gehazi would be powerless to help her.

"As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" (2 Kings 4:30). From this, Elisha knew that the child was deceased, and he promptly agreed to accompany her back to Shunem.

"Gehazi passed on before them" (2 Kings 4:31). There would have elapsed some time during which Elisha prepared to go. In the meanwhile, Gehazi had laid the prophet’s staff upon the face of the dead child, but, of course, there was no response. God allowed that effort to fail, "In order to show that no magical stick would suffice, but that only by humble and fervent prayer could God’s power be successfully invoked in such a situation as that."

"The child is not awaked" (2 Kings 4:31). The text here repeatedly makes it perfectly clear that the child was deceased. There was neither voice nor hearing on the part of the dead. These words from Gehazi indicate that perhaps both he and Elisha may have supposed that they were dealing with, "A case of mere suspended animation, or a swoon, and that the laying of the staff on the face of the child might have acted as a stimulant to revive him." No! The child was dead and had been dead long enough to allow travel twice the distance from Shunem to Carmel, that is, about twenty miles.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Kings 4:25-26. The appearance of this woman under the circumstances made Elisha suspect that something was wrong. He bade his servant go to meet her, and to ask the questions about the welfare of the family. It is well is explained at 2 Kings 4:23.

2 Kings 4:27. Taking hold of Elisha’s feet seemed to be an intrusion in the eyes of Gehazi. The prophet thought otherwise; that some great sorrow was upon her heart, and that Gehazi should not molest her.

2 Kings 4:28-29. The entire conversation is not recorded. In the previous verse Elisha said the woman’s grief had not been told him by the Lord, but in this paragraph he gives directions on account of the death, which shows that the woman told him about it. Laying the staff on the child was another instance of using a material, though not logical means, in connection with the miraculous results. See 2 Kings 2:8.

2 Kings 4:30. "As sure as the Lord lives, just that sure will I not leave thee" is the meaning of the woman’s statement. Upon this, Elisha went with her to her home.

2 Kings 4:31. Had there been any virtue in the staff, the child would have reacted when Gehazi laid it on him. Again, read the comments at 2 Kings 2:8.

Verses 32-37

2Ki 4:32-37

2 Kings 4:32-37

ELISHA RAISED THE CHILD FROM THE DEAD

"And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. And he went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Jehovah. And he went up and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she came in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out."

This amazing wonder is one of a very limited number of such miracles recorded in the entire Bible. There are only three such miracles in the O.T.: (1) this one; (2) the raising of the son of the widow of Sarepta (1 Kings 17:17-23) by Elijah; and (3) the resurrection of the man who was being buried, and who, when the burial party was threatened by marauders, was hastily cast into the tomb of Elisha and was restored to life by his contact with the bones of that prophet (2 Kings 13:20-21).

In the N.T., we have the following cases: (1) the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18 ff); (2) the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:12-18); and (3) the raising of Lazarus (John 11), all by the Lord Jesus Christ; also (4) the raising of Dorcas by the apostle Peter (Acts 9:36-41); (5) the raising of Eutychus by the apostle Paul (Acts 20:10-12); (6) the resurrection of the saints who came out of their graves after the resurrection of Christ (Matthew 27:53); and (7) the Marvel of All Ages - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! (Recorded in all of the Gospels).

We are amazed that some scholars have concluded from this narrative that Elisha did not receive the double portion of the spirit of Elijah as he had requested, basing that notion upon the gradual response of the dead child here as contrasted with the quicker response when Elijah raised the son of the widow of Sarepta. We reject such a view, because two miracles of resurrection are accredited to Elisha, one occurring even after his burial, whereas Elijah raised the dead only once.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Kings 4:32-33 : We should understand that the twain were Elisha and the dead child. Why he wished no one else in the room we know not. Peter did a similar thing in the case of Dorcas. (Acts 9:10.) It is one of those things that belong to the Lord and not to be revealed to us. See Deuteronomy 29:29.

2 Kings 4:34. When Paul restored the life of the young man at Troas (Acts 20:10), he did so by embracing him, after which his life was in him. In the case of Elisha and the child, he made contact between their bodies, after which the flesh of the child waxed warm. The life was then returned to the body, although there was no activity as yet. The mere fact of contact by a living body with a dead one would not restore life, else it could still be done. But it was the Lord’s way of doing the work this time. And once more, the reader is asked to see comments at Ch. 2:8.

2 Kings 4:35. Returned, and walked, etc. This does not mean that he had left the house. The first word is defined in part by Strong, "to retreat." It means that Elisha retreated from the child so as to make his to-and-fro movement in the house. Moffatt’s translation says, "rising up, he walked to and fro." After this, he contacted the child again, but not to restore his life. When warmth comes into a body that has been cold and dead, it is evidence of life. Just why it was desired to carry out the peculiar actions of this verse we are not told. We know it was not to restore life.

2 Kings 4:36. Me up thy son indicates that the child was not large, also that he might still be somewhat weak from the ordeal he had gone through. Elisha could have overcome even that, had it been the divine will. The Lord has always dealt on the principle of leaving it to man to do what he could. Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, but commanded the people to feed her (Mark 5:43), and he raised Lazarus to life, but told the sisters to remove the graveclothes. (John 11:44.)

2 Kings 4:37. Gratitude prompted the mother to do this act of homage. Bowed herself to the ground. This room was on the wall and therefore had no literal ground in it. The key is in the word to, which has the meaning of toward the ground. The main thought is, the woman was so thankful and humble that she took a prostrate attitude of body before the prophet, bowing downward or toward the ground. A person could be said to do that if he were in the top story of a skyscraper.

Verses 38-41

2Ki 4:38-41

2 Kings 4:38-41

THE MIRACLE OF HEALING THE DEATH IN THE POT

"And Elisha came again to Gilgal. And there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage; for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out and said, O man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof, But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot."

"There was a dearth in the land" (2 Kings 4:38). "This may well be the same drought mentioned in 2 Kings 8:1.”

Stigers identified these wild gourds as, "Wild cucumbers, egg-shaped gourds having a bitter taste, and producing violent diarrhea when eaten, or even death."

The spiritual lesson to be derived from this has an application to the anti-Biblical teaching that is offered in some seminaries of our day. The brew that is being fed to some young theological students today is most certainly "Death in the Pot." It is God’s Word, as revealed in the Bible, that yields all of the rich benefits desired for the children of Adam, and not the unbelieving speculative denials and theories of evil men who strive continually to discredit and destroy faith in the Bible!

These wonderful miracles were given for the purpose of certifying Elisha as a true prophet of God, an urgent need sorely felt in Israel at that time.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Kings 4:38. In times of distress or emergency, the student prophets looked to their master prophet for relief. At this time the shortage of food was caused by the dearth, and the group of prophets expected something from Elisha. The large boiling vessel was ordered put on the fire to seethe pottage, which means to boil soup.

2 Kings 4:39. While one servant was making ready the pot for the soup, another was out foraging for something to use in the pottage. As there was a dearth, there would not be a great supply of vegetables. Strong defines these wild gourds as wild cucumbers. They resembled other vine products and hence the servants made the mistake of getting a poisonous plant.

2 Kings 4:40. By the time the soup was ready to eat its true character was discovered, and they appealed to Elisha to help them out of their predicament.

2 Kings 4:41. The meal was ground grain and an ordinary article of food. It had no power of removing poison from another food without miracle. The student should frequently refer to the comments at .2 Kings 2:8.

Verses 42-44

2Ki 4:42-44

2 Kings 4:42-44

FOOD SUPERNATURALLY MULTIPLIED FOR THE STUDENTS

"And there came a man from Baashalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give unto the people that they may eat. And his servant said, What, should I set this before a hundred men? But he said, Give the people, that they may eat; for thus saith Jehovah, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of Jehovah."

This miracle, of course, is reminiscent of the Saviour’s feeding the thousands by the Sea of Galilee. As stated in the beginning of this chapter, it is impossible to explain how this happened. Like the creation itself, this wonder belongs to the hidden things of God. The great spiritual lesson is that God provides for his children, no matter what difficulties seem to lie in the way of his doing so.

"And he said ... but he said ..." (2 Kings 4:42-43). The prophet Elisha must be understood as the speaker in these clauses. The servant was evidently Gehazi.

"Bread of the first-fruits" (2 Kings 4:42). "It is very remarkable that this man brought these gifts to Elisha instead of giving them to a priest as the Law specified."

"This account furnishes fresh evidence that the godly men of Israel did not regard the religion introduced by Jeroboam as legitimate, but sought and found the true religion in the schools of the sons of the prophets,"

The appearance of miraculous events in the O.T. always corresponded with the desperate need for the confirmation of the Truth; and the absence of miracles throughout the Christian dispensation after the age of the apostles and those upon whom they had conveyed charismatic gifts is due to the fact that no additional confirmation of the Word of God is necessary. It is the most certain thing on earth today.

However, there are providences of God today that, in every sense, are just as wonderful as the miracles of old. We have recorded one of these in my commentary on Acts.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Kings 4:42. Full ears of corn. The first word is not in the original. The others are from one word and defined in part by Strong, "garden produce." Husks is from TSIQLON and defined by Strong, "a sack (as tied at the mouth)." This part of the verse should be worded, "twenty loaves of barley, and garden produce, in a sack." The man who brought these provisions was told to feed the people with them.

2 Kings 4:43-44. The word servitor means "contributor" and refers to the man who brought the bread and produce. He was puzzled at the thought of feeding so many people with such a small supply of food. His remark was similar in thought to that made by the disciples to Christ. (Matthew 15:33.) In using this comparatively small amount of food for the multitude, Elisha followed a principle already mentioned a number of times. God will not do for man what he can do for himself. The widow’s meal and oil contributed to the miraculous favor of God. The people before Elisha ate of the food set before them. They were abundantly satisfied, for they left some over.