The Second Book of the Kings, commonly called the Fourth Book of the Kings
2 Kings 4
Chapter IV · Vol. II, pp. 766–770
1 Elisha multiplieth the widow's oil. 8 He giveth a son to the good Shunammite. 18 He raiseth again her dead son. 38 At Gilgal he healeth the deadly pottage. 42 He miraculously satisfieth an hundred men with twenty barley loaves.
1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the asons of the prophets unto Elisha,1 saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did bfear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to cbe bondmen.2
a 1 Ki.20.22,39. ch.2.3,5,7,15; ver.38. Is.8.18.
1 Though the servant of the Lord may not 'leave the word of God and serve tables,' yet he should be ever even forward to attend to the poor, Ac.6.2. Ga.2.10.—C.
b 1 Ki.18.3. Ne.7.2. Ec.9.2. Mal.3.16. Ps.111.10. Pr.1.7. De.6.13.
c Mat.18.25. Ne.5.2,5. Le.25.39.
2 According to the law of Moses, if the debtor could not meet the just claims upon him, then his creditor had power to seize him and his children, and compel them to labour until such time as by the value of their labour they had paid their debts, or at longest to the year of jubilee, when all were set free.—P.
2 And Elisha said unto her, dWhat shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou ein the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, fsave a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, gGo, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.3
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt hshut 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.
h Mat.6.6. Mar.5.40. Ac.9.40. ver.33. 1 Ki.17.20.
5 So she iwent from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
i Not as ch. 5. 11, but 1 Ki.17.15,16.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were kfull, 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 lstayed.
l Jn.6.12. 1 Ki.17.14. Jos.5.12.
7 Then she came and mtold the man of God: and he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy ndebt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
8 And it fell on a day,4 that Elisha passed to oShunem,5 where was a great woman; and she pconstrained him6 to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
4 Heb. there was a day.
5 A city of Issachar, about five miles south of Tabor, Jos.19.18. 1 Sa.28.4. C.—It stood at the western base of the 'hill of Moreh,' looking out over the great plain of Esdraelon. The fields around Shunem are to this day among the most fertile in Palestine.—P.
p Lu.24.29. Ac.16.15. Ge.19.3.
6 Heb. laid hold on him.
9 And she qsaid unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an rholy man of God7 which passeth by us continually.8
A.M. 3109. B.C. 895.
q Pr.31.10,11. 1 Pe.3.1.
r Ju.13.6. 2 Co.1.12. Ac.24.16. 1 Th.2.10. 1 Ti.6.11,12.
7 It has often been remarked that women more speedily, and often more accurately, judge of character than men do—an observation that is verified in the hospitable woman of Shunem.—C.
8 This sentence gives us much insight into the office and labour of a prophet in Israel. He was, in point of fact, a laborious and untiring itinerant, inspecting the schools of the prophets, expounding and enforcing the law of God, and performing such offices of mercy and power as the circumstances of the times required.—C.
10 Lets us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall;9 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.
s Jos.2.15. Ro.12.13. He.13.1. 1 Pe.4.9. Mat.10.40,41; 25.40.
9 Not build, but fit up 'one of the little chambers' projecting from the inner wall of the outer court next the street, according to the manner of eastern houses, in which, and not in the inner court, strangers are entertained, and where they can go out and in without ever disturbing the family whose hospitality they enjoy.—C.
11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.
12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been tcareful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for uto the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, Ix dwell among mine own people.1
t Lu.10.40. 1 Th.5.12,13. Ro.16.2,6. Mat.10.40,41.
u As ch.3.15-18; 8.5.
x 1 Ti.6.8. He.13.5. I am content with my station.
1 My own relations and tenants; for she was a 'great woman,' ver. 8, but greater in contentment with the lot God had given than in possession of all ambition could seek, patronage obtain, or munificence bestow.—C.
14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily yshe hath no child, and her husband is old.
15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.
16 And he said, zAbout this season,2 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.3
17 And the woman aconceived, and bare a son4 at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
19 And he said unto his father, bMy head, my head!5 And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
5 A severe and sudden fever, the synocha of Cullen, in the most aggravated form, frequently brought on by exposure to the hot rays of the sun. In a battle fought by Baldwin IV., on the border of the Lake of Tiberias, William of Tyre relates that more perished by the sun than by the sword.—C.
20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his cmother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then ddied.
c 1 Ti.5.10,14.
d Ge.22.2; 37.3,35. 1 Ki.17.17. Eze.24.16,21.
21 And she went up, and laid him eon the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.
e 1 Ki.17.19. ver.10.
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 frun to the man of God, and come again.
f 1 Ki.17.21. ver.26. Je.51.31.
23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day? it is neither gnew-moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be hwell.6
g Nu.28.9,11. Ps.81.3. 1 Ch.23.31. Pr.8.34. 2 Ti.4.2.
h Heb. peace, ver.36.
6 There is an hospitable considerateness, a maternal tenderness, a manlike decision, an untiring perseverance, and an unshaken faith, that concentrate in this woman's character, and form a perfect study of instruction and imitation for every child of God.—C.
24 Then she isaddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; kslack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.
i Ex.4.20. Ju.5.10; 10.4. 1 Ki.13.13,23. 1 Sa.25.20.
k Heb. restrain not for me to ride, Ec.9.10.
25 So she went, and came unto the man of God lto mount Carmel.7 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:
A.M. 3112. B.C. 892.
l Jos.19.26. ch.2.25. 1 Ki.18.19-43. Je.46.18. Is.35.2; 33.9.
7 It was a ride of about fifteen miles across the plain of Esdraelon. The range of Carmel is clearly seen from Shunem.—P.
26 Runm 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.
m ver.22. Zec.2.4. Mat.15.21,22.
27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught nhim by the feet:8 but Gehazi came near to othrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is pvexed within her: and the LORD hath qhid it from me, and hath not told me.9
n Heb. by his feet, Mat.28.9.
8 Kissing the feet or knees is an ordinary mode of doing homage and making supplication, Mat.28.9. Lu.7.38.—C.
o Mat.15.23. Lu.7.38,39. Jn.4.27.
p Heb. bitter, 1 Sa.1.10. Pr.14.10; 18.14.
q 2 Sa.7.3, with ch.6.12.
9 God does not endow his prophets with a species of omniscience, but occasionally leaves them in the dark to remind them that he is the 'Father of lights,' and sends them many afflictions lest they should be tempted to pride, 2 Co.12.7.—C.
28 Then she said, rDid I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?
r Ge.30.1. ver.16.
29 Then he said to Gehazi, sGird up thy loins,1 and take tmy staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, usalute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again:2 and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
s Ex.12.11. 1 Ki.18.46. ch.9.1.
1 Bind up the outer flowing garment so that there be nothing to entangle by the way.—C.
t Ex.4.17. ch.2.8,14. Ac.19.12.
u Lu.10.4. ver.24, i.e. run with all possible speed.
2 Eastern salutations are often tedious ceremonies.—C.
30 And the mother of the child said, xAs the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.
x 1 Sa.1.26. Ru.1.16-18. Ge.19.3. Lu.24.29. Ex.33.13-17. ch.2.2.
31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but ythere was neither voice, nor 3hearing:4 wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.5
y Mat.17.19,20. Is.26.18.
3 Heb. attention.
4 God, who knew the worldly and covetous heart of Gehazi, refuses to work the miracle of restoration by him.—C.
5 The young, for a considerable time after death, have much the appearance of sleep. The rude and officious character of Gehazi, ver. 27, would scarcely lead him to speak thus in tenderness; he, most probably, paying little attention to anything but his own interests, ch. 5. 20, took the calm look of the boy for a lethargic sleep.—C.
32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.
33 He went in therefore, zand shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
z ver.4,5. 1 Ki.17.20. Mar.5.40. Ja.5.13-18. Ac.9.40; 20.10.
34 And he went up, and alay 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.
a Ac.9.40; 20.10. 1 Ki.17.21.
35 Then he returned, and bwalked in the house to and fro;6 and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the cchild sneezed seven times,7 and the child opened his eyes.
b Ro.12.11,15. Ep.4.32.
6 Heb. once hither and once thither.
c ch.8.1,5; 13.21. 1 Ki.17.22. Lu.7.15; 8.55. Jn.11.44. Ac.9.40; 20.11.
7 'Seven,' as representing the week, stands in Scripture for progress and perfection, completeness. The seven ears of corn, and the seven kine, Gen. xli., represented respectively seven years of plenty and famine. May not this precise number, which seems at first sight a note of no special importance, have been understood by the prophet as likewise representative, and led him to inquire of God, and anticipate the seven approaching years of famine, ch.8.1,2, of which he was sent to warn this Shunammite, as his master had been sent to preserve the Sareptan, Lu.4.25.—C.
36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her: and, when she was come in unto him, he said, dTake up thy son.
d 1 Ki.17.23. Lu.7.15. He.11.35.
37 Then she went in, and efell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and ftook up her son, and went out.
e ch.2.15. 1 Ki.1.23. ver.27.
f He.11.35. 1 Ki.17.23.
38 And Elisha gcame again to 8Gilgal: and there was a hdearth in the land; and the isons of the prophets were ksitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds9 his lapfull, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knewl them not.
A.M. 3112. B.C. 892.
9 The Hebrew name is derived from a word that signifies to crack noisily, and by this circumstance it may with considerable confidence be identified with the Cucumis Colocynthis, of which the seed-case, when ripe, bursts with a loud crackling sound. The fruit when ripe, and before complete dryness, is beautiful and inviting to an inexperienced stranger, but tasted, is intensely bitter; and though capable of being usefully employed in medicine, is nevertheless justly ranked among vegetable poisons.—C.
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 mthou man of God, there nis death in the pot: and they could not eat thereof.
m Ju.13.6,8. 1 Ki.12.22; 13.1; 17.24.
n Ex.10.17.
41 But he said, Then bring meal: and he casto it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat: and there was no harm1 in the pot.2
42 And there came a man from pBaal-shalisha, and qbrought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk3 thereof: and he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
43 And his servitor said, What! rshould I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, sThey shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
r Lu.9.13. Jn.6.9. Nu.11.13,22. Mat.14.31. Mar.6.36-44.
s ver.44. Mat.14.20. Jn.6.11,13.
44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.
Notes
Reflections.—Parents ought carefully to avoid dying in debt, as it may render their children miserable. Yet when persons are involved in debt, not by their own rashness, prodigality, or sloth, but by the afflicting providence of God, they deserve our pity, not our censure. Unforeseen providences may involve the most honest man in debts which he cannot pay. And how grievous is it (though not unjust) when Providence obliges a faithful minister to die indebted to rigid creditors! But if providence distress a good man, it will also relieve him. Let husbands then fear God, and he will take care of their widows and children. Let poor distressed widows and fatherless children cast all their care upon him: he is ready to relieve them in the most destitute case. And if we wish or expect God to do for us, we must do all that is in our own power. It is only in our diligent endeavours that we can rightly expect his blessing: and then let us believe, and we shall quickly find that God is more ready to give than we are to receive. To our utmost let us endeavour to clear our debts, though what remains should prove a very scanty livelihood: for nothing is properly our own till this be done. Acquaintance and friendship with God's servants is a principal ornament of the great: and happy are those families where both heads agree in it. Happy and wise those rich persons who desire no advancement. And nothing is more comely than for those who receive favours to be earnest in expressing their gratitude: but effectual fervent prayers are the best returns that we can make. How welcome and dear are children to such as have long wanted them! and yet how quickly they may be lost! We need always to stand ready for a sudden stroke. Death often seizes at a short warning. But in every affliction the view of God's hand should silence us. If he who gives takes away, we are called to be thankful for the length of the loan; and not to murmur that God resumes his gift. And we have need to be careful attendants on the ordinances of God, and to secure abiding comforts there, since the joys of earth so ebb and flow, and are but born and die.
What sympathy do tender mothers, bereaved of their children, need at our hand! But the effectual fervent prayers of faith are prevalent even over death; for in his wisdom God lets die and makes alive. Such as God sends to awaken dead sinners had need to be men of prayer and patience. Prophets should be content with common fare—examples of mortification, while they preach it to others; and they should be ready to communicate to others who are in need. But, alas! how sin has rendered our tables snares and traps, and our provision poisonous! It is of the Lord's mercies that our meat nourisheth us. And he can easily make a little coarse, or even bitter food, a plentiful and pleasant feast.