2 Kings 4:8-37

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman. This gives one of the most delightful pictures of rural life in ancient Israel. It describes the kindly hospitality of the great lady of Shunem, the accommodation provided a chamber with walls (mg.) and furniture no makeshift arrangement, but such as befitted an honoured guest; the description of the boy's death, her drive from Shunem to Carmel to the prophet, Elisha's behaviour, as revealing his naturally considerate demeanour, is vividly portrayed. More than one expression recalls the Elijah story (cf. 1 Kings 18:26 with 2 Kings 4:31, and 1 Kings 18:42 with 2 Kings 4:33). Shunem (2 Kings 4:8) is where the Philistines encamped opposite Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:4). It is about 5 miles from Jezreel, and 20 or more from Carmel (2 Kings 4:25), where Elisha usually abode. Elisha is evidently on friendly terms with the king (2 Kings 4:13), which shows that the incidents are later than the destruction of Ahab's sons. The independence of the lady may be compared with that of Nabal (1 Samuel 25:10) and Naboth (1 Kings 21). We have (2 Kings 4:23) one of the rare hints in this book of the religious observances of the time; the new moon or the sabbath (pp. 101f.) was considered a suitable occasion to go to a prophet, even though as long a journey ware necessary as from Shunem to Carmel (Amos 8:5; Hosea 2:11). There are some interesting illustrations of this chapter in the NT e.g. the prohibition of a messenger on urgent business to salute anybody (2 Kings 4:29; cf. Luke 10:4), the furniture of the prophet's chamber, bed, and lampstand (Mark 4:21). Shunem was near to Nain, where our Lord raised the widows son (Luke 7:11).

2 Kings 4:31. The bones of the dead Elisha (2 Kings 13:21 *) have more life-giving virtue than the prophet's staff in the hands of the living Gehazi. A. S. P.]