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. Ver. 1. _Now there cried a certain woman._] Here we... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _What shall I do for thee?_] Pay thy debts for thee I cannot; but if any way else I may bestead thee, I shall do it. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, [even] empty vessels; borrow not a few. Ver. 3. _Even empty vessels._] They must be empty hearts, saith Bernard; empty of self, and all ungodly lusts, which God will fill with the oil of grace: _Intus existens prohibet alienum,_ el... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _Thou shalt shut the door upon thee._] It was time to shut the door, saith a reverend man, when many greater vessels must... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _And shut the door, &c._] This her prompt and present obedience was a noble fruit of her heroical faith. She doth not reason, as Naaman did, but run; she doth not disput... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _There is not a vessel more._] The cruse never ceased running, till there was no room; so elsewhere God never ceased ab... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _And live thou and thy children of the rest._] This was more than she desired of the prophet. God is oft better to his people than their prayers, than their ho... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _That Elisha passed to Shunem._] Abishag's country. 1Ki 1:3 See Joshua 19:18. And the Rabbi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this [is] an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually._ Ver. 9. _Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man._] Holiness will as little be hid as light, fire, musk, &c. A holy man is like a crystai glass with a clear lamp in the... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall._] Where he may be privatel... [ Continue Reading ]
And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. Ver. 11. _And he turned into the chamber, and lay there._] To the great benefit, no doubt, of the whole family, who received many divine instructions from him, and were much helped on by his prayers and holy... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. Ver. 12. _Call this Shunammite._] Gehazi it seemeth was sent to call her, but withal to acquaint her with the business, - viz., that if she had any suit to the king or his general, &c., - and... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _Behold thou hast been careful for us._]... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, What then [is] to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. Ver. 14. _What then is to be done for her?_] So great a prophet disdaineth not to consult and advise with his servant; and all his care is how to express his thankfulness to his ho... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. Ver. 15. _Call her._] See on 2 Kings 4:12 . _ She stood in the door._] By a commendable modesty. So Genesis 18:10 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _About this season,_] _i.e., _ About this time twelve months from now. _ Thou shalt embrace a son._] God dealeth with his... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. Ver. 17. _And the woman conceived._] The like whereunto fell out in the last age: for Dr Sandys departing the land for fear of Queen Mary, and taking leave of his hostess, who was ch... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. Ver. 18. _Went out to his father to the reapers._] This Shunammite, though rich, yet had himself the oversight of his harvest labourers: so had Boaz. Ruth 2:4 _; _ Rth 3:2-7 This was good husbandry.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. Ver. 19. _And he said to his father, My head, my head._] The sunbeams in that hot season of harvest had beaten hard upon his head, and made him sick. The Latins call a sick man _Aegrum,_ from the pitiful m... [ Continue Reading ]
And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut [the door] upon him, and went out. Ver. 21. _And laid him on the bed of the man of God._] She had heard, belike, how Elijah had restored to life a widow's dead child. 1Ki 17:21 This therefore that she here did was an act of her fa... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 22. _Send me, I pray thee._] As a pious and a prudent matron, though she might do much with her husband, whose heart safely trusted in... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? [it is] neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, [It shall be] well. Ver. 23. _Wherefore wilt thou go to him today?_] Her husband knew nothing then of the child's death. _ It is neither new moon, nor sabbath._] On which days good people in tho... [ Continue Reading ]
Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not [thy] riding for me, except I bid thee. Ver. 24. _Drive, and go forward._] Put on as fast as thou canst. _Dolor addidit alas; _ grief rideth without reins, where there is but any hope of help.... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 25. _Behold, yonder is that Shunammite._] That good Shunammite, which "showeth out of a good conversatio... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 26. _And she answered, It is well._] It is, or would be. Well it is howsoever for the present, and it will be better hereafte... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _She caught him by the feet._] Which s... [ Continue Reading ]
Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? Ver. 28. _Did I desire a son of my lord?_] Was I too desirous, or unduly importunate? for if so, the loss of the child had been just upon me. Strong affections will be strong afflictions. _ Did I not say, Do not deceiv... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 29. _If thou meet any man, salute him not._] Stand not tattling, much les... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 30. _And he arose, and followed her._] As our Saviour also, upon a like occasion, arose and followed Jairus, Mat 9:18-19 not taking offence at his weak faith... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 31. _But there was neither voice nor hearing._] God withholding his power and help ti... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, [and] laid upon his bed. Ver. 32. _And laid upon his bed._] See on ver. 21.... [ Continue Reading ]
He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. Ver. 33. _And prayed unto the Lord._] This staff of his - whatever became of the other - was long enough, he knew, to reach up to heaven, to knock at those gates, yea, to wrench them open.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 34. _And put his mouth upon his mouth._] The Septuagint adds, And breathed upon hi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 35. _Then he returned, and walked, &c._] He found the mercy coming, and he sets to work with more vehemency and intention of desi... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 36. _Take up thy son._] Now two sons in one, and never so dear to thee, I daresay, as now. God knows how to commend his favours to us, and to make them double... [ Continue Reading ]
Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. Ver. 37. _And took up her son, and went out._] Singing as she went, "This my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." Luk 15:24... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 38. _See the pottage._] The propbets were poor, and glad of pottag... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 39. _Of wild gourds his lapful_] This is taken to be _coloquintida,_ which is very bitter, saith V... [ Continue Reading ]
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]. Ver. 40. _Death in the pot._] For this drug is not only bitter, but poisonous and pernic... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 41. _Then bring meal._] Which yet could not have made the pottage wholesome and savoury, but by a miracle.... [ Continue Reading ]
And there came a man from Baalshalisha, 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. Ver. 42. _And brought the man of God._] The prophets, in the fail of priests, who we... [ Continue Reading ]
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]. Ver. 43. _And his servitor._] Gehazi, who was no stranger to his master's miracles, but continued a _Pettifidi... [ Continue Reading ]
So he set [it] before them, and they did eat, and left [thereof], according to the word of the LORD. Ver. 44. _And they did eat, and left._] It grew in their hands, as Mat 14:20 John 6:12,13 .... [ Continue Reading ]