2 Kings 4 - Introduction
_ELISHA MULTIPLIETH THE WIDOW'S OIL; HE PROMISETH A SON TO THE SHUNAMMITE, AND RAISETH HIM UP WHEN DEAD. HE FEEDS AN HUNDRED MEN WITH A FEW LOAVES._ _Before Christ 895._... [ Continue Reading ]
_ELISHA MULTIPLIETH THE WIDOW'S OIL; HE PROMISETH A SON TO THE SHUNAMMITE, AND RAISETH HIM UP WHEN DEAD. HE FEEDS AN HUNDRED MEN WITH A FEW LOAVES._ _Before Christ 895._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CREDITOR IS COME TO TAKE UNTO HIM MY TWO SONS— The Jewish law looked upon children as the proper goods of their parents, who had power to sell them for seven years, as their creditors had to compel them to do it, in order to pay their debts. From the Jews this custom was adopted by the Athenians... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US MAKE A LITTLE CHAMBER—ON THE WALL, &C.— See the note on Judges 3:20. The _little chamber_ here spoken of, to which Elisha retired at his leisure, without breaking in upon the private affairs of the family, or being in his turn interrupted by them in his devotions, seems to have been of the li... [ Continue Reading ]
I DWELL AMONG MINE OWN PEOPLE— The phrase shews us the moderation of this woman, who was removed from all intercourse with courts, and from all ambition to be concerned with them. REFLECTIONS.—Elisha, in his travels from Carmel to Samaria, often passed through Shunem; and we are told, 1. How kindly... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NEITHER NEW MOON NOR SABBATH— No stated public day, upon which the prophets used to preach and instruct the people, and on which, consequently, they were always to be found by such as wanted their advice or assistance.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRIVE, AND GO FORWARD— The appearance of travellers in the Holy Land, differs a good deal from that of those who journey among us. To see a person _mounted,_ and attended by a servant _on foot,_ would seem odd to us; and it would be much more so to see that servant _driving_ the beast before him, or... [ Continue Reading ]
LAY UPON THE CHILD, &C.— See what we have said on 1 Kings 17:21. REFLECTIONS.—How precarious is every sublunary blessing! how little dependance to be placed upon the comforts of a perishing world! We see, 1. This darling boy, seized in the harvest-field with his father, complains, My head, my head... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUND A WILD VINE, AND GATHERED THEREOF WILD GOURDS, &C.— See Hiller. Hieroph. part 2: p. 220. This is generally supposed to have been the _coloquintida_ plant, which is so very bitter that some have called it "the gall of the whole earth:" it purges excessively, and is a sort of poison, if not qual... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FULL EARS OF CORN IN THE HUSK THEREOF— _And also new corn in his scrip or bag._ Houbigant. REFLECTIONS.—Elisha's happy employment was in the prophetic schools, to instruct and encourage by his advice and experience those who might succeed him in the rising generation. Thus we find him employed... [ Continue Reading ]