IV. IV. — VIII. THE WONDROUS WORKS OF ELISHA THE PROPHET. (1-7) He multiplies the widow’s oil. (Comp. 1 Kings 17:12 _seq_.) (1) OF THE WIVES OF THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS. — This shows that “the sons of the prophets” were not young unmarried men leading a kind of monastic life under the control of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAST THOU? — The form of the pronoun here, and in 2 Kings 4:3; 2 Kings 4:7; 2 Kings 4:16; 2 Kings 4:23 _infra_, is peculiar, and points, as the present writer believes, to the northern origin of the narrative, rather than to later composition. A POT OF OIL. — Usually explained, _vas unguentariu... [ Continue Reading ]
ABROAD. — Literally, _from the outside_ (of the house); out of doors. BORROW NOT A FEW. — See margin. _Do not scant_, or _stint_, namely, to borrow.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN... THOU SHALT SHUT. — And go in and shut the door. The object was to avoid disturbance from without; perhaps, also, because publicity was undesirable in the case of such a miracle. (Comp. our Lord’s injunction of secrecy on those whom He healed, and His exclusion of the people, in Luke 8:51... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM HIM. — _Mç’ittô_, the correct form. (Comp. 2 Kings 3:11.) WHO BROUGHT... POURED OUT. — There should be a semicolon at “sons.” The rest is literally, _They were bringing to her, and she was pouring continually_ (_mĕyaççèqeth_, only here). She did not leave her pouring. The story is evidently ab... [ Continue Reading ]
HER SON. — Probably the eldest. The LXX. has plural here and in the verb that follows. STAYED. — Heb., _stood_ — _i.e._, halted, stopped. (Comp. Luke 8:44, ἡ ῥύσις ἔστη.) Bähr makes the word mean _continued_ — _i.e._, to flow (!).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHE CAME. — _And she went in._ HE SAID. — LXX., “Elisha said.” THY DEBT. — Right. Margin incorrect. AND LIVE THOU AND THY CHILDREN. — Heb., _and thou — thy sons — thou mayest live_. Clearly “and” has fallen out before the second word. Many MSS. and all the versions have it. THOU. — ’_Attî_,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT FELL ON A DAY. — Rather, _And it came to pass at that time._ Literally, _during that day_, referring to the period of the miracle just related. Perhaps, too, the contrast of the poor and rich woman is intentional. PASSED. — _Crossed over — scil_., the plain of Jezreel, which he would have to... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HOLY MAN OF GOD. — The term “holy” is not a merely ornamental or conventional epithet of the “man of God” (_i.e._, prophet) as such, but denotes the special moral elevation of Elisha. CONTINUALLY. — _At stated intervals, regularly. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_10_)_ A LITTLE CHAMBER... ON THE WALL. — Rather, _a little upper chamber_ (‘_alîyâh_) _with walls_ — _i.e._, a chamber on the roof of the house, walled on each side as a protection against the weather. (Comp. 1 Kings 17:19.) Here the prophet would be secure from all interruption or intrusion on h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT FELL ON A DAY. — See Note on 2 Kings 4:8. CHAMBER._ — Upper chamber._ LAY — _i.e._, lay down to rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
GEHAZI HIS SERVANT. — First mentioned here. His name means “valley of vision,” and is perhaps derived from his native place, which may have got its name from being a haunt of prophets. HIS SERVANT. — _His young man_ (Genesis 22:3). SHE STOOD BEFORE HIM — _i.e._, before Gehazi. The sentence, “And w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIM — _i.e._, Elisha, as he lay on the bed (2 Kings 4:11), had charged Gehazi to say this when he called their hostess. It is hardly likely that Elisha communicated with her through his servant in order to save his own dignity. He may have thought she would express her wishes more f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID — _i.e._, when Gehazi had reported the woman’s reply. SHE HATH NO CHILD. — Which was at once a misfortune and a reproach. (Comp. Genesis 30:23; 1 Samuel 1:6; Luke 1:25; Deuteronomy 7:13; Psalms 128:3.)... [ Continue Reading ]
CALL HER. — The Shunammite is now summoned into the presence of the prophet himself. SHE STOOD. — Or, _took her stand._ Modesty, or reverence for Elisha, prevented her from going farther.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT THIS SEASON. — _At this set time_. ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF LIFE. — Rather, _at the reviving time — i.e._, next spring; or, _when the time revives_ — _i.e._, in the following year: a phrase occurring in Genesis 18:10; Genesis 18:15. Böttcher renders, “when the year has revolved,” assuming the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WOMAN CONCEIVED. — Comp. with this verse Genesis 21:2. SAID. — _Promised._ ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF LIFE. — See Note on 2 Kings 4:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT FELL ON A DAY. — See Note on 2 Kings 4:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HEAD, MY HEAD. — The boy had a sunstroke. It was the hot season of harvest, and his head was probably uncovered. A LAD. — _Rather, the young man._ The servant waiting on him.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKEN. — _Carried._ BROUGHT HIM. — _Brought him in_ — _i.e.,_ in-doors. TILL NOON. — We gather from this that the boy was hurt in the forenoon.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAID HIM ON THE BED OF THE MAN OF GOD. — She wished to keep the death secret, and the corpse inviolate, during her intended absence.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN. — To lead and drive the ass. ASSES. — _She-asses._ THAT I MAY RUN. — Notice the striking _naturalness_ of the language, in which she promises to be back soon.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILTT THOU GO. — _Art thou going_. Archaic forms of the pronoun and participle are here used. IT IS NEITHER NEW MOON, NOR SABBATH. — Comp. Amos 8:5. This remark is interesting, because it implies that the faithful in the northern kingdom were wont to visit prophets on these holy days for the sake o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHE SADDLED AN ASS. — _And she saddled the ass_ — _i.e._, which the young man brought, and probably saddled at her bidding. SLACK NOT THY RIDING FOR ME. — Literally, _restrain me not from riding_ — _i.e._, do not stop, or slacken speed. A halt for rest might naturally be taken, as the distance... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MOUNT CARMEL. — Elisha, then, must have dwelt there at least occasionally. (Comp. 2 Kings 4:9.) Carmel probably served as a fixed centre of prophetic teaching for the north, as Gilgal, Beth-el, and Jericho for the south. (Comp. also Elisha’s sacrifice there, 1 Kings 18:31 _seq_.) AFAR OFF. — The... [ Continue Reading ]
RUN NOW, I PRAY THEE, TO MEET HER. — This perhaps indicates the respect in which Elisha held the Shunammitess. But it may denote surprise and apprehension at an _unusual_ visit. Hence the inquiries about each member of the family. IT IS WELL. — She said this merely to avoid further explanation. She... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE HILL. — Probably to the summit. SHE CAUGHT HIM BY THE FEET. — _She laid hold of_ (clasped) _his feet_. Assuming the posture of an humble and urgent suppliant, and no doubt pouring out a flood of passionate entreaties for help. BUT (_and_) GEHAZI CAME NEAR TO THRUST HER AWAY. — He thought he... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN. — _And_; so in 2 Kings 4:29; 2 Kings 4:35. DID I DESIRE (_ask_) A SON OF MY LORD? — Only the conclusion of her appeal is given. She says, Better to have had no son, than to have had one and lost him. The opposite of our poet’s “‘Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU MEET ANY MAN, SALUTE HIM NOT. — An injunction of utmost _haste_. (Comp. the similar words of our Saviour, Luke 10:4.) A short greeting might end in a long halt. “Orientals lose much time in tedious salutations” (_Keil_). LAY MY STAFF UPON THE FACE OF THE CHILD. — It seems to be implied that... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE. — She wished the prophet himself to go to her child. The writer appropriately substitutes “the mother of the child” for “the Shunammite” or “the woman” in connection with this impassioned utterance, which induced the prophet to yield to her wishes.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS NEITHER VOICE, NOR HEARING. — 1 Kings 18:29; see margin, and Isaiah 21:7. WHEREFORE HE WENT AGAIN. — _And he came back to meet him_ (Elisha). THE CHILD IS NOT AWAKED. — _The_ lad woke not. The Rabbis explain Gehazi’s failure by assuming that he had disobeyed his master’s injunction by lo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT IN THEREFORE. — Comp. the narrative of Elijah’s raising the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:17), which is imitated in the present account. THEM TWAIN. — Himself and the body.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT UP. — Upon the bed (2 Kings 1:6). AND LAY UPON THE CHILD. — Comp. 1 Kings 17:21. What is hinted at there is described here (_Thenius_). STRETCHED HIMSELF UPON THE CHILD. — _Bowed himself_. So LXX., Syriac, and Vulg. (Comp. 1 Kings 18:42.) This expression summarises the preceding details.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RETURNED. — From off the bed. WALKED IN THE HOUSE TO AND FRO. — Or, in the _chamber_. Elisha’s walking to and fro is an index of intense excitement. He was earnestly expecting the fulfilment of his prayer. Cornelius à Lapide thinks the prophet walked “ut ambulando excitaret majorem calorem quem... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE UP THY SON. — So our Lord “delivered to his mother” the young man whom He raised from death by His word (Luke 7:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHE WENT IN. — _And she came._ BOWED HERSELF TO THE GROUND. — In deep veneration for the prophet of Jehovah.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELISHA CAME AGAIN. — _Now Elisha had returned_, commencing a new narrative. The word “return” refers to the prophet’s annual visit. (Comp. 2 Kings 4:25, and 2 Kings 2:1, Notes.) The story is not put in chronological sequence with the foregoing. AND THERE WAS A DEARTH. — And the famine was. THE... [ Continue Reading ]
(38-44) Elisha among the sons of the prophets at Gilgal during the famine.... [ Continue Reading ]
HERBS. — A rare word. (See Isaiah 26:19.) The Targum renders “greens.” The LXX. retains the Hebrew word; the Syriac and Arabic render “mallows.” Thenius thinks that αριωθ, the reading of the LXX., points to another word derived from a different root, and meaning “to pluck,” so that the word would de... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT. — The bitter taste, and perhaps incipient effect of the pottage, made them think of poison.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BRING MEAL. — Keil says, “the meal was only the material basis for the spiritual activity which went out from Elisha, and made the poisonous food wholesome.” Thenius, however, supposes that “the meal softened the bitterness, and obviated the drastic effect.” But Reuss appears to be right in say... [ Continue Reading ]
BAAL-SHALISHA. — Probably the same as Bethshalisha, mentioned by Jerome and Eusebius, fifteen Roman miles north of Lydda-Diospolis, and not far west of Gilgal and Bethel. (Comp. “the land of Shalisha,” 1 Samuel 9:4. Its name, Shalisha — as if _Three-land_ — seems to allude to the three wadies, which... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVITOR. — _Minister, or attendant._ WHAT, SHOULD I SET THIS BEFORE AN HUNDRED MEN? — Or, _How am I to set?_ &c. (Comp. Matthew 14:33.) HE SAID AGAIN. — _And he said._ THEY SHALL EAT, AND SHALL LEAVE THEREOF. — Heb., _eating and leaving!_ an exclamatory mode of speech, natural in hurried and veh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY DID EAT, AND LEFT THEREOF. — Comp. our Lord’s miracles, already referred to. Bähr denies any miraculous increase of the food. He makes the miracle consist in the fact that the one hundred men were satisfied with the little they received, and even had some to spare. Similarly, Thenius thinks... [ Continue Reading ]