1-7 Elisha multiplies the widow's oil 8-17 He obtains a son for the good Shunammite 18-37 He restores her son when dead 38-41 At Gilgal he heals the deadly pottage 42-44 He satisfies an hundred men with twenty loaves

A.M. 3110 B.C. 894
sons 2Ki 4:38 2:3,5 1Ki 20:35

thy servant did fear Ge 22:12 1Ki 18:3 Ne 7:2 Ps 103:11,17 112:1,2 115:13 147:11 Ec 8:12 12:13 Mal 3:16 4:2 Ac 13:26 Re 15:4 19:5

the creditor Le 25:39,40,48 Ne 5:2-5 10:31 Jer 34:14 Mt 18:25,30,35 Jas 2:13

2 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.

What shall I 2Ki 2:9 6:26,27 Mt 15:34 Joh 6:5-7 Ac 3:6 2Co 6:10

save a pot of oil 1Ki 17:12 Jas 2:5

3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

empty vessels 2Ki 3:16 Joh 2:7

borrow not a few [heb] scant not 2Ki 13:18,19 Ps 81:10 Joh 16:24

4 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.

thou shalt shut 2Ki 4:32,33 1Ki 17:19,20 Isa 26:20 Mt 6:6 Mr 5:40 Ac 9:40

and shalt pour Mr 6:27-44 8:5-9 Joh 2:7-9 6:11 Eph 3:20

5 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.

she went 2Ki 5:11 1Ki 17:15,16 Lu 1:45 Heb 11:7,8

6 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.

when the vessels 2Ki 4:43,44 Mt 9:29 13:58 14:20 15:37 Lu 6:19 2Ch 6:12,13

And the oil 2Ki 13:19 Jos 5:12 1Ki 17:14 Joh 6:12

7 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.

pay Ps 37:21 Ro 12:17 Php 4:8 1Th 2:9,10 4:12 2Th 3:7-12

debt. or, creditor

8 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.

it fell on [heb] there was 2Ki 4:11,18

Shunem This city was situated in the tribe of Issachar, five miles south from mount Tabor, according to Eusebius; and is probably the place which he calls {sanim}, in Acrabatene, in the neighbourhood of Samaria or Sebaste. 2Ki 4:12 Jos 19:18 1Sa 28:4 1Ki 1:3

a great woman 2Sa 19:32 Job 1:3 32:9 Lu 1:15

she constrained him [heb] she laid hold on him Ge 19:3 Jud 19:20 Pr 7:21 Lu 14:23 24:29 Ac 16:15

9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

she said Pr 31:10,11 1Pe 3:1

this is Mt 5:16 1Th 2:10 Tit 1:8 2Pe 1:21 3:2

man of God De 33:1 1Ki 13:1 17:18,24 1Ti 6:11

10 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.

Let us Isa 32:8 Mt 10:41,42 25:40 Mr 9:41 Lu 8:3 Ro 12:13 Heb 10:24 13:2 1Pe 4:9,10

a little chamber. An () or (), as the Arabs call it; a small back house annexed to the principal dwelling, in which the prophet could live in a great privacy as in his own house, and to which he could retire at pleasure, without breaking in upon the private affairs of the family, or being in his turn interrupted by them in his devotions. See the notes on Ju 3:20 1Ki 17:19

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.

Gehazi 2Ki 4:29-31 5:20-27 8:4,5

servant 2Ki 3:11 1Ki 18:43 19:3 Ac 13:5

13 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.

thou hast Mt 10:40-42 Lu 9:3-5 Ro 16:2,6 Php 4:18,19 1Th 5:12,13 2Ti 1:16-18 Heb 6:10

to the king 2Ki 3:15-18 8:3-6 Ge 14:24 2Sa 19:32-38

to the captain 2Ki 9:5 2Sa 19:13 1Ki 3:23

I dwell 1Ti 6:6-8 Heb 13:5

among mine 2Ki 8:1 Ru 1:1-4 Ps 37:3

14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

she hath no child Ge 15:2,3 17:17 18:10-14 25:21 30:1 Jud 13:2 1Sa 1:2,8 Lu 1:7

15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

no ref

16 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.

About this Ge 17:21 18:10,14

season [heb] set time
thou shalt Ge 17:16,17 Lu 1:13,30,31

my lord 2Ki 2:19

do not lie 2Ki 18:9 Ps 116:11 Lu 1:18-20

17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

Ge 21:1 1Sa 1:19,20 Ps 113:9 Lu 1:24,25,36 Heb 11:11

18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

to the reapers Ru 2:4

19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

My head From this peculiar exclamation, and the season of the year, it is probable he was affected by the {coup de soleil}, or stroke of the sun, which is by no means uncommon in hot climates, and often proves fatal. Job 14:1,2 Jer 4:19

20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

his mother Isa 49:15 66:13 Lu 7:12

and then died Ge 22:2 37:3,5 1Ki 17:17 Eze 24:16-18 Lu 2:35 Joh 11:3,5,14

21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

the bed 2Ki 4:10 1Ki 17:19

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 run to the man of God, and come again.

I may run 2Ki 4:24,26 Joh 11:3 Ac 9:38

23 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.

new moon Nu 10:10 28:11 1Ch 23:31 Isa 1:13-15

well [heb] peace 2Ki 4:26

24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

Then she Ex 4:20 1Sa 25:20 1Ki 13:13,23

an ass These animals were not anciently, as now, used only by the lower classes, but were in general use among the noble and chief personages of the East, and it was not unusual for even the husband to walk by the side of his wife while thus riding; the driver, as was the custom, following. The Shunammite, when she went to the prophet, did not desire so much attendance; but only requested her husband to send her an ass and its driver.

Drive 1Sa 25:19

slack not thy riding for me [heb] restrain not for me to ride

25 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:

to mount 2Ki 2:25 1Ki 18:19,42 Isa 35:2

26 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:

Run now Zec 2:4

It is well with thee Ge 29:6 37:14 1Sa 17:18 Mt 10:12,13 Ac 15:36

It is well 2Ki 4:23 Le 10:3 1Sa 3:18 Job 1:21,22 Ps 39:9

27 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.

him by the feet [heb] by his feet Mt 28:9 Lu 7:38

thrust Mt 15:23 20:31 Mr 10:13 Joh 4:27 12:4-6

Let her alone Mr 14:6 Joh 12:7

vexed [heb] bitter 1Sa 1:10 Job 10:1 Pr 14:10 18:14

hid it from me 2Ki 6:12 Ge 18:17 2Sa 7:3 Am 3:7 Joh 15:15

28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

Did I desire Ge 30:1

Do not 2Ki 4:16

29 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.

Gird up thy loins 2Ki 9:1 1Ki 18:46 Eph 6:14 1Pe 1:13

take my 2Ki 2:14 Ex 4:17

salute him not Lu 10:4

lay my staff 2Ki 2:8,14 Ex 7:19,20 14:16 Jos 6:4,5 Ac 3:16 19:12

30 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.

As the Lord 2Ki 2:2,4

I will not Ex 33:12-16 Ru 1:16-18

31 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.

neither voice 1Sa 14:37 28:6 Eze 14:3 Mt 17:16-21 Mr 9:19-29 Ac 19:13-17

hearing [heb] attention 1Ki 18:26,29

not awaked Job 14:12 Da 12:2 Mr 5:39 Joh 11:11,43,44 Eph 5:14

32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

the child 1Ki 17:17 Lu 8:52,53 Joh 11:17

33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

shut the door 2Ki 4:4 Mt 6:6

prayed 2Ki 5:11 6:17,18,20 1Ki 17:20,21 18:26,27 Joh 11:41,42 Ac 9:40 Jas 5:13-18

34 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 stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

1Ki 17:21 Ac 20:10

35 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.

to and from [heb] once hither and once thither
and the child opened 2Ki 8:1,5 13:21 1Ki 17:22 Lu 7:14,15 8:55 Joh 11:43,44 Ac 9:40

36 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.

Call this Shunammite 2Ki 4:12

Take up 1Ki 17:23 Lu 7:15 Heb 11:35

37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

fell at his feet 2Ki 4:27 2:15 1Ki 17:24

38 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.

Elisha 2Ki 2:1 1Sa 7:16,17 Ac 10:38 15:36

a dearth 2Ki 8:1 Le 26:26 De 28:22-24,38-40 2Sa 21:1 Jer 14:1-6 Eze 14:13 Lu 4:25

the sons 2Ki 2:3 1Sa 19:20

were sitting Pr 8:34 Lu 2:46 8:35,38 10:39 Ac 22:3

Set on the great pot Mr 6:37 8:2-6 Lu 9:13 Joh 21:5,9

39 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.

a wild vine Isa 5:4 Jer 2:21 Mt 15:13 Heb 12:15

wild gourds The word () from {peka}, in Chaldee, to burst, and in Syriac, to crack, thunder, is generally supposed to be the fruits of the coloquintida, or colocynth; whose leaves are large, placed alternately, very much like those of the {vine}, whence it might be called a {wild vine}: the flowers are white, and the fruit of the gourd kind, of the size of a large apple, and when ripe, of a yellow colour, and a pleasant and inviting appearance. It ranks among vegetable {poisons}, as all intense bitters do; but, judiciously employed, it is of considerable use in medicine. It is said that the fruit, when ripe, is so full of wind that it bursts, and throws its liquor and seeds to a great distance: and if touched, before it breaks of itself, it flies open with an explosion, and discharges it fetid contents in the face of him who touched it.

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 thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.

O thou 2Ki 4:9 1:9,11,13 De 33:1 1Ki 17:18

death Ex 10:17 15:23 Mr 16:18

41 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.

he cast 2Ki 2:21 5:10 6:6 Ex 15:25 Joh 9:6 1Co 1:25

there Ac 28:5

harm [heb] evil thing

42 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.

Baal-shalisha 1Sa 9:4,7

bread 2Ki 4:38 Ex 23:16 De 12:6 26:2-10 1Sa 9:7 2Ch 11:13,14 Pr 3:9,10 1Co 9:11 Ga 6:6

of barley 2Ki 7:1,16-18 De 8:8 32:14 Joh 6:9,13

the husk thereof. or, his scrip, or garment. Note: Parched corn, or corn to be parched; full ears before they are ripe, parched on the fire: a very frequent food in the East. The loaves were probably extremely small, as their loaves of bread still are in eastern countries. But small as this may appear, it would be a considerable present in the time of famine; though very inadequate to the number of persons.

Baal-shalisha, of which the person who made this seasonable present was an inhabitant, was situated, according to Eusebius and Jerome, fifteen miles north of Diospolis, or Lydda.

43 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.

his servitor 2Ki 4:12

What Mt 14:16,17 15:33,34 Mr 6:37-39 8:4 Lu 9:13 Joh 6:9

They shall eat Mt 14:20 15:37 16:8-10 Mr 6:42,43 8:20 Lu 9:17 Joh 6:11-13

44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.