2 Kings 4:13

_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._ What is to be done for thee? Wishing to testify his gratitude for the hospitable attentions of this family, he announced to her the birth of a son 'about this time next year.' The interest and importance of such an intelligence can only be estimated by considering that Oriental women, and Jewish in particular, connect ideas of disgrace with barrenness, and cherish a more ardent desire for children than women in any other part of the world (Genesis 18:10)....

8-17 Elisha was well thought of by the king of Israel for his late services; a good man can take as much pleasure in serving others, as in raising himself. But the Shunammite needed not any good offices of this kind. It is a happiness to dwell among our own people, that love and respect us, and to whom we are able to do good. It would be well with many, if they did but know when they are really well off. The Lord sees the secret wish which is suppressed in obedience to his will, and he will hear the prayers of his servants in behalf of their benefactors, by sending unasked-for and unexpected mercies; nor must the professions of men of God be supposed to be delusive like those of men of the world....

Verse 2 Kings 4:13. _WOULDEST THOU BE SPOKEN FOR TO THE KING_] Elisha must have had considerable influence with the king, from the part he took in the late war with the Moabites. Jehoram had reason to believe that the prophet, under God, was the sole cause of his success, and therefore he could have no doubt that the king would grant him any reasonable request. _OR TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE HOST?_] As if he had said, Wilt thou that I should procure thee and thy husband a place at court, or get any of thy _friends_ a _post_ in the _army_? _I DWELL AMONG MINE OWN PEOPLE._] I am perfectly satisfied and contented with my lot in life; I live on the best terms with my neighbours, and am here encompassed with my kindred, and feel no disposition to change my connections or place of abode. How few are there lik

THOU HAST BEEN CAREFUL FOR US - For the prophet and his servant, who must have been lodged as well as his master. I DWELL AMONG MINE OWN PEOPLE - The woman declines Elisha’s offer. She has no wrong to complain of, no quarrel with any neighbor, in respect of which she might need the help of one in power. She “dwells among her own people” - her friends, and dependents, with whom she lives peaceably....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 4:1 TYPICAL MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ELISHA. General _introduction_._ _The miracles of this chapter are all of them miracles of mercy. The first and last consist in the multiplying of food, and thus belong to the same class as our Lord's feeding the four and the five thousands, and Elijah's increasing the meal and oil of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:10). It serves no useful purpose to ask how miracles of this class were wrought. The inspired writers have not told us; and our own thoughts upon the subject can at the best be mere unfounded conjectures. The rationalistic attempts which have been made to solve the mystery exhibit a weakness and feeblen

AND HE SAID UNTO HIM,...., To Gehazi, before he went to call her: SAY NOW UNTO HER, BEHOLD, THOU HAST BEEN CAREFUL FOR US WITH ALL THIS CARE; in building a chamber, and furnishing it with proper household goods, and providing food for them from time to time: WHAT IS TO BE DONE FOR THEE? can anything be thought of by thee that will be acceptable, and in my masters power to do for thee, or thy husband? WOULDEST THOU BE SPOKEN FOR TO THE KING, OR TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE HOST? that her husband might be promoted to some post in the court, or in the camp; intimating, that if either of these was agreeable, Elisha would speak on his behalf, having interest in both through his services in Edom: AND SHE ANSWERED, I WILL DWELL AMONG MY OWN PEOPLE she was content and satisfied with her present state of life, and the situation she was in, and with her friends and neighbours she lived among, and did...

3. THE MIRACLES CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The widow's oil multiplied (2 Kings 4:1)_ 2. The Shunammite and her reward (2 Kings 4:8) 3. The son of the Shunammite raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:18) 4. The deadly pottage healed (2 Kings 4:38) 5. The multitude fed (2 Kings 4:42) In the previous chapter Elisha appeared as the saviour of Israel, and now he acts in behalf of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets. His name is not given. Elisha had known him as one who feared the Lord. And now the widow deeply in

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 ...

CAREFUL... CARE. Figure of speech _Polyptoton =_ exceedingly careful. SPOKEN FOR TO THE KING. This confidence in his influence with the king is accounted for by the miraculous aid recently given by Elisha in 2 Kings 3:16....

_And he said unto him_ i.e. Elisha to Gehazi. The prophet does not himself address the woman. Most likely, in all things which he required, Gehazi was his messenger to the house, and so the woman would more readily reply to him than to his master. It is clear from what follows that Gehazi was acquainted with the family concerns. There may have been also in Elisha's mind somewhat of the feeling which the disciples of Christ had (John 4:27) when -they marvelled that their Master was speaking with a woman". _thou hast been careful for us with all this care_ Both the noun and verb in the original are used of -fear" and -trembling". (Cf. Martha's care and trouble, Luke 10:41.) Hence R.V. in margin gives -hast shewed us all this reverence". The use of such words bears out what has just been said of the distance kep