2 Kings 4:10

Let us make The R.V. brings -I pray thee" to follow these words according to the Hebrew order.

a little chamber … on the wall The Hebrew might mean either a chamber with a wall, a walled room, in contradistinction to one built of wood, or a building above the usual roof of the house and so supported by the walls. The latter seems to be the sense required here, for it is said (verse 21) that the mother went upwhen she wished to lay the dead child upon the prophet's bed. As the roofs of Eastern houses can be reached by a staircase from outside, a chamber on the housetop (cf. Proverbs 21:9; Proverbs 25:24) would furnish the sort of privacy which Elisha would desire. He could also thus come in and go out without being mixed up with the movements of the household.

a bed The articles here named form the proper furniture of an Eastern room, where a superabundance of such articles is nowhere found.

a stool The word is that which is often rendered -throne", and it probably in this case means the couch or divan which runs along the wall of an Eastern dwelling-room.

he shall turn in The verb, which is the same as in verse 8, is that which Lot employs (Genesis 19:2) in his invitation to the two angels. Preparation was made so that the prophet and his servant might be at rest, and come and go when they pleased. As a halting place in a long journey it would be very acceptable.