2 Kings 4:8-17

B. PREDICTIONS REGARDING THE SHUNAMMITE 4:8-17

TRANSLATION

(8) And it came to pass one day that Elisha passed over unto Shunem, and there was a great lady who constrained him to eat bread. And it came to pass whenever he passed through, he turned aside there to eat bread. (9) And she said unto her husband, Behold now I know that the one who passes by us continually is a holy man of God. (10) Let us make, I pray you, a small chamber on the wall, and let us put there a bed, table, chair and lamp, and it shall come to pass when he comes unto us, he may turn in there. (11) And it came to pass on the day that he came there, that he turned aside unto the chamber and lay down there. (12) And he said unto Gehazi his servant, Call to this Shunammite. And he called to her, and she stood before him. (13) And he said unto him, Say, I pray you, unto her, Behold you have cared for us with all this care. What is to be done for you? Do you have a matter pertaining to the king or to the captain of the host? And she said, In the midst of my people I continue to dwell. (14) And he said, Then what may be done for her? And Gehazi said, Truly she has no son and her husband is old. (15) And he said, Call to her. And he called to her, and she stood in the entrance. (16) At this season when the time comes around you will be embracing a son. And she said, No, my lord, O man of God, do not deceive your handmaid. (17) And the woman conceived and bore a son at that season when the time came around as Elisha had spoken to her.

COMMENTS

As he traveled about the Northern Kingdom, Elisha would frequently pass through Shunem, a village in Galilee on the edge of the plain of Esdraelon. A great woman, i.e., a woman of substance, lived there who was so zealously hospitable that she constrained the prophet to eat his meals in her home whenever he passed through the village (2 Kings 4:8). With the passing of time, the wealthy Shunammite became convinced that Elisha was truly worthy of the title he bore, man of God (2 Kings 4:9), and she wished to do more for him than she hitherto had done. She suggested to her husband that a special room be built for the prophet on the wall of their home. By this she probably means a small addition to the existing upper chamber of the housea tiny room resting partly upon the wall of the house, partly projecting beyond it much like a balcony. The woman planned to furnish this private apartment in such a way that it could serve not only as a sleeping chamber but as a study as well (2 Kings 4:10). This understanding woman knew that from time to time the busy man of God would need a retreat where he could rest, study, and perhaps write.

The prophet was overjoyed with the generous provision of his Shunammite hosts (2 Kings 4:11) and wished to reciprocate. He therefore instructed Gehazi his servanthere mentioned for the first timeto summon the Shunammite woman. It would seem that Gehazi stood in the doorway of the prophet's private apartment and called the woman, perhaps to the foot of the stairs leading up to that chamber. The woman came and stood in his, i.e., Gehazi'S, presence (2 Kings 4:12). From his chamber the prophet directed his servant to inquire what might be done for this woman in return for her gracious hospitality. Would she desire that he use his influence with the king or commander of the army on her behalf? But this woman was no socialite or ladder climber. She was perfectly content to dwell among the people of her native village (2 Kings 4:13). The Shunammite had not acted out of selfish motivations when she had built this chamber for the man of God, but had done this as an act of devotion to God.

Elisha then addressed Gehazi. If the woman would suggest nothing herself, could Gehazi suggest anything that might be done for her? It would appear that the woman's unselfishness increased the prophet's desire to do something for her. Gehazi pointed out to his master that the woman was barren and her husband was old (2 Kings 4:14). Though the woman had made no complaint about this matter, Gehazi knew that to be barren was regarded by all Hebrew women as an unbearable reproach. He therefore assumed that the Shunammite must wish offspring. Elisha accepted his suggestion without a moment's hesitation. Gehazi was then directed to summon the woman directly into the presence of the prophet. The Shunammite came and stood in the doorway of Elisha's apartment (2 Kings 4:15). Out of modesty and respect she would advance no farther. The prophet announced to her that about this season when the time comes around (lit., revives), i.e., about this time a year hence, she would be embracing a son.

The Shunammite, like Sarah before her, was incredulous in the face of this shocking announcement. She feared that the prophet was toying with her, arousing hopes which were only doomed to disappointment. She begged Elisha not to deceive her (2 Kings 4:16). Nevertheless, at that very season a year later the woman gave birth to a son just as the prophet had predicted (2 Kings 4:17).