_A.M. 3109. B.C. 895._ Elisha multiplies the widow's oil, 2 Kings 4:1. Obtains a son for the Shunammite, 2 Kings 4:8. Raises him again to life, 2 Kings 4:18. Heals the deadly pottage, 2 Kings 4:38. Feeds a hundred men with twenty small loaves, 2 Kings 4:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets_ Who, though they were wholly devoted to sacred employments, yet were not excluded from marriage, any more than the priests and Levites. _My husband did fear the Lord_ His poverty, therefore, was not procured by his idleness or prodigality, b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elisha said, What shall I do for thee?_ How shall I relieve thee, who am myself poor? _Tell me, what hast thou in the house?_ Toward the discharge of thy husband's debts.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons_ That none might come in to disturb or interrupt her in what site was doing; that she and her sons might not seem proudly to boast of this miraculous supply; and that they might have opportunity for prayer and praise on this, extraordinary occas... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said, Go, sell the oil_ She must not keep it for her own use. Those whom Providence has made poor, must be content with poor accommodations for themselves: they must know how to want, and must not think, when they get a little of that which is better than ordinary, to feed their own luxury there... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman_ Great for estate, or birth and quality. _And she constrained him to eat bread_ Pressed him with great importunity, and at length, with great difficulty, prevailed with him to dine with her. _As oft as he passed by he turned in thither_ She made him... [ Continue Reading ]
_She said to her husband_ In frequent conversation with him. _This is a holy man of God_ A prophet, and that of eminent holiness; by our kindness to whom we shall procure a blessing to ourselves. _Which passeth by us continually_ For Shunem was in his way as he went from Carmel, which was not far fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_She stood before him_ The narrative seems to be a little perplexed, but may be thus conceived: it is in this verse recorded in the general, that the prophet sent Gehazi to call her, and that she came to him upon that call; then follows a particular description of the whole business, with all the ci... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is to be done for thee?_ Wherein can I serve thee? For he was very desirous, as all good men are, to be grateful. “They that receive courtesies,” says Henry, “should study to return them. It ill becomes men of God to be ungrateful, or to sponge upon those that are generous.” _Wouldst thou be s... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said, What then is to be done for her?_ The above answer being returned to his master by Gehazi, Elisha asked him what he thought might be most welcome to her, as if he had said, Hast thou observed any thing which she wants or desires? For the prophet kept himself much in his chamber, while... [ Continue Reading ]
_About this season, according to the time of life_ About this time next year; see on Genesis 18:10; _thou shall embrace a son_ She had received this prophet _in the name of a prophet_, and now she receives, not a courtier's reward, in being spoken for to the king, but a prophet's reward, a signal me... [ Continue Reading ]
_He went out to his father to the reapers_ Either for pleasure, or with some message to him. _He said to his father, My head, my head!_ A more than common heat of the sun probably made him thus ill. The hand of Providence, however, was in the affliction, that occasion might be given to the prophet o... [ Continue Reading ]
_She called to her husband, and said_ By a messenger whom she sent into the field to him. She seems not to have acquainted him with the child's death; probably she feared, if he knew on what errand she wished to go to the prophet, lest he should not have faith enough to let her go. _Wherefore wilt t... [ Continue Reading ]
_She came to the man of God to mount Carmel_ This was a place which both he and Elijah much frequented; and it is probable there was a school of the prophets here, it being a mountain full of trees, and therefore a place proper for retirement and sacred exercises. _Run now, I pray thee, to meet her_... [ Continue Reading ]
_She caught him by the feet_ After the manner of a most humble and earnest supplicant; intimating, what she did not dare to express in words, that she desired him to go along with her. _Gehazi came near to thrust her away_ Either thinking she was rude, and made too free with the prophet; or knowing... [ Continue Reading ]
_She said, Did I desire a son of my lord?_ This child was not given to me upon my immoderate desire, for which I might have justly been thus chastised; but was freely promised to me by thee in God's name, and from his special grace and favour. _Did not I say, Do not deceive me?_ With vain hopes of a... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins_ Tie up thy long garments about thy loins for expedition. _If thou meet any man_, &c. Make no delays or stops by the way, either through words or actions, but go with all possible speed. See Luke 10:4. He requires this haste that the miracle might be done secret... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the mother of the child said, I will not leave thee_ Until thou goest with me; for she had no great confidence in Gehazi, nor was her faith so strong as to think that the prophet could work so great a miracle at that distance, and by his staff. _And he arose, and followed her_ Being overcome by... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was neither voice nor hearing_ No sign of life appeared, which Gehazi, probably through unbelief, expected would be the case. It is likely the power was withheld, which might have accompanied the laying on of the staff; because the prophet having changed his mind, and yielded to her request t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shut the door upon them twain_ Upon himself and the dead child, that he might pray to God without interruption, and might more freely use those means which he thought fit. _And put his mouth_, &c. One part upon another successively; for the disproportion of the bodies would not permit it to be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then he returned and walked in the house_ Exercising his mind in prayer to God. _And went up_, &c. Repeating his former actions, to teach us not to be discouraged in our prayers, if we be not speedily answered. _And the child sneezed seven times_ Whereby his head was cleared, in which his pain had... [ Continue Reading ]
_When she was come in unto him_ Hebrew, _come to him_, namely, to the door of his chamber, where probably he met her with the joyful message. _Then she went in_ Into his chamber: and after she had thrown herself at his feet, full of humility and gratitude, and reverencing him as an angel of God, she... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a dearth in the land_ The same that we read of chap. 2 Kings 3:1. It continued seven years, just as long again as that in the time of Elijah. For if a wicked nation will not be reformed by a lesser judgment, they must expect to be visited with a greater. _The sons of the prophets were sit... [ Continue Reading ]
_And found a wild vine_ This is generally supposed to have been the _coloquintida_ plant, which has a leaf something like that of the vine, but is so very bitter, that some have called it “the gall of the whole earth:” it purges vehemently, and is a sort of poison if not qualified and taken in a mod... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man brought bread of the first fruits_, &c. This was a seasonable present, it being a time of dearth, when bread was very scarce. The _first-fruits_ were due to the priests, but these, and probably the rest of the priests' dues, were usually brought by the pious Israelites, according to their abi... [ Continue Reading ]
_What! should I set this before a hundred men?_ Just as the apostles said to the Lord Jesus, when he intended to feed a far greater number with less food. _He said again, Give unto the people_, &c. Do as I order you, and make no objections. _For thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave t... [ Continue Reading ]