2 Kings 4:35

35 Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!

2 Kings 4:35 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:35

Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro
Left the chamber, and came down to the house where the family chiefly resided, and walked to and fro in deep thought and meditation, and, no doubt, in fervent ejaculations for the wished for blessing to be completed:

and went up;
to the chamber again, and up to the bed in it:

and stretched himself upon him;
as before:

and the child sneezed seven times;
which was a sign of life, and even of health; and hereby his head was cleared, as some observe, of those humours that had caused the pains in it ^F1, and had issued in death:

and the child opened his eyes;
upon the prophet, another sign of life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 28. c. 6. Aristot. Problem. sect. 33. qu. 9.

2 Kings 4:35 In-Context

33 He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD .

34 Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again!

35 Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!

36 Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. “Call the child’s mother!” he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!”

37 She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.