2 Kings 4:21

21 And she went up 1and laid him on the bed of the 2man of God and shut the door behind him and went out.

2 Kings 4:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:21

And she went up
Into the little chamber built for the prophet:

and laid him on the bed of the man of God;
not from any imagination of any virtue in it to bring her child to life; though she might think of the prophet, and have faith that he could raise it to life, as Elijah raised the widow of Zarephath's son laid on his bed, of which she might have heard; but this being a private room, and into which none went, she laid it here to conceal its death from her husband and family, and to prevent grief, and that they might not bury it until she returned:

and shut the door upon him;
that no creature might enter, and, do any damage to his corpse:

and went out;
not out of the chamber, that she did before she shut the door, but out of the house.

2 Kings 4:21 In-Context

19 And he said to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."
20 And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.
21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out.
22 Then she called to her husband and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again."
23 And he said, "Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath." She said, "All is well."

Cross References 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.