2 Kings 4:8-17

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman

8 One day Elisha went on to ¹Shunem, where a ²wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.

9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy ³man of God who is continually passing our way.

10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there. ”

11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there.

12 And he said to ⁴Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite. ” When he had called her, she stood before him.

13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to ⁵the commander of the army? ’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people. ”

14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her? ” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old. ”

15 He said, “Call her. ” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

16 And he said, “At this season, ⁶about this time next year, you shall embrace a son. ” And she said, “No, my lord, ⁷O man of God; ⁸do not lie to your servant. ”

17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time ⁹the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.

2 Kings 4:8-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 4

This chapter treats of the miracles of Elisha, of his multiplying a poor widow's pot of oil for the payment of her husband's debts, 2Ki 4:1-7 of obtaining a son for a Shunamitish woman, who had been very hospitable to him, 2Ki 4:8-17, of his raising up her son to life when dead, 2Ki 4:18-37, of his curing the deadly pottage made of wild gourds, 2Ki 4:38-41, and of his feeding one hundred men with twenty barley loaves, 2Ki 4:42-44.

Cross References

• 1. 4:8 Josh. 19:18
• 2. 4:8 [1 Sam. 25:2; 2 Sam. 19:32]
• 3. 4:9 [See ver. 7 above]
• 4. 4:12 ch. 5:20, 21, 25; 8:4, 5
• 5. 4:13 2 Sam. 19:13; [ch. 5:1]
• 6. 4:16 Gen. 18:14; [Gen. 17:21]
• 7. 4:16 [See ver. 7 above]
• 8. 4:16 ver. 28
• 9. 4:17 [See ver. 16 above]