2 Kings 4:27

27 When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gechazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and the LORD has hid it from me, and has not told me.

2 Kings 4:27 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:27

And when she came to the man of God to the hill
To the top of it:

she caught him by the feet;
in reverence to him, and as a supplicant, she prostrated herself at his feet, and, out of affection to him, caught hold on them, and held them fast, and determined not to leave him until he had promised to go with her, see ( Matthew 28:9 ) . It was usual with the Jews to lay hold on and kiss the feet or knees of those to whom they did homage, or made supplication, see ( Matthew 28:9 ) ( Luke 7:38 ) . (See Gill on Luke 7:38), and so with the Greeks, as may be observed in various passages in Homer F25 and others:

but Gehazi came near to thrust her away;
as being troublesome and disagreeable to his master, and not for her honour and credit:

and the man of God said, let her alone, for her soul is vexed within
her;
or "is bitter" F26, full of trouble and distress, and knows not what to do, nor very well what she does:

and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me:
what is the cause of this her trouble; for prophets did not know things of themselves, nor had they the vision of prophecy at their will and pleasure, but according to the will of God.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Vid. Barthium ad Claudian. de Raptu Proserpin. l. 1. ver. 50.
F26 (hrm) "amara", Pagninus, Montanus

2 Kings 4:27 In-Context

25 So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Karmel. It happened, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gechazi his servant, Behold, yonder is the Shunammite:
26 please run now to meet her, and ask her, Is it well with you? is it well with your husband? is it well with the child? She answered, It is well.
27 When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gechazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and the LORD has hid it from me, and has not told me.
28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? Didn't I say, Do not deceive me?
29 Then he said to Gechazi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, Don't greet him; and if anyone greets you, don't answer him again: and lay my staff on the face of the child.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.