2 Kings 4:24

24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive , and go forward ; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

2 Kings 4:24 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:24

Then she saddled an ass
Her servant did it by her order:

and said to her servant, drive, and go forward;
make all the haste he could:

slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee;
do not be afraid of riding too fast for me; if thou dost, I will tell thee; till then, keep on a good pace: Abarbinel says she walked afoot all the way, and ordered the man not to slacken his pace in riding for her, unless she called to him; and the Targum seems to favour this sense,

``do not press me to ride unless I call to thee;''

so that the ass was for Elijah to ride on; but one would think, that, as she was in haste, quicker dispatch would be made by her riding than by walking, see ( 2 Kings 4:22 ) .

2 Kings 4:24 In-Context

22 And she called unto her husband, and said , Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again .

23 And he said , Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said , It shall be well.

24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive , and go forward ; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

25 So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off , that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:

26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered , It is well.

Footnotes

• [a]. slack...: Heb. restrain not for me to ride