2 Kings 4:10

10 "Please, let us 1make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there."

2 Kings 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:10

Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall
Either of the city, to which their house might join, or of their garden, a little distance from the house; though the Jewish writers commonly understand it of a little edifice built up of walls of stone or bricks, and not one with reeds, or stud and mud:

let us set for him there a bed;
that he may stay all night when he pleases:

and a table;
not only to eat his food, but to write on, and lay his books on he reads. Of the table of a scholar of the wise men, in later times, we are told F20, that two thirds of it were covered with a cloth, and the other third was uncovered, on which stood the plates and the herbs:

and a stool;
to sit upon at table:

and a candlestick;
with a candle in it, to light him in the night to read by, and the like:

and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither;
where he would be free from the noise of the house, and be more retired for prayer, reading, meditation, and study, and not be disturbed with the servants of the family, and be mixed with them; all this she contrived, both for his honour, and for his quietness and peace.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 Pirke Eliezer, c. 33.

2 Kings 4:10 In-Context

8 Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food.
9 She said to her husband, "Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually.
10 "Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there."
11 One day he came there and turned in to the upper chamber and rested .
12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." And when he had called her, she stood before him.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Matthew 10:41, 42; Matthew 25:40; Romans 12:13
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