2 Kings 4:18-28

18 When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers.

19 He complained to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."

20 He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon, and he died.

21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left.

22 Then she called to her husband, and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again."

23 He said, "Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath." She said, "It will be all right."

24 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you."

25 So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite woman;

26 run at once to meet her, and say to her, Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?" She answered, "It is all right."

27 When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me."

28 Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?"

2 Kings 4:18-28 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.