2 Kings 4:18-37

The Shunammite's Son

18 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19 He said to his father, "My head, my head." And he said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."

20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then died.

21 She went up and ¹laid him on the bed of ²the man of God, and shut the door behind him and went out.

22 Then she called to her husband and said, "Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return."

23 He said, "Why will you go to him today? It is neither ³new moon nor sabbath." And she said, "It will be well."

24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, "Drive and go forward; do not slow down the pace for me unless * I tell you."

25 So she went and came to the man of God to ⁴Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her at a distance *, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Behold, there is the Shunammite.

26 "Please run now to meet her and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?' " And she answered, "It is well."

27 When she came to the man of God ⁵to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, "Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me."

28 Then she said, "Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, '⁶Do not deceive me'?"

29 Then he said to Gehazi, "⁷Gird up your loins and ⁸take my staff in your hand, and go your way; if you meet any man, do not ⁹salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and ¹⁰lay my staff on the lad's face."

30 The mother of the lad said, "¹¹As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." And he arose and followed * her.

31 Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad's face, but there was no sound or response. So he returned to meet him and told him, "The lad ¹²has not awakened."

32 When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed.

33 So he entered and ¹³shut the door behind them both and prayed to the LORD.

34 And ¹⁴he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm.

35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and ¹⁵stretched himself on him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes.

36 He called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, "Take up your son."

37 Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and ¹⁶she took up her son and went out.

2 Kings 4:18-37 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. 2 Kings 4:32
• 2. 2 Kings 4:7
• 3. Numbers 10:10; Numbers 28:11; 1 Chronicles 23:31
• 4. 2 Kings 2:25
• 5. 2 Kings 4:25
• 6. 2 Kings 4:16
• 7. 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 9:1
• 8. Exodus 4:17; 2 Kings 2:14
• 9. Luke 10:4
• 10. Exodus 7:19, 20; Exodus 14:16
• 11. 2 Kings 2:2, 4
• 12. John 11:11
• 13. 2 Kings 4:4; Matthew 6:6; Luke 8:51
• 14. 1 Kings 17:21-23
• 15. 1 Kings 17:21
• 16. Hebrews 11:35

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "knees"
• [b]. Lit "riding"
• [c]. Lit "this Shunammite"
• [d]. Lit "said"
• [e]. Lit "bitter"
• [f]. Lit "attentiveness"
• [g]. Lit "him, saying"