2 Kings 4:27

27 And when she came to the man of God, to the mount, she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said: Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath 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 forward, and came to the man of God, to mount Carmel: and when the man of God saw her coming towards, he said to Giezi, his servant: Behold that Sunamitess.
26 Go, therefore, to meet her, and say to her: Is all well with thee, and with thy husband, and with thy son? And she answered: Well.
27 And when she came to the man of God, to the mount, she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said: Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
28 And she said to him: Did I ask a son of my lord? did I not say to thee: Do not deceive me?
29 Then he said to Giezi: Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
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