2 Kings 4

1 mulier autem quaedam de uxoribus prophetarum clamabat ad Heliseum dicens servus tuus vir meus mortuus est et tu nosti quia servus tuus fuit timens Dominum et ecce creditor venit ut tollat duos filios meos ad serviendum sibi

2 cui dixit Heliseus quid vis ut faciam tibi dic mihi quid habes in domo tua at illa respondit non habeo ancilla tua quicquam in domo mea nisi parum olei quo unguear

3 cui ait vade pete mutuo ab omnibus vicinis tuis vasa vacua non pauca

4 et ingredere et claude ostium cum intrinsecus fueris tu et filii tui et mitte inde in omnia vasa haec et cum plena fuerint tolles

5 ivit itaque mulier et clusit ostium super se et super filios suos illi offerebant vasa et illa infundebat

6 cumque plena fuissent vasa dixit ad filium suum adfer mihi adhuc vas et ille respondit non habeo stetitque oleum

7 venit autem illa et indicavit homini Dei et ille vade inquit vende oleum et redde creditori tuo tu autem et filii tui vivite de reliquo

8 facta est autem quaedam dies et transiebat Heliseus per Sunam erat autem ibi mulier magna quae tenuit eum ut comederet panem cumque frequenter inde transiret devertebat ad eam ut comederet panem

9 quae dixit ad virum suum animadverto quod vir Dei sanctus est iste qui transit per nos frequenter

10 faciamus ergo cenaculum parvum et ponamus ei in eo lectulum et mensam et sellam et candelabrum ut cum venerit ad nos maneat ibi

11 facta est igitur dies quaedam et veniens devertit in cenaculum et requievit ibi

12 dixitque ad Giezi puerum suum voca Sunamitin istam qui cum vocasset eam et illa stetisset coram eo

13 dixit ad puerum loquere ad eam ecce sedule in omnibus ministrasti nobis quid vis ut faciam tibi numquid habes negotium et vis ut loquar regi sive principi militiae quae respondit in medio populi mei habito

14 et ait quid ergo vult ut faciam ei dixitque Giezi ne quaeras filium enim non habet et vir eius senex est

15 praecepit itaque ut vocaret eam quae cum vocata fuisset et stetisset ad ostium

16 dixit ad eam in tempore isto et in hac eadem hora si vita comes fuerit habebis in utero filium at illa respondit noli quaeso domine mi vir Dei noli mentiri ancillae tuae

17 et concepit mulier et peperit filium in tempore et in hora eadem quam dixerat Heliseus

18 crevit autem puer et cum esset quaedam dies et egressus isset ad patrem suum ad messores

19 ait patri suo caput meum caput meum at ille dixit puero tolle et duc eum ad matrem suam

20 qui cum tulisset et adduxisset eum ad matrem suam posuit eum illa super genua sua usque ad meridiem et mortuus est

21 ascendit autem et conlocavit eum super lectulum hominis Dei et clusit ostium et egressa

22 vocavit virum suum et ait mitte mecum obsecro unum de pueris et asinam ut excurram usque ad hominem Dei et revertar

23 qui ait illi quam ob causam vadis ad eum hodie non sunt kalendae neque sabbatum quae respondit vale

24 stravitque asinam et praecepit puero mina et propera ne mihi moram facias in eundo et hoc age quod praecipio tibi

25 profecta est igitur et venit ad virum Dei in montem Carmeli cumque vidisset eam vir Dei de contra ait ad Giezi puerum suum ecce Sunamitis illa

26 vade ergo in occursum eius et dic ei rectene agitur circa te et circa virum tuum et circa filium tuum quae respondit recte

27 cumque venisset ad virum Dei in monte adprehendit pedes eius et accessit Giezi ut amoveret eam et ait homo Dei dimitte illam anima enim eius in amaritudine est et Dominus celavit me et non indicavit mihi

28 quae dixit illi numquid petivi filium a domino meo numquid non dixi tibi ne inludas me

29 et ille ait ad Giezi accinge lumbos tuos et tolle baculum meum in manu tua et vade si occurrerit tibi homo non salutes eum et si salutaverit te quispiam non respondeas illi et pones baculum meum super faciem pueri

30 porro mater pueri ait vivit Dominus et vivit anima tua non dimittam te surrexit ergo et secutus est eam

31 Giezi autem praecesserat eos et posuerat baculum super faciem pueri et non erat vox neque sensus reversusque est in occursum eius et nuntiavit ei dicens non surrexit puer

32 ingressus est ergo Heliseus domum et ecce puer mortuus iacebat in lectulo eius

33 ingressusque clusit ostium super se et puerum et oravit ad Dominum

34 et ascendit et incubuit super puerum posuitque os suum super os eius et oculos suos super oculos eius et manus suas super manus eius et incurvavit se super eum et calefacta est caro pueri

35 at ille reversus deambulavit in domo semel huc et illuc et ascendit et incubuit super eum et oscitavit puer septies aperuitque oculos

36 et ille vocavit Giezi et dixit ei voca Sunamitin hanc quae vocata ingressa est ad eum qui ait tolle filium tuum

37 venit illa et corruit ad pedes eius et adoravit super terram tulitque filium suum et egressa est

38 et Heliseus reversus est in Galgala erat autem fames in terra et filii prophetarum habitabant coram eo dixitque uni de pueris suis pone ollam grandem et coque pulmentum filiis prophetarum

39 et egressus est unus in agrum ut colligeret herbas agrestes invenitque quasi vitem silvestrem et collegit ex ea colocyntidas agri et implevit pallium suum et reversus concidit in ollam pulmenti nesciebat enim quid esset

40 infuderunt ergo sociis ut comederent cumque gustassent de coctione exclamaverunt dicentes mors in olla vir Dei et non potuerunt comedere

41 at ille adferte inquit farinam et misit in ollam et ait infunde turbae et comedat et non fuit amplius quicquam amaritudinis in olla

42 vir autem quidam venit de Balsalisa deferens viro Dei panes primitiarum et viginti panes hordiacios et frumentum novum in pera sua at ille dixit da populo ut comedat

43 responditque ei minister eius quantum est hoc ut adponam coram centum viris rursum ille da ait populo ut comedat haec enim dicit Dominus comedent et supererit

44 posuit itaque coram eis qui comederunt et superfuit iuxta verbum Domini

2 Kings 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Elisha multiplies the widow's oil. (1-7) The Shunammite obtains a son. (8-17) The Shunammite's son restored to life. (18-37) The miracle of healing the pottage, and of feeding the sons of the prophets. (38-44)

Verses 1-7 Elisha's miracles were acts of real charity: Christ's were so; not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power. Elisha readily received a poor widow's complaint. Those that leave their families under a load of debt, know not what trouble they cause. It is the duty of all who profess to follow the Lord, while they trust to God for daily bread, not to tempt him by carelessness or extravagance, nor to contract debts; for nothing tends more to bring reproach upon the gospel, or distresses their families more when they are gone. Elisha put the widow in a way to pay her debt, and to maintain herself and her family. This was done by miracle, but so as to show what is the best method to assist those who are in distress, which is, to help them to improve by their own industry what little they have. The oil, sent by miracle, continued flowing as long as she had empty vessels to receive it. We are never straitened in God, or in the riches of his grace; all our straitness is in ourselves. It is our faith that fails, not his promise. He gives more than we ask: were there more vessels, there is enough in God to fill them; enough for all, enough for each; and the Redeemer's all-sufficiency will only be stayed from the supplying the wants of sinners and saving their souls, when no more apply to him for salvation. The widow must pay her debt with the money she received for her oil. Though her creditors were too hard with her, yet they must be paid, even before she made any provision for her children. It is one of the main laws of the Christian religion, that we pay every just debt, and give every one his own, though we leave ever so little for ourselves; and this, not of constraint, but for conscience' sake. Those who bear an honest mind, cannot with pleasure eat their daily bread, unless it be their own bread. She and her children must live upon the rest; that is, upon the money received for the oil, with which they must put themselves into a way to get an honest livelihood. We cannot now expect miracles, yet we may expect mercies, if we wait on God, and seek to him. Let widows in particular depend upon him. He that has all hearts in his hand, can, without a miracle, send as effectual a supply.

Verses 8-17 Elisha was well thought of by the king of Israel for his late services; a good man can take as much pleasure in serving others, as in raising himself. But the Shunammite needed not any good offices of this kind. It is a happiness to dwell among our own people, that love and respect us, and to whom we are able to do good. It would be well with many, if they did but know when they are really well off. The Lord sees the secret wish which is suppressed in obedience to his will, and he will hear the prayers of his servants in behalf of their benefactors, by sending unasked-for and unexpected mercies; nor must the professions of men of God be supposed to be delusive like those of men of the world.

Verses 18-37 Here is the sudden death of the child. All the mother's tenderness cannot keep alive a child of promise, a child of prayer, one given in love. But how admirably does the prudent, pious mother, guard her lips under this sudden affliction! Not one peevish word escapes from her. Such confidence had she of God's goodness, that she was ready to believe that he would restore what he had now taken away. O woman, great is thy faith! He that wrought it, would not disappoint it. The sorrowful mother begged leave of her husband to go to the prophet at once. She had not thought it enough to have Elisha's help sometimes in her own family, but, though a woman of rank, attended on public worship. It well becomes the men of God, to inquire about the welfare of their friends and their families. The answer was, It is well. All well, and yet the child dead in the house! Yes! All is well that God does; all is well with them that are gone, if they are gone to heaven; and all well with us that stay behind, if, by the affliction, we are furthered in our way thither. When any creature-comfort is taken from us, it is well if we can say, through grace, that we did not set our hearts too much upon it; for if we did, we have reason to fear it was given in anger, and taken away in wrath. Elisha cried unto God in faith; and the beloved son was restored alive to his mother. Those who would convey spiritual life to dead souls, must feel deeply for their case, and labour fervently in prayer for them. Though the minister cannot give Divine life to his fellow-sinners, he must use every means, with as much earnestness as if he could do so.

Verses 38-44 There was a famine of bread, but not of hearing the word of God, for Elisha had the sons of the prophets sitting before him, to hear his wisdom. Elisha made hurtful food to become safe and wholesome. If a mess of pottage be all our dinner, remember that this great prophet had no better for himself and his guests. The table often becomes a snare, and that which should be for our welfare, proves a trap: this is a good reason why we should not feed ourselves without fear. When we are receiving the supports and comforts of life, we must keep up an expectation of death, and a fear of sin. We must acknowledge God's goodness in making our food wholesome and nourishing; I am the Lord that healeth thee. Elisha also made a little food go a great way. Having freely received, he freely gave. God has promised his church, that he will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her poor with bread, ( Psalms 132:15 ) ; whom he feeds, he fills; and what he blesses, comes to much. Christ's feeding his hearers was a miracle far beyond this, but both teach us that those who wait upon God in the way of duty, may hope to be supplied by Divine Providence.

Chapter Summary

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.