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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1-44

TYPICAL MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ELISHA . General introduction . The miracles of this chapter are all of them miracles of mercy. The first and last consist in the multiplying of food, and thus belong to the same class as our Lord's feeding the four and the five thousands, and Elijah's increasing the meal and oil of the widow of Zarephath ( 1 Kings 17:10-16 ). It serves no useful purpose to ask how miracles of this class were wrought. The inspired writers have not told us; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:8

And it fall on a day, that. The expression seems to be archaic. It occurs only hero and in. the opening chapters of the Book of Job (i. 6, 13; Job 2:1 ). The most literal rendering would be, and the day came when . Elisha passed to Shunem. Shunem was a village of Galilee, situated in the territory assigned to Issachar ( Joshua 19:18 ). It is reasonably identified with the modern Solam , at the south-eastern foot of the Gebel Duhy, or "Little Hermon," a "flourishing village... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:8-17

Kindness requited. I. GOOD MEN CARRY THEIR GOODNESS WHEREVER THEY GO . The Shunammite's words are a testimony to the character of Elisha. "I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually." Elisha's conduct and conversation showed him to be a holy man of God. It was evident that God was with him, and that he lived near to God. He did not leave his religion behind him at home. Wherever he was, he took his religion with him. A lesson for modern... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:8-17

Hospitality. "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem," etc. In these verses there are two very interesting subjects of a practical character. I. HOSPITALITY RIGHTFULLY EMPLOYED . The object of the hospitality was Elisha the prophet, and the author of it is called here "a great woman." 1 The account given is very clear and sententious. "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:8-17

The lady of Shunem: 1. A son given. The scene of this exquisite story is the town of Shunem, on the slope of Little Hermon, one of the eminences looking down on the rich and extensive plain of Jezreel. I. RECEIVING A PROPHET IN THE NAME OF A PROPHET . In this town dwelt a wealthy lady, wife of a man who had large possessions in land—the Boaz of that district. The first part of the story is a beautiful instance of the consecrated use of wealth. 1. Elisha observed .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:8-37

2. The promise of a child to the Shunammite woman, and the restoration of the child to life. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:8-37

Godliness has, to a large extent, the promise of this life, as well as of the life to come. The "good Shunammite" and her husband are examples of the union, which is more common than men are apt to allow, between piety and prosperity. They have nothing heroic about them, nothing out of the common. They are substantial middle-class people, dwelling in a quiet country-side, farming on a moderate scale, with a comfortable house of their own, dwelling contentedly amid their laborers and their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:9

And she said unto her husband, Beheld now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God. Not all the soi-disant men of God were truly religious and God-fearing. In Elisha's time, as in all others, there were among the teachers of religion some who were "wolves in sheep's clothing:' The Shunammite woman, after a certain length of acquaintance, came to the conclusion that Elisha deserved the title which he commonly bore, was truly a "man of God," a real devoted servant of Jehovah. She... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:10

Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall. Thenius understands "a walled chamber," which he supposes to have been "built upon the flat roof of the house;" but it is more probable that a small addition to the existing upper chamber of the house is meant—a tiny room resting partly upon the wall of the house, partly projecting beyond it, balcony fashion. Such sleeping-chambers are common in Oriental dwellings. And let us set for him there a bed, aria a table, and a stool, and a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:11

And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there ; i.e. slept there, passed the night there. read more

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