2 Kings 4:30. And the mother of the child said, I will not leave thee Until thou goest with me; for she had no great confidence in Gehazi, nor was her faith so strong as to think that the prophet could work so great a miracle at that distance, and by his staff. And he arose, and followed her Being overcome by her importunity, and his tenderness toward so great a friend. read more
Miracles of care for the remnant (4:1-44)The widow of one of the prophets was in desperate trouble. She had hardly any food left and was about to lose her only means of income; for her sons were to be taken from her in payment for a debt. Elisha’s miraculous provision of oil enabled her to pay the debt and so preserve a few of God’s faithful in days of extreme hardship (4:1-7).Another of Israel’s faithful was the wife of a wealthy landowner. She recognized Elisha as God’s representative and... read more
God’s blessing of those who honor Him 4:8-37In contrast to the incident above, this one shows God’s blessing on a wealthy woman. She was not the marriage partner of a prophet but a simple faithful believer in Yahweh (cf. 2 Kings 4:8-10; 2 Kings 4:16; 2 Kings 4:21-22; 2 Kings 4:24-25; 2 Kings 4:27; 2 Kings 4:30; 2 Kings 4:37). She was living among unbelievers in Israel (cf. Rahab, Ruth, et al.). Her husband appears to have been only a formal participant in Yahweh worship rather than thoroughly... read more
Various Miracles of ElishaThe miracles related of Elisha in this and the following chapters resemble many of those previously recounted of Elijah. Thus both prophets multiplied the sustenance of a woman in need (2 Kings 4:1-7; 1 Kings 17:8-16); both restored a dead child to life (2 Kings 4:8-27; 1 Kings 17:17-24); both came into conflict with their king on the occasion of a famine (2 Kings 6:24-33; 1 Kings 18); and both brought a violent death upon certain individuals who offended them (2 Kings... read more
(30) I will not leave thee.—She wished the prophet himself to go to her child. The writer appropriately substitutes “the mother of the child” for “the Shunammite” or “the woman” in connection with this impassioned utterance, which induced the prophet to yield to her wishes. read more
ELISHA’S MIRACLES2 Kings 4:1-44WE are now in the full tide of Elisha’s miracles, and as regards many of them we can do little more than illustrate the text as it stands. The record of them clearly comes from some account prevalent in the schools of the prophets, which is however only fragmentary, and has been un-chronologically pieced into the annals of the kings of Israel.The story of Elisha abounds far more in the supernatural than that of Elijah, and is believed by most critics to be of... read more
3. The Miracles CHAPTER 4 1. The widow’s oil multiplied (2 Kings 4:1-7 ) 2. The Shunammite and her reward (2 Kings 4:8-17 ) 3. The son of the Shunammite raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37 ) 4. The deadly pottage healed (2 Kings 4:38-41 ) 5. The multitude fed (2 Kings 4:42-44 ) In the previous chapter Elisha appeared as the saviour of Israel, and now he acts in behalf of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets. His name is not given. Elisha had known him as one who feared the... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:30
And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth , I will not leave thee. Apparently, the woman supposed that Elisha intended to do nothing more, but trust the child's recovery to such virtue as might inhere in his staff. But her own resolution was long ago taken—she would be content with nothing less than bringing the prophet face to face with her dead child. She "will not leave" him till he consents to accompany her to her home. And he arose, and followed her... read more