2 Kings 4:29-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 4:18-37

We may well suppose that, after the birth of this son, the prophet was doubly welcome to the good Shunammite. He had thought himself indebted to her, but henceforth, as long as she lives, she will think herself in his debt, and that she can never do too much for him. We may also suppose that the child was very dear to the prophet, as the son of his prayers, and very dear to the parents, as the son of their old age. But here is, I. The sudden death of the child, though so much a darling. He was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:29

Then he said to Gehazi, gird up thy loins ,.... His loose and long garments about him, that he might make quicker dispatch in travelling: and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way ; not for the sake of travelling with it, but for an end after mentioned: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again ; that so no time may be lost: and lay my staff upon the face of the child ; he not intending when he said this to go himself, but at the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:30

And the mother of the child said ,.... Having no faith in what the servant was to do, or could do: as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee ; signifying she would not go with his servant, but insisted upon it that he himself went with her, or she would not depart: and he arose, and followed her ; influenced by her importunity, and a sense of favours he had received from her, and more especially by the Spirit of God. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:31

And Gehazi passed on before them ,.... The prophet and the Shunammite: and laid the staff upon the face of the child ; as he was ordered: but there was neither voice nor hearing : it seems as if he spoke when he laid the staff on the child, but it heard and answered him not, so that there was no sign of life in it: wherefore he went again to meet him ; upon the road between Carmel and Shunem: and told him, saying, the child is not awaked ; by which he expresses its being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:29

Salute him not - Make all the haste thou possibly canst, and lay my staff on the face of the child; he probably thought that it might be a case of mere suspended animation or a swoon, and that laying the staff on the face of the child might act as a stimulus to excite the animal motions. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:30

I will not leave thee - The prophet it seems had no design to accompany her; he intended to wait for Gehazi's return; but as the woman was well assured the child was dead, she was determined not to return till she brought the prophet with her. read more

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 4:8-37

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 4:18-31

Great trials. "And when the child was grown," etc. This paragraph suggests three general observations. I. That great trials OFTEN SPRING FROM GREAT MERCIES . With what rapture we may suppose did this woman welcome her only child into the world, and with what care and affection did she minister to his health and enjoyments? It was her greatest earthly prize. She would sooner have parted with all her property, and even, perhaps, with her husband, for he was an old man, than lose... read more

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