2 Kings 4:18-19

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 4:18

And when the child was grown ,.... Perhaps was six or seven years of age, or more: it fell on a day that he went out to his father to the reapers ; it was harvest time, and the men were reaping the corn in the fields; and his father, though a wealthy man, was with them to direct them, and see they did their business well, as Boaz formerly; and the child went out from the house to the field, to see his father and the reapers, for his recreation and diversion. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:19

And he said unto his father, my head, my head ,.... After he had been some time with him, he complained of a pain in his head, which might be owing, as Abarbinel thinks, to the sun's beating upon it, being harvest time, and hot weather; and the pain being exceeding great and vehement, he repeated his complaint, see Jeremiah 4:19 . and he said to a lad, carry him home to his mother ; his father gave orders to a lad that attended the reapers to have him home to his mother, that she might... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:18

When the child was grown - We know not of what age he was, very likely four or six, if not more years; for he could go out to the reapers in the harvest field, converse, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:19

My head , my head - Probably affected by the coup de soleil , or sun stroke, which might, in so young a subject, soon occasion death, especially in that hot country. 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

And when the child was grown —not grown up, for he was still a "child" ( 2 Kings 4:30 , 2 Kings 4:31 , 2 Kings 4:35 , etc.), but grown to be a boy, perhaps four or five years old— it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. The corn-fields about Shunem attract the admiration of travelers. The husband of the Shunammite, the owner of several, was in one of them, superintending the cutting of his corn by the reapers; and the boy joined him there, as he had probably... 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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