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
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