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The Shunammite's Son Restored to Life
v. 18. And when the child was grown, having become a boy of some size, it fell on a day that he went out to his father to the reapers, at the time of harvest, the hottest time of the year.
v. 19. And he said unto his father, My head, my head! He was evidently suffering from a sunstroke. And he, probably believing it to be a passing attack, said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
v. 20. And when he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees, where she held him in apprehensive fear, till noon, and then died.
v. 21. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, intending to keep his death secret for awhile, at least until she had started on her trip, and shut the door upon him, and went out. She had her plan made and did not intend to let any one or anything interfere with her preparations.
v. 22. And she called unto her husband and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, for since it was harvest, she would be satisfied with only one servant to accompany her, instead of the customary two, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God and come again.
v. 23. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath, the times when religious assemblies were held and the people came to the prophets for instruction. And she said, It shall be well, literally, "Peace," that is, Never mind, don't worry!
v. 24. Then she saddled an ass and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, literally, "Do not hinder the riding," he should have the beast keep up a regular, swift pace,except I bid thee.
v. 25. So she went and came unto the man of God to Mount Carmel, some twenty miles to the west. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi, his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite.
v. 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? Is it well with the child? These were the usual questions seeking information concerning the welfare of such as one had not seen for a while. And she answered, when Gehazi put these questions to her, It is well, again equal to: Never mind; don't worry! an expression by which she wanted to pacify the questioner without giving definite information.
v. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet, falling down before him and taking hold of his knees in the overwhelming power of her grief. But Gehazi came near to thrust her away, considering it improper for the prophet to be urged in that manner. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her, full of bitter questionings, and the Lord hath hid it from me and hath not told me.
v. 28. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me? She did not state the cause of her bitterness outright, but Elisha could easily draw his conclusions. She had not asked for a son, but now that she had lost the child of her old age, she felt more deeply stricken than before.
v. 29. Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, for a rapid trip, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way. If thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again; he was to let no delay interfere with his journey, for he was the representative of the prophet, and his mission required haste and concentration. And lay my staff upon the face of the child. The laying of the prophet's staff on the boy's face was not intended to act as a magic, but had the purpose of taking from the minds of men all superstitious ideas.
v. 30. And the mother of the child, fearing that the prophet would not personally go to Shunem, said, As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. She insisted that he come in person. And he arose and followed her.
v. 31. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing, no reaction, no response; the Lord did not intend the miracle to be performed in this way. Wherefore he went again to meet him and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.
v. 32. And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, not merely unconscious as Elisha may have hoped, and laid upon his bed.
v. 33. He went in therefore and shut the door upon them twain, himself and the dead boy, and prayed unto the Lord.
v. 34. And he went up, namely, on the bed, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, to impart warmth to the corpse; and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm, recovering from the chill of death.
v. 35. Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro, as one under the stress of a great emotion, awaiting the fulfillment of his prayer; and went up and stretched himself upon him. And the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
v. 30. And he called Gehazi and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.
v. 37. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, overcome by emotions of wonder and gratitude, and took up her son, and went out. Such miracles as that here recorded, but much more those related of Jesus of Nazareth, are the guarantee of the general resurrection at the end of the days.