So he asked, "Then what should be done for her?" "Well, she has no son," Gehazi replied, "and her husband is old." So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?”This question is posed by Elisha, the prophet, who is seeking to repay the Shunammite woman for her hospitality. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, hospitality was a significant virtue, and Elisha's desire to reciprocate reflects the importance of gratitude and blessing those who bless others. This mirrors the biblical principle found in Genesis 12:3, where God promises to bless those who bless His people. “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied,
Gehazi, Elisha's servant, identifies the woman's lack of a son as a significant issue. In the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, having a son was crucial for a family's legacy and security. Sons were seen as a blessing from God (Psalm 127:3-5) and were essential for carrying on the family name and providing for parents in their old age. This situation echoes the stories of other biblical women, such as Sarah, Rebekah, and Hannah, who also faced barrenness and were later blessed with children. “and her husband is old.”
The mention of the husband's age highlights the improbability of the couple having children naturally, setting the stage for a miraculous intervention. This detail parallels the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18, where Sarah's advanced age made the promise of a son seem impossible. Such instances in Scripture often serve as a type of divine intervention, showcasing God's power to fulfill His promises against all odds. This also foreshadows the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, born to the Virgin Mary, emphasizing God's ability to bring life where it seems impossible. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God who succeeded Elijah. Known for performing miracles and being a conduit of God's power and message. 2. GehaziElisha's servant, who plays a role in communicating between Elisha and the Shunammite woman. 3. The Shunammite WomanA hospitable and wealthy woman from Shunem who shows kindness to Elisha by providing him with a place to stay. 4. ShunemA town in the territory of Issachar, where the Shunammite woman lived. 5. The Promise of a SonThe event where Elisha, through Gehazi, promises the Shunammite woman a son, despite her husband's old age. Teaching Points God's Awareness of Our NeedsGod knows our deepest desires and needs, even when we do not voice them. The Shunammite woman did not ask for a son, yet God provided through Elisha. Faith and HospitalityThe Shunammite woman's hospitality to Elisha opened the door for God's blessing. Our acts of kindness can be a channel for God's work in our lives. Divine TimingGod's promises often come in His timing, not ours. The Shunammite woman received a promise when it seemed impossible, reminding us to trust in God's perfect timing. The Role of Servants in God's PlanGehazi, though a servant, played a crucial role in the communication of God's promise. This highlights that God can use anyone, regardless of their status, to fulfill His purposes. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the account of the Shunammite woman challenge our understanding of faith and hospitality? 2. In what ways can we be more attentive to the unspoken needs of those around us, as Elisha was to the Shunammite woman? 3. How do the accounts of Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth reinforce the theme of God's miraculous provision in seemingly impossible situations? 4. What can we learn from Gehazi's role in this account about being faithful in the small tasks God gives us? 5. How can we apply the lesson of divine timing in our own lives, especially when waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 18The account of Sarah and Abraham, where God promises a son despite their old age, parallels the promise given to the Shunammite woman. 1 Samuel 1Hannah's account of longing for a child and God's eventual blessing of Samuel connects with the Shunammite woman's situation. Luke 1The announcement of John the Baptist's birth to Elizabeth, who was also advanced in years, mirrors the miraculous nature of the Shunammite woman's promise. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Aged, Certainly, Child, Gehazi, Geha'zi, Husband, Truly, VerilyDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:14 5726 old age, attainment 2 Kings 4:11-17 5733 pregnancy 2 Kings 4:14-17 1416 miracles, nature of
5652 babies Library When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. 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: 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? And she answered, It is well. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 4:14 NIV2 Kings 4:14 NLT2 Kings 4:14 ESV2 Kings 4:14 NASB2 Kings 4:14 KJV
2 Kings 4:14 Commentaries
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