◄ 2 Kings 4:18 ►
And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters.
Study Bible
And the child grew
This phrase indicates the passage of time and the natural development of the child, who is the son of the Shunammite woman. This growth is both physical and symbolic, representing the fulfillment of God's promise through Elisha to the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:16-17). The growth of the child can be seen as a testament to God's faithfulness and the miraculous nature of his birth, similar to other significant births in the Bible, such as Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19-20).

and one day he went out to his father
The phrase "one day" suggests a specific, significant event in the narrative. The child going out to his father indicates a customary practice in agrarian societies where children would join their parents in daily activities, learning the family trade. This reflects the cultural context of ancient Israel, where family units worked together in agricultural settings. The father-son relationship is a recurring theme in Scripture, often symbolizing the transmission of faith and tradition (Proverbs 22:6).

who was with the harvesters
The mention of harvesters situates the event during the harvest season, a critical time in the agricultural calendar of ancient Israel. Harvesting was a communal activity, often involving the entire family and hired laborers. This setting underscores the importance of community and cooperation in sustaining life. Biblically, harvest time is frequently used as a metaphor for spiritual truths, such as the gathering of believers (Matthew 9:37-38) and the final judgment (Revelation 14:15). The presence of the father with the harvesters highlights his role as a provider and leader, reflecting God's provision and care for His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Child
The son of the Shunammite woman, a miraculous gift from God to her and her husband as promised by the prophet Elisha.

2. The Father
The Shunammite woman's husband, who is working in the fields with the reapers.

3. The Reapers
Laborers working in the fields during the harvest season.

4. The Shunammite Woman
A hospitable and faithful woman who showed kindness to Elisha and was blessed with a son as a result.

5. Elisha
The prophet of God who foretold the birth of the child and later plays a crucial role in the events that follow.
Teaching Points
The Gift of Life
Recognize children as a blessing from God, entrusted to us for a purpose. This calls for gratitude and responsibility in raising them.

Faith in God's Promises
The Shunammite woman's account encourages us to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible.

The Role of Work and Provision
The father's presence in the fields reminds us of the importance of diligence and provision for our families.

Community and Support
The presence of the reapers suggests the value of community and working together, reflecting the body of Christ.

Preparation for Trials
The child's growth and subsequent events remind us that life includes challenges, and we must be spiritually prepared to face them with faith.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the miraculous birth of the Shunammite woman's son encourage us to trust in God's timing and promises?

2. In what ways can we see the importance of community and support in our own lives, as reflected by the presence of the reapers?

3. How can we apply the principle of seeing children as a heritage from the Lord in our daily interactions with young people?

4. What lessons can we learn from the Shunammite woman's faith and hospitality, and how can we practice these in our own lives?

5. How do the events in 2 Kings 4:18 prepare us for understanding the trials and challenges that may come with God's blessings?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 21
The birth of Isaac to Sarah and Abraham parallels the miraculous birth of the Shunammite woman's son, highlighting God's power to fulfill promises.

1 Samuel 1
Hannah's prayer and the birth of Samuel show another instance of God granting a child to a faithful woman, emphasizing the theme of divine intervention in childbearing.

Luke 7
Jesus raising the widow's son at Nain reflects the power of God to restore life, similar to Elisha's later actions in this chapter.

Psalm 127:3
Children are described as a heritage from the Lord, reinforcing the idea of the child as a divine blessing.
Sermons
Great TrialsD. Thomas 2 Kings 4:18-31
A Day in a Mother's LifeWilliam Forsyth, A. M.2 Kings 4:18-37
Concerning Accidents2 Kings 4:18-37
Death and RestorationC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 4:18-37
The Empty HomeF. S. Webster, M. A.2 Kings 4:18-37
The Lady of Shunem: 2. the Son Taken and RestoredJ. Orr 2 Kings 4:18-37
People
Elisha, Gehazi
Places
Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, Shunem
Topics
Child, Cut, Fell, Grain, Grew, Groweth, Grown, Lad, Older, Pass, Reapers
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 4:16-22

     5720   mothers, examples

2 Kings 4:18-19

     5297   disease

2 Kings 4:18-20

     4960   noon

2 Kings 4:18-21

     5398   loss

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 Scripture

A 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

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