After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his motherThis phrase highlights the role of servants in ancient Israelite society, where they often acted as intermediaries in family matters. The servant's action reflects the urgency and care in responding to the boy's condition. The cultural context shows the importance of family and community support in times of crisis. This act of carrying the boy to his mother can be seen as a gesture of compassion and duty, reminiscent of how believers are called to bear one another's burdens ( Galatians 6:2). the boy sat on her lap until noon
The image of the boy sitting on his mother's lap is poignant, symbolizing the close bond between mother and child. In biblical times, the lap was often a place of comfort and security, reflecting the nurturing role of the mother. The mention of "until noon" may indicate the passage of time and the mother's hope for her child's recovery. This scene can be compared to the nurturing care God provides to His children, as seen in Isaiah 66:13, where God comforts His people as a mother comforts her child. and then he died
The death of the boy introduces a moment of deep sorrow and testing of faith. In the broader biblical narrative, death is a consequence of the fall (Genesis 3) and a reminder of human mortality. This event sets the stage for a miraculous intervention by the prophet Elisha, foreshadowing the power of God over life and death. It also parallels the resurrection power seen in the New Testament, particularly in the miracles of Jesus, such as the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:41-42). This moment of death and subsequent resurrection serves as a type of Christ's own death and resurrection, offering hope of eternal life to believers. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Shunammite WomanA notable woman from Shunem who showed hospitality to Elisha, the prophet. She is a figure of faith and perseverance. 2. ElishaA prophet of God who succeeded Elijah. He performed many miracles, including the eventual resurrection of the Shunammite woman's son. 3. The Shunammite's SonA miraculous child given to the Shunammite woman as a reward for her kindness to Elisha. His sudden illness and death set the stage for a demonstration of God's power. 4. The ServantLikely Gehazi, Elisha's servant, who plays a role in the events surrounding the boy's illness and death. 5. ShunemA town in the territory of Issachar, where the Shunammite woman lived. It serves as the setting for this miraculous event. Teaching Points Faith in God's PromisesThe Shunammite woman's account encourages believers to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem dire. The Power of GodThis passage reminds us of God's sovereignty over life and death, encouraging us to rely on His power in our lives. Perseverance in PrayerThe Shunammite woman's response to her son's death teaches us the importance of persistent prayer and seeking God's intervention. Hospitality and BlessingHer initial act of hospitality towards Elisha led to a blessing, illustrating the principle that God rewards those who honor His servants. Hope in ResurrectionThe account foreshadows the ultimate hope of resurrection through Christ, offering comfort and assurance of eternal life. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the Shunammite woman's response to her son's death demonstrate her faith in God, and how can we apply this in our own lives? 2. In what ways does the account of the Shunammite woman's son parallel the resurrection accounts in the New Testament, and what does this teach us about God's nature? 3. How can we practice hospitality in our own lives, and what blessings might come from it, as seen in the Shunammite woman's account? 4. What does this passage teach us about the importance of seeking God's help in times of crisis, and how can we cultivate a habit of prayerful dependence on Him? 5. How does the theme of resurrection in this account provide hope for believers today, and how can we share this hope with others? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:17-24The account of Elijah raising the widow's son parallels Elisha's miracle, highlighting God's power over life and death. Luke 7:11-17Jesus raises the widow's son at Nain, showing continuity in God's compassion and power through His prophets and ultimately through Christ. Hebrews 11:35References women receiving their dead back to life, connecting the faith of the Shunammite woman to the broader account of faith in God's promises. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Beareth, Boy, Bringeth, Carried, Child, Died, Dieth, Kept, Knees, Lap, Lifted, Middle, Noon, Sat, Sitteth, TillDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:20 8300 love, and the world
9021 death, natural 2 Kings 4:16-22 5720 mothers, examples 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 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 4:20 NIV2 Kings 4:20 NLT2 Kings 4:20 ESV2 Kings 4:20 NASB2 Kings 4:20 KJV
2 Kings 4:20 Commentaries
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