Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, "The boy has not awakened." Gehazi went on ahead of themGehazi, the servant of Elisha, is sent ahead as a representative of the prophet. This action reflects the urgency and seriousness of the situation. In biblical times, servants often acted on behalf of their masters, and Gehazi's role here is to prepare the way for Elisha's miracle. This mirrors the role of John the Baptist, who went ahead to prepare the way for Jesus. and laid the staff on the boy’s face
The staff symbolizes the authority and power of the prophet, akin to Moses' staff in Exodus. In ancient Near Eastern culture, objects associated with holy men were believed to carry spiritual power. The act of laying the staff on the boy's face is an attempt to transfer divine power for healing, similar to how Jesus used physical touch in His healings. but there was no sound or response
The lack of response indicates that the miracle did not occur through Gehazi's actions. This highlights the necessity of Elisha's personal involvement and the direct intervention of God. It underscores the theme that true power and life come from God alone, not through mere ritual or objects. So he went back to meet Elisha
Gehazi's return to Elisha signifies the failure of the initial attempt and the need for further divine intervention. This reflects the biblical principle that human efforts are insufficient without God's presence and power, as seen in the story of the disciples unable to cast out a demon without Jesus' help (Mark 9:28-29). and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”
The term "awakened" is significant, as it implies that death is like sleep, a concept echoed in the New Testament (e.g., John 11:11-14). This foreshadows the resurrection power of Christ, who is the ultimate source of life. The statement sets the stage for Elisha's forthcoming miracle, which prefigures Jesus' raising of the dead, such as Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:41-42). Persons / Places / Events 1. GehaziThe servant of the prophet Elisha, tasked with laying Elisha's staff on the Shunammite woman's deceased son in an attempt to revive him. 2. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and serving as a spiritual leader in Israel. 3. The Shunammite WomanA hospitable woman who showed kindness to Elisha and was blessed with a son through Elisha's prophecy. 4. The Shunammite Woman's SonThe child miraculously given to the Shunammite woman, who later dies and is the subject of Elisha's miraculous intervention. 5. ShunemThe town where the Shunammite woman lived, located in the territory of Issachar in ancient Israel. Teaching Points Faith and ObedienceGehazi's actions, though unsuccessful, demonstrate obedience to Elisha's instructions. Our faithfulness in following God's commands is crucial, even when outcomes are uncertain. God's SovereigntyThe inability of Gehazi to revive the boy highlights that miracles are not formulaic but are subject to God's sovereign will and timing. The Role of IntercessionElisha's eventual success in reviving the boy underscores the importance of persistent prayer and intercession in seeking God's intervention. The Power of GodThis passage reminds us that true power and authority over life and death belong to God alone, and He works through His chosen servants. Hope in DesperationThe Shunammite woman's situation teaches us to hold onto hope and seek God earnestly, even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Gehazi's experience in 2 Kings 4:31 challenge our understanding of faith and obedience when outcomes are not as expected? 2. In what ways does the account of the Shunammite woman's son parallel other biblical accounts of resurrection, and what does this teach us about God's power? 3. How can we apply the principle of intercession in our own lives when praying for others, as demonstrated by Elisha's actions? 4. What does this passage reveal about the nature of God's sovereignty, and how can this understanding impact our trust in Him during difficult times? 5. How can the Shunammite woman's response to her son's death inspire us to maintain hope and seek God in our own desperate situations? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:17-24The account of Elijah raising the widow's son parallels Elisha's miracle, showing the continuity of God's power through His prophets. Mark 5:35-42Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead reflects the power of God over life and death, similar to Elisha's miracle. Acts 9:36-42Peter raising Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead demonstrates the ongoing work of God through His servants in the New Testament. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Ahead, Attention, Awake, Awaked, Awakened, Boy, Boy's, Child, Child's, Declareth, Elisha, Face, Gehazi, Geha'zi, Hearing, Lad, Lad's, Laid, Layeth, Meet, Meeting, News, Passed, Response, Returned, Saying, Sign, Staff, Stick, Turneth, Voice, Wherefore, YouthDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:31 5932 response 2 Kings 4:25-31 5178 running 2 Kings 4:29-37 5333 healing 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 4:31 NIV2 Kings 4:31 NLT2 Kings 4:31 ESV2 Kings 4:31 NASB2 Kings 4:31 KJV
2 Kings 4:31 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
