Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy's body became warm. Then he got on the bedThis phrase describes the prophet Elisha's actions as he approaches the lifeless child. The Hebrew word for "bed" is "מִטָּה" (mittah), which signifies a place of rest or repose. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a bed was not only a place for sleeping but also a symbol of intimacy and personal space. Elisha's decision to get on the bed signifies his willingness to enter into the child's personal space, demonstrating a profound act of compassion and faith. This action reflects the deep personal involvement required in ministry and the lengths to which God's servants must sometimes go to bring about His miraculous works. and lay on the boy
The Hebrew verb "שָׁכַב" (shakab) means to lie down or recline. Elisha's physical act of lying on the boy is symbolic of imparting life. In the ancient world, physical touch was often associated with the transfer of power or blessing. This act can be seen as a prophetic gesture, symbolizing the transmission of divine life and power from the prophet to the child. It is a vivid illustration of how God uses human instruments to accomplish His purposes, emphasizing the importance of obedience and faith in the miraculous. mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hands to hands
This detailed description of Elisha's actions highlights the complete identification and connection between the prophet and the child. The phrase "mouth to mouth" suggests the breath of life, reminiscent of God's breath in Genesis 2:7, where He breathes life into Adam. "Eye to eye" and "hands to hands" indicate a total alignment and unity, symbolizing the prophet's role as a conduit for God's life-giving power. This intimate contact underscores the personal nature of God's miracles and His desire for a close relationship with His people. As he stretched himself out over him
The Hebrew word "גָּהַר" (gahar) means to stretch or bend over. This action signifies Elisha's earnestness and determination in seeking God's intervention. It reflects a posture of humility and submission, as the prophet aligns himself with God's will. The act of stretching out can also be seen as a metaphor for the extension of God's grace and mercy, reaching out to restore life where there was death. It is a powerful reminder of the lengths to which God will go to bring about His purposes and the role of His servants in that process. the boy’s body became warm
The warming of the boy's body is the first sign of life returning, a physical manifestation of the miracle taking place. In the Hebrew text, the word "חָם" (cham) means warm, indicating a change from the coldness of death to the warmth of life. This transformation is a testament to God's power to bring life from death, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. It serves as a foreshadowing of the ultimate resurrection power demonstrated in Jesus Christ. The warmth signifies hope and the beginning of restoration, illustrating the transformative power of God's intervention in the lives of His people. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and being a powerful instrument of God's will. 2. The Shunammite WomanA hospitable and faithful woman who provided for Elisha and was blessed with a son through his prophecy. 3. The Shunammite's SonThe child miraculously given to the Shunammite woman, who later dies and is revived by Elisha. 4. ShunemThe town where the Shunammite woman lived, located in the territory of Issachar. 5. The Miracle of ResurrectionThe event where Elisha, through God's power, raises the Shunammite woman's son from the dead. Teaching Points Faith in ActionElisha's actions demonstrate a profound faith in God's power to bring life. We are called to act in faith, trusting in God's ability to work through us. God's CompassionThe miracle reflects God's compassion and care for individuals, reminding us that God is attentive to our personal struggles and needs. The Power of PrayerElisha's methodical approach can be seen as a form of prayerful intercession, encouraging us to be persistent and intentional in our prayers. Continuity of God's WorkThe miracle connects the work of God through different eras, showing that His power and purpose remain constant. Hope in ResurrectionThis event foreshadows the resurrection hope found in Christ, encouraging believers to trust in the promise of eternal life. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Elisha's method of reviving the boy reflect his faith and reliance on God's power? 2. In what ways does the account of the Shunammite woman and her son encourage us to trust in God's promises? 3. How can we apply the principle of persistent prayer in our own lives, as seen in Elisha's actions? 4. What similarities and differences can you identify between Elisha's miracle and the resurrection miracles in the New Testament? 5. How does this passage deepen our understanding of God's compassion and care for individuals in their time of need? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:21-22Elijah, Elisha's mentor, also performed a similar miracle by reviving a widow's son, showing a continuity of God's power through His prophets. Acts 20:9-12The Apostle Paul raises Eutychus from the dead, demonstrating the ongoing power of God to bring life through His servants. John 11:43-44Jesus raises Lazarus, highlighting the ultimate power of God over life and death, fulfilled in Christ. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Becometh, Bed, Bent, Body, Boy, Boy's, Child, Child's, Flesh, Got, Grew, Hands, Lad, Lay, Lieth, Mouth, Putteth, Putting, Stretched, Stretcheth, Stretching, Warm, WaxedDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:29-37 5333 healing 2 Kings 4:32-35 7773 prophets, role 2 Kings 4:32-36 5136 body 2 Kings 4:32-37 1416 miracles, nature of
5658 boys 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 4:34 NIV2 Kings 4:34 NLT2 Kings 4:34 ESV2 Kings 4:34 NASB2 Kings 4:34 KJV
2 Kings 4:34 Commentaries
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