Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite woman." So he called her and she came. Then Elisha said, "Pick up your son." Elisha summoned Gehazi and said,Elisha, a prophet and successor to Elijah, often worked through his servant Gehazi. This reflects the hierarchical structure common in ancient Israel, where prophets had attendants. Gehazi's role is significant, as he acts as a mediator between Elisha and others, similar to how priests and prophets often mediated between God and the people. This phrase also highlights Elisha's authority and the respect he commanded. “Call the Shunammite woman.”
The Shunammite woman is a notable figure in 2 Kings 4, known for her hospitality and faith. Shunem was a town in the territory of Issachar, located in the Jezreel Valley, a fertile region. Her story is a testament to the importance of faith and hospitality in the Hebrew tradition. The call to the Shunammite woman signifies a moment of divine intervention and fulfillment of God's promise through Elisha. So he called her and she came.
This immediate response indicates the woman's respect and trust in Elisha. Her obedience is a reflection of her faith, which is a recurring theme in the Bible. The narrative demonstrates the importance of responding to God's call, as seen in other biblical figures like Abraham and Moses, who also responded promptly to divine instructions. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”
This phrase marks the culmination of a miraculous event. Earlier in the chapter, the Shunammite woman's son had died, and Elisha, through God's power, raised him back to life. This act prefigures the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, who also raised the dead, such as Lazarus. The command to "pick up your son" signifies restoration and the fulfillment of God's promises, echoing themes of resurrection and new life found throughout Scripture. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet in Israel, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and being a man of God. 2. GehaziElisha's servant, who plays a role in several of Elisha's miracles and interactions. 3. The Shunammite WomanA hospitable and wealthy woman from Shunem who showed kindness to Elisha and was blessed with a son through his prophecy. 4. ShunemA town in the territory of Issachar, where the Shunammite woman lived. 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 God's PowerThe Shunammite woman's account encourages believers to trust in God's ability to perform miracles, even in seemingly hopeless situations. God's CompassionElisha's actions reflect God's compassion and care for individuals, reminding us of His personal involvement in our lives. The Role of ObedienceGehazi's role as a servant underscores the importance of obedience and service in God's work. Hospitality and BlessingThe Shunammite woman's hospitality towards Elisha led to blessings, illustrating the principle of sowing and reaping in God's kingdom. Resurrection HopeThe miracle foreshadows the ultimate resurrection hope found in Christ, encouraging believers to live with an eternal perspective. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the Shunammite woman's faith and actions challenge or inspire your own faith journey? 2. In what ways can you show hospitality and kindness to others, and how might God use that to bless you or others? 3. How does the account of Elisha raising the Shunammite woman's son deepen your understanding of God's power over life and death? 4. What can we learn from Gehazi's role in this account about the importance of serving faithfully in God's work? 5. How does the theme of resurrection in this passage connect to the hope we have in Jesus Christ, and how does that hope influence your daily life? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:17-24The account of Elijah raising the widow's son parallels Elisha's miracle, showing continuity in God's power through His prophets. Luke 7:11-17Jesus raises the widow's son at Nain, demonstrating God's compassion and power over death, similar to Elisha's miracle. Hebrews 11:35References women receiving their dead back to life, highlighting faith and God's miraculous interventions. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Calleth, Gehazi, Geha'zi, Lift, Orders, Shunamite, Shunammite, Shu'nammite, Summoned, VoiceDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:29-37 5333 healing 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 4:36 NIV2 Kings 4:36 NLT2 Kings 4:36 ESV2 Kings 4:36 NASB2 Kings 4:36 KJV
2 Kings 4:36 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
