and Elisha said to Gehazi, "Now tell her, 'Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?'" "I have a home among my own people," she replied. Elisha said to GehaziThe prophet Elisha, a successor to Elijah, is a central figure in the narrative. His name in Hebrew, "אֱלִישָׁע" (Elisha), means "God is salvation," reflecting his role as a divine messenger and miracle worker. Gehazi, his servant, plays a crucial role in assisting Elisha, though his character later reveals flaws. This interaction highlights the mentor-disciple relationship, emphasizing the importance of guidance and service in spiritual journeys. Now tell her
Elisha instructs Gehazi to communicate with the Shunammite woman, showing the prophet's respect and consideration for her. This phrase underscores the importance of clear communication and the role of intermediaries in conveying messages, both in ancient times and in spiritual contexts. Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us
The Shunammite woman has shown great hospitality to Elisha and Gehazi, building a room for them to stay. This phrase acknowledges her generosity and selflessness, virtues highly esteemed in biblical teachings. It reflects the cultural and religious significance of hospitality in the ancient Near East, where providing for travelers was both a duty and a blessing. What can be done for you?
Elisha's question is an offer of gratitude and reciprocity. It highlights the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, where acts of kindness are met with blessings. This inquiry invites reflection on the nature of divine reward and the ways God uses His servants to bless others. Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?
Elisha offers to use his influence to benefit the woman, suggesting a connection to the king or military leaders. This offer indicates Elisha's respected status and the potential for divine intervention in worldly affairs. It also reflects the biblical theme of advocacy, where God's prophets intercede for His people. She replied, ‘I have a home among my own people.’
The Shunammite woman's response reveals contentment and a sense of belonging. Her words, "I have a home," suggest satisfaction with her current life and community, embodying the biblical ideal of contentment with God's provision. This phrase encourages believers to find peace and fulfillment in their God-given circumstances, trusting in His perfect plan. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and serving as a spiritual leader in Israel. 2. GehaziElisha's servant, who acts as an intermediary between Elisha and others. 3. The Shunammite WomanA wealthy and hospitable woman from Shunem who provides for Elisha and his servant. 4. ShunemA town in the territory of Issachar, where the Shunammite woman resides. 5. The King and the Commander of the ArmyRepresenting the political and military authority in Israel, whom Elisha offers to speak to on behalf of the Shunammite woman. Teaching Points The Value of HospitalityThe Shunammite woman's hospitality towards Elisha demonstrates the importance of serving others and being generous with our resources. Contentment in God's ProvisionHer response, "I have a home among my own people," reflects a heart of contentment and satisfaction with what God has provided, teaching us to appreciate our current blessings. God's Recognition of Our ServiceElisha's offer to speak on her behalf shows that God notices and values our acts of service, even when we do not seek recognition or reward. Intercession and AdvocacyElisha's willingness to intercede for the Shunammite woman illustrates the role of spiritual leaders as advocates for others, pointing to Christ as our ultimate intercessor. Trust in God's TimingThe Shunammite woman's account encourages us to trust in God's timing and plan, as her later blessing of a son demonstrates God's perfect provision. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the Shunammite woman's hospitality reflect the biblical call to serve others, and how can we apply this in our own lives? 2. In what ways does the Shunammite woman's contentment challenge our own attitudes towards material possessions and social status? 3. How can Elisha's offer to intercede for the Shunammite woman inspire us to be advocates for others in our communities? 4. What does the Shunammite woman's account teach us about trusting in God's timing and provision, especially when our desires are unmet? 5. How can we cultivate a heart of gratitude and contentment like the Shunammite woman, in light of Philippians 4:11-13? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17The account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, highlighting the theme of God's provision through His prophets. 2 Kings 5Gehazi's later actions and consequences, providing a broader context for his character. Luke 10:38-42The account of Mary and Martha, illustrating the importance of hospitality and service. Philippians 4:11-13Paul's contentment in all circumstances, paralleling the Shunammite woman's satisfaction with her life. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Army, Behalf, Behold, Captain, Care, Cared, Careful, Commander, Dwell, Dwelling, Hast, Home, Host, Midst, Replied, Request, Speak, Spoken, Thyself, Trouble, Troubled, Wouldest, WouldstDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:11-17 5733 pregnancy 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 4:13 NIV2 Kings 4:13 NLT2 Kings 4:13 ESV2 Kings 4:13 NASB2 Kings 4:13 KJV
2 Kings 4:13 Commentaries
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