And Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life. Just then the woman whose son Elisha had revived came to appeal to the king for her house and her land. So Gehazi said, "My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life." And just as Gehazi was telling the kingThe phrase highlights the providential timing in the narrative. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, is recounting the miraculous works of Elisha to the king. The Hebrew root for "telling" (סָפַר, saphar) implies recounting or declaring, often used in the context of narrating significant events. This moment underscores God's orchestration in aligning Gehazi's testimony with the woman's arrival, demonstrating divine timing and intervention. how Elisha had restored the dead to life
This phrase refers to the miraculous event where Elisha raised the Shunammite woman's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-37). The Hebrew word for "restored" (חָיָה, chayah) means to bring back to life or revive. This miracle is a testament to God's power over life and death, working through His prophet Elisha. It serves as a foreshadowing of the resurrection power ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life
The woman is the Shunammite, a figure of faith and perseverance. Her account is a powerful narrative of God's faithfulness and the reward of hospitality and trust in God's prophets. Her son, once dead and now alive, symbolizes hope and the restoration that God offers to His people. This encounter emphasizes the personal nature of God's miracles, impacting individual lives and families. came to appeal to the king for her house and field
The word "appeal" (צָעַק, tsa'aq) in Hebrew conveys a cry for help or justice. The Shunammite woman approaches the king to reclaim her property after a period of absence due to famine (2 Kings 8:1-2). This action reflects the social and legal customs of the time, where the king acted as a judge. Her boldness in seeking justice is a reminder of the believer's call to approach God with confidence, trusting in His righteous judgment. So Gehazi said, 'My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is her son
Gehazi's recognition of the woman and her son is pivotal. The phrase "My lord the king" shows respect and acknowledgment of the king's authority. Gehazi's role here, despite his previous shortcomings (2 Kings 5:20-27), illustrates that God can use anyone to fulfill His purposes. His identification of the woman and her son serves as a divine confirmation of her story, facilitating her appeal. whom Elisha restored to life.'
The repetition of the miracle's significance underscores its importance. The phrase "restored to life" reiterates the power of God working through Elisha. It serves as a reminder of the hope and renewal available through faith. This miracle not only restored physical life but also reinstated the woman's social and economic status, highlighting God's comprehensive restoration in the lives of His people. Persons / Places / Events 1. GehaziThe servant of Elisha, who is recounting the miracles performed by Elisha to the king of Israel. Gehazi's role is significant as he serves as a witness to God's power through Elisha. 2. The King of IsraelThe unnamed king who is interested in hearing about the miracles performed by Elisha. His curiosity reflects the broader interest in the prophetic acts of Elisha. 3. The Shunammite WomanA woman whose son was restored to life by Elisha. Her account is a testament to God's power and faithfulness, and she appears at the right moment to confirm Gehazi's account. 4. ElishaThe prophet of God whose miracles are being recounted. Elisha's ministry is marked by powerful acts that demonstrate God's presence and authority. 5. The Restoration of the Shunammite's LandThe event where the Shunammite woman appeals to the king for the restoration of her land, which she had left during a famine. Teaching Points God's Timing and ProvidenceThe Shunammite woman's arrival at the king's court at the exact moment Gehazi is recounting her account illustrates God's perfect timing and providence in orchestrating events for His purposes. The Power of TestimonyGehazi's recounting of Elisha's miracles serves as a powerful testimony to the king, reminding us of the importance of sharing our experiences of God's work in our lives. Faith and RestorationThe Shunammite woman's faith in approaching the king for the restoration of her land is a reminder of the importance of trusting God for restoration in our own lives. God's FaithfulnessThe account underscores God's faithfulness to His people, as seen in the restoration of the Shunammite woman's land and the life of her son. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the timing of the Shunammite woman's arrival at the king's court demonstrate God's providence in your own life? 2. In what ways can you share your personal testimonies of God's work to encourage others, similar to Gehazi's recounting of Elisha's miracles? 3. How does the account of the Shunammite woman challenge you to trust God for restoration in areas of your life that seem lost or broken? 4. What can we learn about God's faithfulness from the restoration of the Shunammite woman's land and her son's life? 5. How does the account of the Shunammite woman connect with other biblical accounts of faith and restoration, and what lessons can we draw from these connections? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 4:18-37This passage details the miracle of Elisha raising the Shunammite woman's son from the dead, which Gehazi recounts to the king. Hebrews 11:35This verse in the New Testament references women receiving their dead back to life, connecting to the Shunammite woman's experience and highlighting the theme of faith. Luke 4:25-26Jesus references the widow of Zarephath and the famine, drawing a parallel to the Shunammite woman's experience of leaving her land during a famine. People Ahab, Ahaziah, Aram, Athaliah, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, David, Edomites, Elisha, Gehazi, Hadad, Hazael, Israelites, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat, Jezreel, Joram, Omri, SyriansPlaces Damascus, Edom, Jerusalem, Jezreel, Libnah, Ramah, Ramoth-gilead, Samaria, Syria, ZairTopics Appealed, Beg, Behold, Body, Cried, Crying, Dead, Elisha, Eli'sha, Field, Gehazi, Geha'zi, Giving, O, Pass, Recounting, Relating, Request, Restored, Revived, Story, TellingDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 8:1-6 5492 restitution 2 Kings 8:3-5 5230 beggars Library The Story of Hazael
'So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 10. And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die. 11. And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. 12. And Hazael said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureHazael
BY REV. J. G. GREENHOUGH, M.A. "But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?"--2 KINGS viii. 13. Hazael was the chief minister and prime favourite of Benhadad, the Syrian king. He had been raised from a humble lot and promoted to that high post by the partiality of his sovereign, who had doubtless discerned his exceptional abilities, and certainly placed implicit trust in him. Just now the king was dangerously ill, and Hazael had been sent to inquire of the prophet of Israel …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
Assur-nazir-pal (885-860) and Shalmaneser III. (860-825)--The kingdom of Urartu and its conquering princes: Menuas and Argistis. Assyria was the first to reappear on the scene of action. Less hampered by an ancient past than Egypt and Chaldaea, she was the sooner able to recover her strength after any disastrous crisis, and to assume again the offensive along the whole of her frontier line. Image Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief at Koyunjik of the time of Sennacherib. The initial cut, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Redemption for Man Lost to be Sought in Christ.
1. The knowledge of God the Creator of no avail without faith in Christ the Redeemer. First reason. Second reason strengthened by the testimony of an Apostle. Conclusion. This doctrine entertained by the children of God in all ages from the beginning of the world. Error of throwing open heaven to the heathen, who know nothing of Christ. The pretexts for this refuted by passages of Scripture. 2. God never was propitious to the ancient Israelites without Christ the Mediator. First reason founded on …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone]. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Tit. 2:06 Thoughts for Young Men
WHEN St. Paul wrote his Epistle to Titus about his duty as a minister, he mentioned young men as a class requiring peculiar attention. After speaking of aged men and aged women, and young women, he adds this pithy advice, "Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded" (Tit. 2:6). I am going to follow the Apostle's advice. I propose to offer a few words of friendly exhortation to young men. I am growing old myself, but there are few things I remember so well as the days of my youth. I have a most …
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Original Sin
Q-16: DID ALL MANKIND FALL IN ADAM'S FIRST TRANSGRESSION? A: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him, by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. 'By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin,' &c. Rom 5:12. Adam being a representative person, while he stood, we stood; when he fell, we fell, We sinned in Adam; so it is in the text, In whom all have sinned.' Adam was the head …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity 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 8:5 NIV2 Kings 8:5 NLT2 Kings 8:5 ESV2 Kings 8:5 NASB2 Kings 8:5 KJV
2 Kings 8:5 Commentaries
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