2 Kings · WEB-C
2 Kings
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Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared the LORD. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.” See also: Matthew 18:252 Kings 2:3Psalms 147:11Elisha said to her, “What should I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.” See also: 1 Kings 17:12James 2:52 Kings 2:9Then he said, “Go, borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Don’t borrow just a few containers. See also: John 2:7John 16:24Psalms 81:10Go in and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour oil into all those containers; and set aside those which are full.” See also: Mark 8:5-9Matthew 6:6Mark 6:37-44So she went from him, and shut the door on herself and on her sons. They brought the containers to her, and she poured oil. See also: Hebrews 11:7-82 Kings 5:11Luke 1:45When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” He said to her, “There isn’t another container.” Then the oil stopped flowing. See also: Matthew 14:202 Kings 13:19Luke 6:19Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” See also: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12Philippians 4:8Romans 12:17One day Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman; and she persuaded him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread. See also: Joshua 19:182 Kings 4:11-12Job 32:9She said to her husband, “See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually. See also: 1 Kings 17:24Proverbs 31:10-112 Kings 4:7Please, let’s make a little room on the roof. Let’s set a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp stand for him there. When he comes to us, he can stay there.” See also: Romans 12:13Matthew 10:41-42Matthew 25:40One day he came there, and he went to the room and lay there. He said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. See also: 2 Kings 8:4-52 Kings 4:29-311 Kings 19:3He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have cared for us with all this care. What is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” See also: 2 Timothy 1:16-18Hebrews 6:10Philippians 4:18-19He said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old.” See also: Luke 1:7Genesis 15:2-31 Samuel 1:8He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the door. He said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.” See also: Genesis 18:10Luke 1:132 Kings 4:28The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season when the time came around, as Elisha had said to her. See also: Genesis 21:1Luke 1:36Psalms 113:9When the child was grown, one day he went out to his father to the reapers. See also: Ruth 2:4He said to his father, “My head! My head!” He said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” See also: Job 14:1-2Jeremiah 4:19When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. See also: Luke 7:12John 11:3John 11:14She went up and laid him on the man of God’s bed, and shut the door on him, and went out. See also: 2 Kings 4:322 Kings 4:102 Kings 4:7She called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come again.” See also: 2 Kings 4:26John 11:32 Kings 4:24He said, “Why would you want to go to him today? It is not a new moon or a Sabbath.” She said, “It’s all right.” See also: Numbers 10:10Numbers 28:111 Chronicles 23:31Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward! Don’t slow down for me, unless I ask you to.” See also: 1 Kings 13:23Exodus 4:201 Kings 13:13So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite. See also: 2 Kings 2:251 Kings 18:42Isaiah 35:2Please run now to meet her, and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?’” She answered, “It is well.” See also: Acts 15:362 Kings 4:231 Samuel 17:18When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” See also: 2 Samuel 7:3Genesis 18:172 Kings 4:25Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” See also: Genesis 30:12 Kings 4:16Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.” See also: 2 Kings 2:14Exodus 14:161 Kings 18:46The child’s mother said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose, and followed her. See also: 2 Kings 2:2Ruth 1:16-182 Kings 2:4Gehazi went ahead of them, and laid the staff on the child’s face; but there was no voice and no hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, “The child has not awakened.” See also: John 11:11John 11:43-44Acts 19:13-17When Elisha had come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and lying on his bed. See also: 1 Kings 17:17Luke 8:52-53John 11:17He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to the LORD. See also: Matthew 6:62 Kings 4:4Acts 9:40He went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself on him; and the child’s flesh grew warm. See also: 1 Kings 17:21Acts 20:10Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth, then went up and stretched himself out on him. Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. See also: 2 Kings 13:212 Kings 8:5Luke 7:14-15He called Gehazi, and said, “Call this Shunammite!” So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, “Take up your son.” See also: Hebrews 11:35Luke 7:151 Kings 17:23Then she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; then she picked up her son, and went out. See also: Hebrews 11:352 Kings 4:272 Kings 2:15Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Get the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” See also: 2 Kings 2:32 Kings 8:12 Kings 2:1One went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered a lap full of wild gourds from it, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew; for they didn’t recognize them. See also: Isaiah 5:4Matthew 15:13Hebrews 12:15So they poured out for the men to eat. As they were eating some of the stew, they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. See also: Mark 16:18Exodus 10:17Exodus 15:23But he said, “Then bring meal.” He threw it into the pot; and he said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot. See also: Exodus 15:252 Kings 2:211 Corinthians 1:25A man from Baal Shalishah came, and brought the man of God some bread of the first fruits: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give to the people, that they may eat.” See also: 1 Samuel 9:7John 6:13Matthew 14:16-21His servant said, “What, should I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for the LORD says, ‘They will eat, and will have some left over.’” See also: Luke 9:13Matthew 14:20John 6:9So he set it before them and they ate and had some left over, according to the LORD’s word.
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)25 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
2 Kings 4:1
Ver. 1. Prophets. Josephus (ix. 4.) intimates that this man was Abdias; (3 K.
xviii. 13.) and the Rabbins pretend that Joram was the creditor. But these traditions are destitute of proof; and we know not that Abdias was a prophet.
C. --- Serve him, not as slaves, for the Hebrews were not thus to be sold, except they had commited some crime. Salien, A.C. 913. See Lev. xxv. 39. ---
But the condition of mercenaries was perhaps little different; (H.) and we find that people were sold for debt. Ex. xxi. 7. Isai. l. 1. The same practice seems to have continued till our Saviour's time. Matt. xviii. 25. Children were regarded as part of a person's property. Halicar. ii. p. 96.
Plut. in Solon et Luculls. The custom of selling children continued for a long time in our islands.
↑ 12 Kings 4:2
Ver. 2. Anoint me, for delicacy or health. Matt. vi. 17. M. --- To abstain from this unction, in the East, was a great mortification. 2 K. xiv. 2. Deut. xxviii. 40.
Sanctius supposes, that the woman intended the oil to anoint her body for interment. Matt. xxvi. 12. Heb. asuc, occurs no where else, and my signify a pot, or "skin of oil." The woman had nothing else. The original does not say what she intended to do with it. C. --- She might use it for food: (3 K. xvii. 12.) but the Sept.
agree with the Vulg. H.
↑ 22 Kings 4:6
Ver. 6. Stood. The grace of God ceases to flow, when the soul is full of vanity.
S. Bern. ---
Charity does not increase, when it bestows nothing. S. Aug. ser. 206. de Temp.
↑ 62 Kings 4:8
Ver. 8. Sunam, the birth-place of the beautiful virgin Abisag, (3 K. i. 3.) at the foot of Thabor, (C.) and not above a mile from Carmel, v. 23. T. --- Great woman,
"renowned for piety" (Arab.) and riches, v. 13. T. M. --- "Fearing sins." Chal.
This was true greatness! H. --- Eliseus often passed by her house, when he went to visit the colleges at Bethel, Jericho, &c. M.
↑ 82 Kings 4:10
Ver. 10. Chamber. Heb. adds, "on the wall," (H.) or surrounded "with walls," at the top of the house, where strangers usually lodged. C. --- After being entertained the first day with the family, they might retire, and live, as if they were at home; some presents being sent to them daily, at least among the Greeks of rank. Vitruv. vi. 10. --- The apartment of Eliseus might be separate from the house, that he might be less distracted in his meditations. M. Vatable.
--- Candlestick, on which many lamps, or even wood, might burn. Exod. xxv.
27. C.
↑ 102 Kings 4:13
Ver. 13. He said, or "he had said;" (Junius and Piscator) so that we may include this and the following verse within a parenthesis, as alluding to what had passed before; (C.) unless the woman, out of modesty, did not come into the chamber of the prophet, who addressed her by an interpreter, (M.) or servant.
H. --- Army. Eliseus had acquired great influence with Joram, in the war with Moab. C. --- The ancient canons exhort bishops to present the petitions of the poor to the prince. Grotius. --- People. I have nothing to fear, (H.) and am not in want. T. --- I have no quarrel with any person. C. --- I am of too mean a condition to have anything to do at court.
Abul.
↑ 132 Kings 4:14
Ver. 14. No son. The desire of one was very natural, particularly to people in good circumstances (M.) and of the Hebrew nation. H.
↑ 142 Kings 4:16
Ver. 16. Womb. Heb. "At this season, according to the time of life, (H. or of a woman with child, M.) thou shalt embrace a son" in thy arms. H. See Gen. xviii.
10. C. --- If is added by S.
Jerom, agreeably to an usual form of speaking. M. --- The prophet assures the woman, that she will not only live, but also bear a son, and nurse him. --- Lie, deceive, (v. 28. H.) or flatter me with vain hopes. C. She might think that the prophet was not actually inspired. M. --- Through joy, she could hardly believe.
See Luke xxiv. 41. H.
↑ 162 Kings 4:19
Ver. 19. Carry. This interpretation suits with the occasion, and is conformable to the Sept. and Chal. M. --- Lit. "conduct him," but he was sick and little. H.
↑ 192 Kings 4:21
Ver. 21. Bed, esteeming it as a relic, (H.) or wishing to excite the man of God to pray for her child, and to conceal its death from her husband. M.
↑ 212 Kings 4:23
Ver. 23. Moon, a day of devotion, (Num. x. 10. C.) or probably of obligation, like the sabbath, on which no long journey could be undertaken, (T. v. 8.) unless for the sake of piety, (Ex. xxvi.
8.) as Sunam is a place six or seven leagues, (C.) or eight hours' walk from Carmel. Adrichom.
M. --- Piety was not so far decayed in Israel but many fervent souls still went to hear the prophets. C. It seems this woman had often made such journeys. M.
--- Go. Heb. "peace."
Prot. " it shall be well:" let me depart. She is unwilling to reveal the reason of her journey; but her husband was so well convinced of her virtue, that he placed no obstacle in her way. Perhaps he might partly guess what was the matter, as he had sent the child home sick, and saw his wife so desirous to visit the prophet. H.
↑ 232 Kings 4:24
Ver. 24. And do. Heb. "unless I bid thee." Some translate, "urge me not to get up, unless," &c.
Chal. Arab. &c. They suppose that she went on foot, and that the ass was designed for Eliseus.
Vatab.
↑ 242 Kings 4:26
Ver. 26. Well. She declines mentioning what she wanted to the servant, in order that she might speak to the prophet in person. M. --- She might also rationally hope that the child was well in another world. H.
↑ 262 Kings 4:27
Ver. 27. Her. Being aware of the extreme circumspection and modesty of his master. --- Told me.
Hence it appears that the prophets were not inspired at all times, 2 K. vii. 3.
"that they might be sensible that what they had was a gift of God." S. Greg.
hom. in 11 Ezech.
↑ 272 Kings 4:28
Ver. 28. A son. Better had it been for me not to have become a mother, than to be so soon delivered of my child. M.
↑ 282 Kings 4:29
Ver. 29. Salute him not. He that is sent to raise to life the sinner spiritually dead, must not suffer himself to be called off, or diverted from his enterprise, by the salutations or ceremonies of the world. Ch. --- So must the preachers of the gospel diligently fulfil their important office. Luke x.
4. S. Greg. hom. 17. Urbanity is not reprehended; but no human transaction ought to impede what is divine. S. Amb. ib. In ancient comedies, slaves are always represented in a hurry. The Jews will not salute any person when they are going to their synagogues, for fear of being distracted in their devotions.
C. --- Eliseus requires the utmost expedition, that the favour might be the greater, Qui cito dat, bis dat. M. --- He would also prevent his servant from telling any one what he was about, that he might not be touched with vanity, and thus hinder the miracle, which some think was nevertheless the case. R.
Salomon. Theod. q. 17. T.
↑ 292 Kings 4:31
Ver. 31. The child is not risen. By the staff of Eliseus is represented the rod of Moses, or the old law, which was incapable of restoring life to mankind, then dead by sin. It was necessary that Christ himself should come in our flesh, to restore us to life again. In this, Eliseus, as a figure of Christ, behoved to go in person to restore the dead child to life. Ch. --- S. Aug. (c. Faust. xii. 35.) shews that many like things recorded in the Old Testament are figures of the New. W.
--- Many of the fathers observe, that this miracle was intended to shew the necessity of the Incarnation to redeem lost man. The staff did not therefore restore life. Some lay the blame on Giezi; others on the woman, who required the prophet to come in person; and others suppose that Eliseus followed herein his own spirit. But all this is destitute of proof. C. --- He might alter his mind (T.) at the request of the woman, and to imitate Elias; (3 K. xvii. 21.) all by God's direction. H. --- He had before trusted that God would perform the miracle by means of the staff, as he did formerly by the rod of Moses, or by the mantle of Elias. M.
↑ 312 Kings 4:34
Ver. 34. Warm. Arab. adds, "by his breath," as when God breathed a soul into Adam. Theodor.
q. 18. --- Some Greek interpreters have, "he breathed upon him," &c.
↑ 342 Kings 4:35
Ver. 35. Upon him. Sept. "he breathed," &c. C. --- Other copies, (Alex. and Vat.)
"he bent down upon the child seven times, and the child opened his eyes." ---
Gaped. Prot. "sneezed;" (H.) in which interpretation, Junius, Mont. &c. agree.
Arab. "he turned his eyes about seven times."
Others, "he trembled," (C.) or sighed; (M.) or Eliseus "clasped him in his arms," &c. The child died of a headache; (v. 19.) and sneezing is accounted good for alleviating the pain.
Sternutamenta capitis gravedinem emendant. Pliny xxviii. 6. C.
↑ 352 Kings 4:37
Ver. 37. Ground. To honour the saint, who had done her such a kindness. M.
↑ 372 Kings 4:38
Ver. 38. Galgal, where he had been often before. --- Dwelt. Heb. "sat," like disciples attending to the instructions of their master. Acts xxii. 3. C. --- To one,
&c. Heb. and Sept. "to his servant,"
Giezi. M. --- Eliseus provided for the temporal as well as for the spiritual wants of his followers.
H. --- The famine had been sent by God, to punish the idolatry of the people. C.
viii. 1. M.
↑ 382 Kings 4:39
Ver. 39. Wild herbs. Heb. oroth. Sept. arioth, may denote any thing that could be "gathered." ---
Gourds: colocynthides. They resembled cucumbers; but were so bitter, that they were styled, "the gall of the earth." Vallesius, (Phil. c. 36.) who observes, that a small quantity may cause death, (c. 37.) and that the remedy used by the prophet was supernatural; though Lemnius (c. 7.) asserts, that the mixture of barley-flour would take away the bitterness. T. --- It has, in effect, that tendency; but the hand of God must still be acknowledged. C.
↑ 392 Kings 4:40
Ver. 40. Death, poison, &c. Matthiole accounts this fruit poisonous.
↑ 402 Kings 4:42
Ver. 42. Baalsalisa, 15 miles south of Diospolis, and to the north of Jerusalem.
C. --- His scrip.
Hebrew bctsiklono. Prot. "in the husk thereof." Carmel, means a greenish ear of corn, (H.) which might be rubbed in the hand, and so eaten. C.
↑ 422 Kings 4:43
Ver. 43. Men. The disciples of Christ found the like difficulty. Jo. vi. 9. M. ---
God multiplied the provisions for these 100 men, (C.) living in the community at Galgal. H.
↑ 43License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses