8 One day Elisha passed through Shunem. A leading lady of the town talked him into stopping for a meal. And then it became his custom: Whenever he passed through, he stopped by for a meal. 9 "I'm certain," said the woman to her husband, "that this man who stops by with us all the time is a holy man of God. 10 Why don't we add on a small room upstairs and furnish it with a bed and desk, chair and lamp, so that when he comes by he can stay with us?" 11 And so it happened that the next time Elisha came by he went to the room and lay down for a nap. 12 Then he said to his servant Gehazi, "Tell the Shunammite woman I want to see her." He called her and she came to him. 13 Through Gehazi Elisha said, "You've gone far beyond the call of duty in taking care of us; what can we do for you? Do you have a request we can bring to the king or to the commander of the army?" She replied, "Nothing. I'm secure and satisfied in my family." 14 Elisha conferred with Gehazi: "There's got to be something we can do for her. But what?" Gehazi said, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is an old man." 15 "Call her in," said Elisha. He called her and she stood at the open door. 16 Elisha said to her, "This time next year you're going to be nursing an infant son." "O my master, O Holy Man," she said, "don't play games with me, teasing me with such fantasies!" 17 The woman conceived. A year later, just as Elisha had said, she had a son.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:8-17
Commentary on 2 Kings 4:8-17
(Read 2 Kings 4:8-17)
Elisha was well thought of by the king of Israel for his late services; a good man can take as much pleasure in serving others, as in raising himself. But the Shunammite needed not any good offices of this kind. It is a happiness to dwell among our own people, that love and respect us, and to whom we are able to do good. It would be well with many, if they did but know when they are really well off. The Lord sees the secret wish which is suppressed in obedience to his will, and he will hear the prayers of his servants in behalf of their benefactors, by sending unasked-for and unexpected mercies; nor must the professions of men of God be supposed to be delusive like those of men of the world.