18 When the child was grown , the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers . 19 He said to his father , "My head , my head ." And he said to his servant , "Carry him to his mother ." 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother , he sat on her lap until noon , and then died . 21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God , and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 Then she 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 return ." 23 He said , "Why will you go to him today ? It is neither new moon nor sabbath ." And she said , "It will be well ." 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant , "Drive and go forward; do not slow down the pace for me unless e I tell you." 25 So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel . When the man of God saw her at a distance e , he said to Gehazi his servant , "Behold , there is the Shunammite . 26 "Please run now to meet her and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband ? Is it well with the child ?' " And she answered , "It is well ." 27 When she came to the man of God to the hill , she caught hold of his feet . And Gehazi came near to push her away ; but the man of God said , "Let her alone , for her soul is troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me." 28 Then she said , "Did I ask for a son from my lord ? Did I not say , ' Do not deceive me'?" 29 Then he said to Gehazi , " Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand , and go your way; if you meet any man , do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the lad's face ." 30 The mother of the lad said , " As the Lord lives and as you yourself live , I will not leave you." And he arose and followed e her. 31 Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad's face , but there was no sound or response . So he returned to meet him and told him, "The lad has not awakened ." 32 When Elisha came into the house , behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed . 33 So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord . 34 And he 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 , and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm . 35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth , and went up and stretched himself on him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes . 36 He called Gehazi and said , "Call this Shunammite ." So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said , "Take up your son ." 37 Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground , and she took up her son and went out.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:18-37
Commentary on 2 Kings 4:18-37
(Read 2 Kings 4:18-37)
Here is the sudden death of the child. All the mother's tenderness cannot keep alive a child of promise, a child of prayer, one given in love. But how admirably does the prudent, pious mother, guard her lips under this sudden affliction! Not one peevish word escapes from her. Such confidence had she of God's goodness, that she was ready to believe that he would restore what he had now taken away. O woman, great is thy faith! He that wrought it, would not disappoint it. The sorrowful mother begged leave of her husband to go to the prophet at once. She had not thought it enough to have Elisha's help sometimes in her own family, but, though a woman of rank, attended on public worship. It well becomes the men of God, to inquire about the welfare of their friends and their families. The answer was, It is well. All well, and yet the child dead in the house! Yes! All is well that God does; all is well with them that are gone, if they are gone to heaven; and all well with us that stay behind, if, by the affliction, we are furthered in our way thither. When any creature-comfort is taken from us, it is well if we can say, through grace, that we did not set our hearts too much upon it; for if we did, we have reason to fear it was given in anger, and taken away in wrath. Elisha cried unto God in faith; and the beloved son was restored alive to his mother. Those who would convey spiritual life to dead souls, must feel deeply for their case, and labour fervently in prayer for them. Though the minister cannot give Divine life to his fellow-sinners, he must use every means, with as much earnestness as if he could do so.