2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:1

husband = man. Hebrew ’ish. App-14.

bondmen. Compare Leviticus 25:39 and Nehemiah 5:5.

2 Kings 4:3

borrow not a few = scant not.

2 Kings 4:5

who brought = they bringing.

she poured out. Elisha’s fifth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15.

2 Kings 4:7

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

debt = creditor.

children = sons.

2 Kings 4:8

Shunem. In the plain of Esdraelon. The native place of Abishag (1 Kings 1:3).

great = wealthy, or a person of position (2 Samuel 19:32).

2 Kings 4:9

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

2 Kings 4:10

chamber = upper chamber, or wall-chamber.

candlestick = lampstand. Very little furniture used in the East to-day.

2 Kings 4:12

servant = young man.

2 Kings 4:13

careful . . . care. Figure of speech Polyptoton = exceedingly careful.

spoken for to the king. This confidence in his influence with the king is accounted for by the miraculous aid recently given by Elisha in 2 Kings 3:16-19.

2 Kings 4:15

door = entrance.

2 Kings 4:17

of life, or of spring. Read “that season about the time of spring of which Klisha had said unto her”. The sixth miracle. Compare 2 Kings 2:15.

2 Kings 4:18

child = progeny.

2 Kings 4:26

now. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read “now therefore”.

2 Kings 4:27

her soul = herself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

vexed = bitter.

2 Kings 4:28

deceive = cajole.

2 Kings 4:29

said. In what Elisha said the signs given are put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the things symbolized by them.

salute him not. Idiom. The salutation being ceremonial and taking time.

child. Hebrew. na’ar = youth.

2 Kings 4:30

thy soul = thou.

2 Kings 4:36

Take up thy son. The seventh miracle (2 Kings 2:15).

2 Kings 4:39

wild vine: i.e. a plant with vine-like tendrils. Not the grape, but probably the colocynth.

2 Kings 4:40

death. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for that which causes death.

2 Kings 4:41

no harm = no evil thing. Elisha’s eighth miracle Compare 2 Kings 2:15.

2 Kings 4:43

servitor = attendant. Old English = one who serves.

an hundred men. Elisha’s ninth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15. One of three (App-10) miracles of feeding multitudes. Compare Matthew 14:20; Matthew 15:34.