2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:1

TO be bondmen] according to the permission of the Law, Leviticus 25:39.

2 Kings 4:3

Borrow not] see upon 2 Kings 3:16.

2 Kings 4:7

Pay] to shew that God will have right to be observed, as well by poore as by rich men.

2 Kings 4:8

Shunem] a citie of Ishacar, Iosh. 19. 18 [A great woman] the Italian, a mighty or great, which may also bee referred to her quality and degree.

2 Kings 4:10

On the wall] private, that he may be there privately without any disturbance.

2 Kings 4:13

I dwell] my husband and I live privately, and are at peace with all men, we have no businesse at court, nor meddle we with great ones.

2 Kings 4:14

Verily] the Italian addeth, I know not, but she hath, &c. I do not see that she hath need of any thing, but only that having no children, and her husband being old, shee is like shortly to bee alone.

2 Kings 4:16

Doe not lie] doe not feed mee with vaine hopes.

2 Kings 4:23

New Moone] these dayes were holy by Gods Law, wherefore godly people of the ten Tribes, where Gods service was overthrown, did use upon those dayes to go to the Prophets Colledges to doe their devotions there, and receive comfort by the hearing of Gods word.

2 Kings 4:26

It is well] to cut off her speech with Gehazi, hastening to speak with Elisha himselfe.

2 Kings 4:27

Caught him] casting her selfe at his seet to entreat him, shee held them fast to thew the instance of her request, and that her onely resuge and hope was in the Prophet.

2 Kings 4:28

Did I] seeing that through Gods meere grace, this childe was given e, why was this benefit so soone taken away from me? if I had been vitiously moved to dsire him, it were likely that God would therefore have punished me: Or, why hast thou by this gift given mee cause of joy to afflict mee the more grievously by such a sudden losse?

2 Kings 4:29

If thou meet] that is to say, goe quickly without staying any where, see Luke 10:4 [lay] God did often work miracles by some of his servants externall things, as by Moses rod,Exod. 7. 9. 19. by Elijahs mantle, 2 King. 2. 14. by the Apostles garments, Acts 19:12. not by any perpetuall and necessary joyning of his power threunto, but only during his pleasure, which failing, those things were to no effect, as in this place.

2 Kings 4:31

But there was] namely in the childe, [is not awaked] he is not come to life again, according to the Scriptures ordinary stile.

2 Kings 4:34

Lay upon] as Elijah 1 King. 17. 21. see there the reason of these actions.

2 Kings 4:35

Returned] being still drawn again by instance, perseverance, and patience in faith, in his prayers to God, [necsed] or gaped.

2 Kings 4:38

Were sitting] he suffered not the Colledge to be dissolved because of the famine, he kep it together, and continued the holy exercises therein.

2 Kings 4:39

A wild vine] by this name is meant th plant of Coloquintida, whose fruit is called a wilde gourd.

2 Kings 4:40

Death] both by reason of the bitternesse, as by reason of the cruell paines which this kinde of fruit causeth in mens bodies.

2 Kings 4:41

There was no harme] this happened not by reason of any naturall propertie of the meale, but by Gods power onely, who in his miraculous works makes use of any thing, though it have no way any such property, see Exod. 15. 25. 2 King. 2. 20. and 5. 10 Ioh.〈◊〉. 5.

2 Kings 4:42

From Baal. Shalisha] or from the plaine of Shalisha, see 1 Samuel 9:4 [of the first fruites] which according to the law, ought to have been presented to the Priests, Numbers 18:2. but there being no true nor lawfull Priests among the ten tribes, 1 King. 12. 31. godly persons did present those things to the Prophets, who supplied a great part of their charge and office: [twenty] it is likely that the loaves were very small, or else it would have been no miracle.

2 Kings 4:43

And shall leave] as Matth. 14. 10. and 15. 37.