2 Kings 4
DOYLY2 Kings 4:3
- — Would God my lord were with the prophet] It is probable from hence that Elisha had before cured others, not set down in this history, of such disorders; otherwise this maid would scarcely have thought of making this suggestion to her mistress. Bp. Wilson.
2 Kings 4:7
- — Am I God, &c.] The king of Israel had forsaken the true God, and therefore never thought of His almighty power, nor of His Prophet. For this reason, he cannot read the letter without amazement of heart, without tending his clothes, and crying out in the manner here described. Wogan. It is a trouble to a well-affected heart to receive impossible commands. To require that of an inferiour which is proper to the Most High, is a derogation from that Supreme Power whose
2 Kings 4:10
- And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, &c.] It is observable, that he does not speak to Naaman himself, but sends to him by a messenger. It did not misbecome him upon this occasion to take some state upon him, and to support the character and dignity of a Prophet of the most High God, especially as this might be a means of raising the honour of his religion and ministry, and of giving Naaman a more just idea of his miraculous cure, when he found that it was neither by the prayer nor presence of the Prophet, but by the Divine power and goodness, that it was effected. Stackhouse.
— wash in Jordan seven times.] Thus, according to the law of Moses, lepers were sprinkled seven times, Levit. xiv. 7. &c. Bp. Patrick.
2 Kings 4:11
- But Naaman was wroth,] It is not always in man to perceive the fitness of those means which God uses
2 Kings 4:29
- — if thou meet any man, salute him not;] The salutations of the East consist of a great number of formalities, and often take up a considerable time. Thus Elisha’s enjoining Gehazi not to salute any that he met, is strongly expressive of the haste he was in to recover the child. Harmer.
2 Kings 4:31
- — but there was neither voice, nor hearing.] Respecting the cause of this failure, learned men are divided in opinion. Some attribute the fault to Gehazi, who did not accurately follow Elisha’s commands; others think that it was owing to a want of faith in the woman, which was shewn in her determination not to quit the Prophet, ver. 30. Others again suppose, that the Prophet sent his staff to recover the child, entirely from the suggestion of his own mind, and that he was not moved to it by the Spirit of God. Calmet.
2 Kings 4:37
- Then she went in, — and took up her son.] God, after He had given a son to the Shunammite, was pleased that this son should die, that He might restore him to her by a miracle. The proceeding of this woman, who, as soon as her son was dead, went immediately to seek for Elisha, shews her surprising faith, and her hope that the same Prophet, who had promised the birth of the child, would restore him to life; and she was not disappointed of her hope. God often afflicts His children in the most sensible manner, that He may
up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
2 Kings 4:39
- — gathered thereof wild gourds] The “wild gourds” here is thought to have been a herb called coloquintida, which has a leaf much resembling that of the vine, and which therefore might easily be mistaken for it. This herb is a strong purgative, and is a poison, if not qualified and taken in a moderate quantity. As it is bitter and distasteful, they concluded immediately, ver. 40, that there was some venomous herb in the pot. When the Prophet took away the poisonous quality by putting meal into the pot, ver. 41, we are not to suppose that there was any virtue in the meal itself, but the whole event was miraculous, brought about by the immediate power of God. Bp. Patrick.
The Hebrew word which we render “vine,” may be taken as extensively as our word “hine,” (bind.) for a creeping plant: thus it may include melons, pumpkins, gourds, &c.; and it might be, that a person, designing to gather melons or cucumbers, should mistake a wild gourd, or the bitter cucumber, or coloquintida, for a plant of that kind, though it has no resemblance to the fruit of the vine. When it is said, that “they knew them not,” it is probably meant, that they distinguished them not: there being many wild herbs gathered on this occasion, and shred together, this passed without being observed or detected. Script. illustr. Expos. Ind.
Elisha healeth the deadly pottage. Naaman is sent to Samaria they may eat. And there was no † harm in the pot.
b John 6. 11. 44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.