2 Reis 4
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Reis 4
NJB (MT versing) The Widow's Oil Elisha and the Widow's Oil An Interlude on the Miracles of Elisha (4:1-8:6) Elisha Helps a Poor Widow The Widow's Oil 4:1-7 4:1-7 4:1-7 4:1 4:1-7 4:2 4:3-4 4:5-7 The Shunammite Woman Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son The Son Restored to Life Elisha and the Rich Woman from Shunem The Woman of Shunem and Her Son 4:8-10 4:8-17 4:8-10 4:8-10 4:8-17 4:11-16 4:11-16 4:11-13a 4:13b 4:14a 4:14b 4:15-16 4:17 4:17 4:17 The Shunammite's Son 4:18-25a 4:18-31 4:18-25a 4:18-19a 4:18-28 4:19b-22 4:23a 4:23b-25a 4:25b-28 4:25b-31 4:25b-26a 4:26b-27 4:28 4:29-31 4:29 4:29-37 4:30-31 4:32-37 4:32-37 4:32-37 4:32-37 The Poisonous Stew Elisha Purifies the Pot of Stew The Spoiled Pot of Stew Two More Miracles The Poisonous Soup 4:38-41 4:38-41 4:38-41 4:38-41 4:38-41 4:42-44 4:42-44 4:42-44 4:42-43a 4:42-44 4:43b-44 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS These miracle stories are similar to the miracles of Elijah. They are recorded to illustrate the "double portion" of Elijah's spirit on Elisha. Elisha did twice as many recorded miracles as Elijah. These miracles show YHWH's concern and care for ordinary people. even non-Israelite people rich and poor 2 Kings 4:27 shows that prophets did not have full knowledge about all things. It was a selective revelation. 2 Kings. 4:34-35 is an example of healing/restoration in stages (i.e., Jesus healing blindness in stages, i.e., Mark 8:23-25). This would be a faith test for the prophet.
2 Reis 4:1-7
4:1 "the wives" Prophets were usually married. The rabbis viewed marriage as a requirement. Notice YHWH's repeated command to be fruitful and multiply (i.e., Gen. 1:28; 9:1,7). SPECIAL TOPIC: CELIBACY ▣ "the sons of the prophets" Originally the prophets lived in communal groups (i.e., 1 Sam. 10:5,10; 19:20; 2 Kgs. 2:3; 4:1,38; 5:22). They were unconnected to the later court prophets. ▣ "feared the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT). ▣ "my two children to be his slaves" The confiscation of the children as servants was one way to pay a debt (i.e., Exod. 21:7; Neh. 5:5). This practice of Hebrew servitude is discussed in Lev. 25:39-55; Deut. 15:12-15. For a good brief discussion on "Israelite slaves" see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 80-90. 4:2 "a jar of oil" Olive oil was a basic part of the Mediterranean diet. This is similar to Elijah's miracle in 1 Kgs. 17:14-16. The word "jar" (BDB 692) occurs only here. Some see it as a flask for pouring or anointing. 4:4 "shut the door" Elisha did several acts behind closed doors (i.e., 2 Kgs. 4:4,5,33; 9:3,10). Why? People may not understand the uniqueness of the event and its background. It could promote a "give me a miracle" mentality. Not all of YHWH's actions are for public knowledge (i.e., "do not cast your pearls before swine"). 4:7 "the man of God" This was a way of designating a speaker for YHWH (i.e., v. 9). This title first appears in Jdgs. 13:6,8. It is common in Samuel and Kings, but not Chronicles. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHET (the different Hebrew terms) ▣ "debts" This NOUN (BDB 674) occurs only here. the LXX views it as "interest" the Targums as "creditor" NJB has "redeem your pledge"
2 Reis 4:8-10
4:9 Apparently Elisha made a regular circuit of visits to the sons of the prophets in different cities. ▣ "a holy man of God" The ADJECTIVE "holy" (BDB 872) is used only here for a prophet. It is often associated with temple/shrine servants. SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY 4:10 "the upper chamber" Small rooms (i.e., a walled room) on the flat roofs were common in the ANE. They were mostly used in the hot months. This especially prepared room would have had a stair access outside the house. This was a quiet place to study and pray as well as sleep.
2 Reis 4:11-16
4:13 The woman had no ulterior motives in helping the propeht! ▣ This verse contains both the VERB (BDB 353, KB 350, Qal PERFECT) and the NOUN "to tremble." Here, it denotes a holy awe of Elisha, the man of God. She wanted to help God's servant/spokesman. 4:14 "she has no son and her husband is old" Leprosy and barrenness were considered curses from God. The Bible records several miracles like this. Abraham and Sarah, Gen. 18:1-15 Jacob and Rebekah, Gen. 25:21 Manoah and his wife, Jdgs. 13:2ff Hannah, 1 Sam. 1:3ff Elizabeth, Luke 1:39 4:16 "do not lie" This sounds harsh to us but it was not meant or taken that way in Hebrew language. Today we might say, "You're putting me on."
2 Reis 4:18-25
4:19 "My head, my head" Their young miraculous son went into the field at harvest time with his dad but apparently had a sun stroke. However, the exact nature of the illness is not stated. It could also have been a brain hemorrhage or meningitis. 4:20-21 This lady believed Elisha could help! 4:22 The lady did not tell her husband that the boy was dead. 4:23 "Why will you go to him today?" The husband knew that this was an unusual time. The donkey and servant were needed for harvest. ▣ "new moon" After the sighting of the first crescent, the next day was a special worship time (cf. Num. 10:10; 28:11-15; 1 Sam. 20:18-24; Hosea 1:13; Isa. 1:13-14). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL, II. A., D. 4:25 "to Mount Carmel" This was about a 14-17 mile distance. It was apparently one of Elisha's regular stops.
2 Reis 4:25-28
4:27 "the Lord has hidden it from me" How much God revealed to the prophets is uncertain but this implies surprise that the prophet did not know about this event.
2 Reis 4:29-31
4:29 "gird up your loins" This means to pull the robe up between one's legs and tuck it into the sash in the front. It was a sign of hard work or urgency. ▣ "my staff" This was a symbol of YHWH's power (like Moses' staff, but a different Hebrew word) Elisha was His prophet Elisha thought the boy was ill, not that he was dead. The staff would have helped an illness but not a resuscitation; for that Elisha himself was needed. ▣ "do not salute him" This means to dispense with normal ANE etiquette. 4:30 "As the Lord lives" This was an oath formula based on "YHWH," which is the Hebrew VERB "to be" from Exod. 3:14. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.
2 Reis 4:32-37
4:33 "shut the door behind them both" Apparently from context, only Elisha entered the room. ▣ "prayed to the Lord" Elisha knew who his power source was. 4:35 This shows the prophet's anxiety at not being able to effect a wanted response. God was working with Elisha's faith as much as restoring the boy's health. This healing is similar in many ways to Mark 8:22-26. Elisha was acting in the way of Elijah (cf. 1 Kgs. 17:21-23). ▣ NASB, NKJV, TEV, Peshitta "stretched himself" NRSV, JPSOA, LXX "bent over him" "lowered himself" "crouched upon" This VERB (BDB 155, KB 181, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) means "to bend" or "to crouch." It occurs only twice in the Bible. Elijah praying on Mt. Carmel, 1 Kgs. 18:42 Elisha here I think the NASB, Peshitta thought this was an act of resuscitation, but this is uncertain. I think the LXX and JPSOA have caught the essence of the act (i.e., prayer), not CPR. ▣ "sneezed seven times" This showed that "breath" (i.e., life) had returned. The "seven" sneezes was symbolic of a full restoration. The word "sneeze" (BDB 284) occurs only here (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 832). A different word (BDB 743) in Job 41:10 is also translated "sneeze," but it occurs only there. Therefore, exactly what the boy did seven times must remain uncertain. It seems to have something to do with breathing (i.e., sigh, moan) expelling evil or sickness (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 1155; vol. 2, p. 1093, P-13) SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #4
2 Reis 4:38-41
4:38-41 This is another recorded miracle (and I am sure there were others), where he cares and provides for "the sons of the prophets." 4:39 "wild gourds" The UBS Fauna and Flora of the Bible, p. 124, identifies this as cirtullus colocynthis, which is not deadly but causes great stomach pain. It was dried and crushed to make a purgative medicine, today called "Apples of Sodom."
2 Reis 4:42-44
4:42-44 Here again, Elisha cares and provides for another group (i.e., non-prophets). The location of Baal-shalishah is uncertain (see ABD, vol. 1, p. 553; AB, p. 59). 4:42 "brought the man of God" Apparently when visiting a prophet one should bring a gift (i.e., 1 Sam. 9:7; 1 Kgs. 14:3; 2 Kgs. 8:8,9). ▣ NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "fresh ears of grain in his sack" "newly ripened grain in his knapsack" "freshly cut heads of grain" "fresh grain still in the husk" "fresh ripe ears of grain" "fruitcakes" "new wheat rubbed from the ears in a cloth" The MT has "fresh fruit (BDB 502) in his sack" (BDB 862). There are several ways to understand this, as the translations make obvious. fresh ears of grain in the man's sack fresh ears of grain in the husk fresh stacks (from Ugaritic root, NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 696) LXX suggests "fresh fruit," not grain KB 499 III suggests "new corn" 4:43-44 The miracle is confirmed by the left over food.