Thematic Bible: A woman who gave hospitality to elisha, and whose son he raised to life


Thematic Bible



And so it was, on a day, that Elisha passed over unto Shunem, where was a woman of position, and she constrained him to eat bread, - and so it came about, whensoever he passed that way, that he turned aside thither, to eat bread. Then said she unto her husband, Lo! I pray thee - I perceive that, a holy man of God, he is, - passing our way continually. I pray thee, let us make a little upper chamber on the wall and set for him there - a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a lampstand, - so shall it be, when he cometh to us, that he can turn in thither. read more.
And it came to pass, on a day, that he came thither, - so he turned aside into the upper chamber, and slept there. Then said he unto Gehazi, his young man, Call this Shunammitess. And he called her, and she stood before him. And he said to him - I pray thee, say unto her - Lo! thou hast cared for us with all this anxious care, what can be done for thee? Is it, that we should speak for thee, unto the king, or unto the general of the army? But she said, In the midst of mine own people, do, I, dwell. So he said, What then can be done for thee? And Gehazi said, Verily, she hath no, son, and, her husband, is, old. And he said - Call her. So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. Then said he - At this season, about the time of spring, thou, shalt be embracing a son. And she said - Nay! my lord, thou man of God, do not delude thy maid-servant. And the woman conceived, and bare a son, at this season, about the time of spring, when Elisha, had spoken unto her. And, when the child was grown, it came to pass, on a certain day, that he went out unto his father, unto the reapers; and he said unto his father - My head! my head! So he said unto the young man, Carry him to his mother. And, when he had carried him, and brought him in unto his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, - and shut him in, and then went out. And she called unto her husband, and said - Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, - that I may run unto the man of God, and return! And he said - Wherefore art thou going unto him, to-day, neither new moon nor sabbath? And she said - Peace! Then saddled she the ass, and said unto her young man - Lead on, and go forward, - do not slacken, for my sake, the riding, except I have bidden thee. So she went her way, and came unto the man of God, unto Mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her, opposite, that he said unto Gehazi young man, Lo! this Shunammitess! Now, run, I pray thee, to meet her, and say to her - Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she said, Well! But, when she came unto the man of God, on the mount, she caught hold of his feet, - and Gehazi drew near to thrust her away, when the man of God said - Let her alone! for, her life, is embittered to her, howbeit, Yahweh, hath hidden it from me, and hath not told me. Then said she, Did I ask a son, of my lord? Said I not, Thou must not mislead me? And he said to Gehazi - Gird thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way, if thou meet with any man, thou must not bless him, and, if any man bless thee, thou must not respond to him, - then shalt thou lay my staff upon the face of the boy. But the mother of the boy said, By the life of Yahweh and by the life of thine own soul, I will not leave thee. So he arose and followed her. Now, Gehazi, had passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the boy, but there was neither voice, nor attention, - so he returned to meet him, and told him, saying - The boy hath not awaked. And, when Elisha had come into the house, lo! the boy, was dead, laid upon his bed. So he went in, and shut the door upon them two, - and prayed unto Yahweh. Then gat he up, and lay upon the child, and put his own mouth upon his mouth, and his own eyes upon his eyes, and his own hands upon his hands, and bowed himself upon him, - and the flesh of the child, waxed warm. Then retraced he, and walked in the house - once to and fro, and then went up and bowed himself upon him, - and the boy sneezed as many as seven times, and the boy opened his eyes. Then called he Gehazi, and said - Call this Shunammitess. So he called her, and, when she was come in unto him, he said - Take up thy son. So she came in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, - and took up her son, and went forth.