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18 The boy grew up and one day went out to his father, who was with the ·grain harvesters [reapers]. 19 The boy said to his father, “My head! My head!”

The father said to his servant, “·Take [Carry] him to his mother!” 20 The servant ·took [carried] him to his mother, and he lay on his mother’s lap until noon. Then he died. 21 So she took him up and laid him on ·Elisha’s bed [L the bed of the man of God]. Then she shut the door and left.

22 She called to her husband, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys. Then I can go quickly to the man of God and return.”

23 The husband said, “Why do you want to go to him today? It isn’t the New Moon or the Sabbath day.”

She said, “It will be all right.”

24 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on. Don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she went to Elisha, the man of God, at Mount Carmel.

When he saw her coming ·from far away [in the distance], he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, there’s the Shunammite woman! 26 Run to meet her and ask, ‘Are you ·all right [well]? Is your husband ·all right [well]? Is the boy ·all right [well]?’”

She answered, “Everything is ·all right [well].”

27 Then she came to Elisha at the hill and grabbed his feet. Gehazi came near to pull her away, but Elisha said to him, “Leave her alone. She’s ·very upset [L in bitter distress in her soul], and the Lord has not told me about it. He has hidden it from me.”

28 She said, “·Master [My lord], did I ask you for a son? Didn’t I tell you not to ·lie to [deceive; mislead] me?”

29 Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “·Get ready [Tuck in your cloak; L Gird up your loins; C pulling up the back of the cloak between the legs and tucking it in the belt allowed freer movement]. Take my ·walking stick [staff] in your hand and go quickly. If you meet anyone, don’t ·say hello [greet him]. If anyone greets you, don’t ·respond [answer]. Lay my ·walking stick [staff] on the boy’s face.”

30 The boy’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I won’t leave you [C to return home]!” So Elisha got up and followed her.

31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the ·walking stick [staff] on the boy’s face, but the boy did not talk or ·move [respond]. Then Gehazi went back to meet Elisha. “The boy has not awakened,” he said.

32 When Elisha came into the house, the boy was lying dead on ·his [Elisha’s] bed. 33 Elisha entered the room and shut the door on the two of them. Then he prayed to the Lord. 34 He went to the bed and lay on the boy, putting his mouth on the boy’s mouth, his eyes on the boy’s eyes, and his hands on the boy’s hands. He stretched himself out on top of the boy. Soon the boy’s ·skin [body; L flesh] became warm. 35 Elisha ·turned away [got up] and walked ·around [back and forth once across] the room. Then he went back and ·put himself [stretched out] on the boy again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

36 Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite!” So he did. When she came, Elisha said, “·Pick up [Take] your son.” 37 She came in and fell at Elisha’s feet, bowing facedown to the floor. Then she ·picked up [took] her son and went out.

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The Shunammite’s Son

18 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 But he said to his father, “My head, my head.” The man said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had carried and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then he [a]died. 21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door [of the small upper room] behind him and left. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may run to the man of God and return.” 23 He said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It will be all right.” 24 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Drive [the animal] fast; do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite woman. 26 Please run now to meet her and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she answered, “It is well.” 27 When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is desperate and troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden the reason from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not give me false hope’?”

29 Then he said to Gehazi, “[b]Gird up your loins (prepare now!) and take my staff in your hand, and go [to the woman’s house]; if you meet any man [along the way], do not greet him and if a man greets you, do not [stop to] answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the boy [as soon as you reach the house].” 30 The mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So Elisha arose and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response [from the boy]. So he turned back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened (revived).”

32 When Elisha came into the house, the child was dead and lying on his bed. 33 So he went in, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself out on him and held him, the boy’s skin became warm.(A) 35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up [again] and stretched himself out on him; and the boy sneezed seven times and he opened his eyes. 36 Then Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing herself to the ground [in respect and gratitude]. Then she picked up her son and left.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 4:20 Because her faith in God led her to expect a miracle from Elisha, the woman apparently kept the death secret from her husband and the entire household.
  2. 2 Kings 4:29 “Gird up your loins,” a phrase often found in the Bible, is an urgent call to get ready for immediate action, or it may be a call to prepare for a coming action or event. The phrase is related to the type of clothing worn in ancient times. To keep from impeding the wearer during any vigorous activity, e.g. battle, exercise, strenuous work, etc., the loose ends of garments (tunics, cloaks, mantles, etc.) had to be gathered up and tucked into the girdle. The girdle was a band about six inches wide that had fasteners in front. It was worn around the loins (the midsection of the body between the lower ribs and the hips) and was normally made of leather. Expensive or embroidered girdles were also worn and were made of cotton, flax or silk. The girdle also served as a kind of pocket or pouch and was used to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things.