2 Kings 4:18-37

International Children’s Bible

¹⁸ The child grew. One day he went out to his father, who was with the men harvesting grain. ¹⁹ The boy said to his father, “My head! My head!”

The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother!” ²⁰ The servant took him to his mother. He lay on his mother’s lap until noon. Then he died. ²¹ She took him up and laid him on Elisha’s bed. Then she shut the door and went out.

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

²³ The woman’s 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 at Mount Carmel.

He saw her coming from far away. So he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, there’s the Shunammite woman! ²⁶ Run to meet her! Say to her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?’”

She answered, “Everything is all right.”

²⁷ Then she came to Elisha at the hill. She caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to pull her away. But Elisha said to him, “Let her alone. She’s very upset, and the Lord has not told me about it. He has hidden it from me.”

²⁸ She said, “Master, I didn’t tell you I wanted a son. I told you, ‘Don’t fool me.’”

²⁹ Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready. Take my walking stick in your hand and go quickly. If you meet anyone, don’t greet him. If anyone greets you, don’t answer him. Lay my walking stick on the face of the boy.”

³⁰ But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I won’t leave you!” So he got up and followed her.

³¹ Gehazi went on ahead. He laid the walking stick on the child’s face. But the child did not talk or move. Then Gehazi went back to meet Elisha. He told Elisha, “The child has not awakened.”

³² Elisha came into the house. There was the child, lying dead on his bed. ³³ When Elisha entered the room, he shut the door. Only he and the child were in the room. Then Elisha prayed to the Lord. ³⁴ He went to the bed and lay on the child. He put his mouth on the child’s mouth. He put his eyes on the child’s eyes and his hands on the child’s hands. He stretched himself out on top of the child. Then the child’s skin became warm. ³⁵ Elisha turned away and walked around the room. Then he went back and put himself on the child again. Then the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

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