Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. SOns] See 1 King. 20. 22.
fear, &c.] A man that fears God may be in debt.
the creditour] To whom I ow money, but am not able to pay it.
to be his bond-men] That was then the custome, as Matth. 18. 25. see Levit. 25. 39.
V. 2. What, &c.] These interrogations were to prepare he… with confidence to expect some relief, v. 14. chap. 2. 9.
V. 3. vessels] Fit to hold oyl: that there may be means to receive that blessing which the LORD will give: as chap. 3. 16.
borrow not a few] Or, scant not.
V. 4. shut the door] That none may come in to hinder thee, no nor to see thee. See v. 33.
V. 5. she poured out] That oyl which was in her own pot still increasing, till all the borrowed vessels were full. See 1 King. 17. 16.
V. 6. the oyl stayed] Ceased run, there being sufficient for her present and future need.
V. 7. sell the oyl] For it was a very vendible commodity, being usefull for food (1 King. 17. 15.) and refreshing (Psal. 104▪ 13.) and many other wayes.
pay thy debt] Or, creditour. With that money which is taken for the oyl.
of the rest] Of the money that remains over and above the debt.
V. 8. it fell on a day] Heb. there was a day.
Shunem] See 1 King. 1. 3.
great] This indefinite particle may be applyed to any thing that makes one to be in high esteem, as to same or reputation, honour, wealth, power, &c. Chap. 5. 1. and 7. 6. Exod. 1…. 3. Esth. 10. 3. Gen. 24. 35.
woman] Such an one as Prov. 31. 10, 11.
constrained] Heb. laid hold on him. As Luke 24. 29. Acts 16. 15.
to eat bread] To take a meal, as Gen. 31. 54.
V. 9. to her husband] For his consent.
holy] In his disposition.
man of God] In his function. See 1 King. 13. 1.
V. 10. …n the wall] There house might be by the town wall, as Rahabs (Josh. 2. 15.) and the chamber being on the wall, the prophet thereby might have the more free ingresse, and egresse: or her meaning might be to make a little chamber with a wall, or a partition, to separate it from other rooms, that he might be the more private to himself.
a bed, &c. All things fit for study and rest.
V. 11. thither] To the Shunammites house.
V. 12. stood before him] Expecting what the prophet would with her.
V. 13. he said to him] The prophet by his servant speaketh to the woman, that she might the more freely deliver her minde by the servant.
carefull, &c.] The phrase implieth such a care as hath a fear of failing in some duty mixed with it.
king or captain] Who could not but be ready to do a kindnesse to the prophet that had declared so good a message to them, as is declared, chap. 4. v. 16, &c.
I dwell] I have so good content among my kinsfolks and neighbours, as I have no need of the kings, or captains favour.
V. 14. What then, &c.] His gratefull minde made him as carefull for his hostesse, as she was for him. See v. 2.
no childe] He knew that a childe would of all things be most acceptable to h…r, and that his master could ob…in it of th… LORD.
V. 15. Call her] For she was gone, after her first coming to the prophet, v. 12. or else, this hath reference to v. 12.
in the door] By reason of her modest shamefulnesse, as Sarah, Gen. 18. 10.
V. 16. he said] To the woman her self.
About this season] Gen. 18. 10. Heb. set time.. This time of the next yeer.
the time of life] The time of a womans going with childe▪ Not that she should presently conceive, but that from her first conceiving she should go her full time, and then bring forth a son, and all within the space of a yeer. This appears to be an usuall kinde of expressing that point, as Gen. 18. 10, 14. Rom. 9. 9.
do not lie] Deceive me not with vain hope.
V. 17. conceived] The promise, in the very circumstances thereof, was accomplished.
V. 18. grown] To some three or four yeers at the least; for he was able to go into the fields.
My head] Aketh. The doubling of the word implieth great pain, as Jer. 4. 19.
V. 20. sate on her knees] That she might the more tenderly look to him.
V. 21. laid him on the bed] To try if by that means he might be raised (see v. 32.) or at least to keep others from winding him up and coffining him; or to conceal it from her husband; or to have it the more ready, and better prepared for the prophet when he should come.
V. 22. Send, &c.] She would not use servant nor beast, nor her self go abroad, without her husbands consent.
run] Make all the speed I can, v. 26. Jer. 51, 31. Joel 2. 4.
V. 23. neither new moon] Those were times wherein Gods people used to go to prophets for advice; for then people ceased from the works of their calling, and prophets set themselves apart to instruct and advise such as should come to them.
well] Heb. peace; No offence will hence arise: the prophet will well take my coming to him in good part.
V. 24. she sadled] See 1 King. 13. 23.
slack not thy riding for me] Heb. restrain not for me to ride, For my ease.
V. 25. Carmel] See 1 King. 18. 19.
afar off] Heb. over against him.
V. 26. Run] See v. 22.
well] Heb. peace.
well] Heb. peace.
well] Heb. peace.
she answered, &c.] Thus she saith, because she would declare the case to the prophet her self.
well] Heb. peace.
V. 27. she caught him] To testifie her reverend respect to him (as Matth. 28. 9.) and to hold him till he had heard her, and granted her desire. This gesture is also an expression of much passion, which the prophets words intimate.
him by the feet] Heb. by his feet.
thrust her away] Supposing that she was too troublesome to his master, as Matth. 15. 23.
vexed] Heb. bitter.
hid it] As 2 Sam. 7. 3.
V. 28. Did I desire?] This interrogation imports a strong negation, thus; Thou knowest that I never mov'd thee to ask a son of the LORD for me: and when of thy self thou didst promise one, I intreated thee not to deceive me (See v. 16.) Hereby she implies, That now she had no son: he was dead; which the prophet presently discerned, v. 29.
V. 29. Gird] See 1 King. 18. 46.
my staff] Because God oft wrought miracles by such externall things as belonged to his servants, Chap. 2. 8. Exod. 4. 2, 3. Act. 19. 12.
salute him not] Let no office of courtefie stay thee any whit at all, Luk. 10. 4.
V. 30. As the Lord, &c.] See Chap. 2. 2.
V. 31. neither voice, &c.] No evidences of life.
hearing] Heb. attention.
went] Heb. returned.
not awaked] Not revived: for death is a kinde of sleep. See 1 King. 2. 10.
V. 32. behold, &c.] Notwithstanding all that Gehazi had done according to his masters charge, v. 29, 31.
V. 33. them twain] The prophet and the dead childe.
and prayed] As 1 King. 17. 20. This not being done before, the staff could do nothing.
V. 34. lay upon the childe] See 1 King. 17. 21.
waxed warm] A signe that life began to come again.
V. 35. he returned] From the childe: or this may be an Hebraism, he returned and walked; that is, he walked again, Dan. 9. 25. See Chap. 13. 25.
walked, &c.] A signe of a fervent spirit. See 1 King. 17. 21.
to and fro] once hither, and once thither.
neesed, &c.] A further signe of life.
V. 36. Take up thy son] See 1 King. 17. 23.
V. 37. fell at his feet] In testimony of her high esteem, reverend respect, and gratefull heart; all in a civill manner. See Chap. 2. 15.
V. 38. to Gilgal] See Chap. 2. 2.
sitting] As disciples, to hear the prophet, Act. 22. 3. See 1 King. 10. 5.
the great pot] That there might be enough for all, and none of them forced to wander up and down for food.
V. 39. a wilde vine] Heb. a vine of the field; A plant growing in fields and hedge-rows, like a vine.
wilde gourds] Leaves or herbs which are bitter and poisonous: this kinde of plant is taken to be Coloqui…ida.
V. 40. there is death in the pot] The broth therein is poisoned, and will poison all that eat of it. Death is put for that which may cause death, as Exod. 10. 17.
V. 41. bring meal] Not that meal had any vertue to draw out bitternesse or poison; but that by such a means it might be discerned whence that vertue came, even from God, who appointed that means to be used, as Exod. 15. 25. This was a miracle.
harm] Heb. evil thing.
V. 42. Baal-shalisha] This was the place in Ephraim which was called Shalisha, 1 Sam. 9. 4. and after Baal was there set up, it was called Baal-shalisha.
brought] In testimony of his good respect to the prophets of God in that time of dearth.
of the first-fruits] Which God reserved to himself. Because this pious man could not carry them to Gods house (as Exod. 23. 19.) he thus honours God with them, Prov. 3. 9.
in the husk] Or, in his s…rip, or, garment: Not beaten out.
unto the people] The sons of prophets, v. 38.
V. 43. What, should I] As Joh. 6. 9.
They shall eat, and shall leave thereof] Joh. 6. 11.
V. 44. and left] A miracle, like Matth. 14. 20. Joh. 6. 11.