1Žena jednoho z bratrů proroků úpěnlivě prosila Elizea: „Tvůj služebník, můj manžel, zemřel, a ty víš, že se tvůj služebník bál Jahva. A přišel věřitel, aby vzal mé dvě děti a udělal si z nich otroky.“ 2Elizeus jí řekl: „Co pro tebe mohu udělat? Řekni mi, co máš doma?“ Odpověděla: „Tvá služka nemá doma vůbec nic až na baňku s olejem.“ 3Řekl tedy: „Jdi a vypůjč si venku nádoby ode všech svých sousedů, prázdné nádoby, a ne nějak málo! 4Pak se vrátíš, zavřeš za sebou a za svými syny dveře a budeš nalévat do všech těch nádob olej a vždy, až budou plné, je budeš dávat stranou.“ 5Ona od něho odešla a zavřela dveře za sebou a svými syny; oni jí drželi nádoby a ona bez přestání nalévala. 6A když byly ty nádoby plné, řekla synovi: „Podej mi ještě nějakou nádobu,“ ale on odpověděl: „Už žádná nádoba není.“ Tu přestal olej téci. 7Šla a podala zprávu Božímu muži a on řekl: „Jdi, prodej ten olej, vykoupíš zástavu a ze zbytku budeš ty i tví synové žít!“ 8Když jednou Elizeus procházel Šunemem, pozvala ho jedna urozená žena, jež tam žila, ke stolu. Od té doby tam pokaždé, když procházel, chodil jíst. 9Ona řekla svému manželovi: „Hleď. Vím určitě, že to u nás vždy prochází svatý Boží muž. 10Postavme mu tedy zděný horní pokojík a dáme mu tam lože, stůl, sedátko a lampu: když k nám přijde, uchýlí se tam.“ 11Když tam jednou přišel, uchýlil se do horního pokoje a ulehl tam. 12Řekl svému služebníkovi Gechazimu: „Zavolej tu hodnou Šunamitku.“ - On ji zavolal a ona před ním stanula. - 13Elizeus pokračoval: „Řekni jí: Dala sis s námi všechnu tuto práci. Co se pro tebe dá udělat? Ztratit za tebe slovo u krále nebo u velitele vojska?“ Ale ona odpověděla: „Bydlím zde mezi svými.“ 14On pokračoval: „Tak co se pro ni dá udělat?“ Gechazi odpověděl: „Nuže! Nemá syna a její manžel je letitý.“ 15Elizeus řekl: „Zavolej ji.“ - Služebník ji zavolal a ona stanula u vchodu. - 16„Příštího roku v tuto dobu,“ řekl, „ budeš chovat v náručí syna.“ Ale ona řekla: „Ne, můj pane, neklam svou služku.“ 17A ta žena počala a porodila syna v tu dobu, jak jí řekl Elizeus. 18Chlapec vyrostl. Jednoho dne přišel za svým otcem k žencům 19a řekl otci: „Ach, má hlava, má hlava!“ a otec přikázal jednomu služebníkovi, aby ho odnesl k matce. 20On ho vzal a dovedl ho matce; zůstal jí až do poledne na klíně a zemřel. 21Ona vyšla nahoru a položila ho na lože Božího muže, zavřela dveře a vyšla. 22Zavolala svého manžela a řekla: „Pošli mi některého služebníka s oslicí, pojedu za Božím mužem a vrátím se.“ 23On se zeptal: „Proč k němu jdeš dnes? Není novoluní ani sobota,“ ale ona odpověděla: „Buď klidný.“ 24Dala osedlat oslici a řekla služebníkovi: „Veď mne, jdi! Nezastavuj mi cestou, pokud ti nepřikáži.“ 25Odjela a šla za Božím mužem na horu Karmel. Když ji Boží muž zdálky uviděl, řekl svému služebníku Gechazimu: „Hleď, ta hodná Šunamitka. 26Teď jí běž naproti a zeptej se jí: Daří se ti dobře? Daří se dobře tvému manželovi? Daří se dobře tvému chlapci?“ Ona odpověděla: „Dobře.“ 27Když došla k Božímu muži na hoře, objala mu nohy. Gechazi přistoupil a chtěl ji odstrčit, ale Boží muž řekl: „Nechej ji, neboť ona má v duši hořkost; Jahve mi to skryl, nic mi neohlásil.“ 28Ona řekla: „Což jsem svého pána žádala o syna? Neříkala jsem ti, abys mě nešálil?“ 29Elizeus řekl Gechazimu: „Opásej si bedra, vezmi do ruky mou hůl a jdi! Potkáš-li někoho, nepozdravíš ho, a pozdraví-li tě někdo, neodpovíš mu. Vztáhneš nad chlapce mou hůl.“ 30Ale chlapcova matka řekla: „Jako že žije Jahve a jako že žiješ ty sám, neopustím tě.“ Tu vstal a šel za ní. 31Gechazi je předešel a vztáhl hůl nad chlapce, ale nebylo hlasu ani odezvy. Šel nazpět Elizeovi naproti a oznámil mu toto: „Chlapec se nevzbudil.“ 32Elizeus přišel do domu; tam byl mrtvý chlapec a ležel na jeho vlastním loži. 33On vešel, za oběma zavřel dveře a modlil se k Jahvovi. 34Pak vystoupil na lože, natáhl se na chlapce, položil svá ústa na jeho ústa, své oči na jeho oči, své ruce na jeho ruce, skrčil se na něho a chlapcovo tělo se zahřálo. 35Pak opět začal chodit sem a tam po domě, potom opět vyšel nahoru a opět se na něho skrčil, takto sedmkrát: tu chlapec kýchl a otevřel oči. 36On zavolal Gechaziho a řekl mu: „Přiveď tu hodnou Šunamitku.“ On ji zavolal. Když k němu přišla, řekl: „Vezmi si svého syna.“ 37Vešla, padla mu k nohám, klaněla se až k zemi, pak si vzala syna a odešla. 38Když byl v zemi hlad, vrátil se Elizeus do Gilgalu. Jelikož před ním seděli bratři proroci, řekl svému služebníkovi: „Postav na oheň ten velký hrnec a uvař pro bratry proroky polévku.“ 39Jeden z nich vyšel do polí, aby nasbíral nějaké byliny, našel jakési divoké šlahouny a natrhal si z nich plné šaty tykvic. Vrátil se a nakrájel je na kousky do hrnce s polévkou, protože nevěděl, co to je. 40Nalili mužům k jídlu. Ale oni, sotvaže tu polévku okusili, hned zakřičeli: „Boží muži! V tom hrnci je smrt!“ A nemohli jíst. 41Tu Elizeus řekl: „Dobrá, přineste mouku.“ Hodil ji do hrnce a řekl: „Nalej mužům, a ať jedí.“ - V hrnci už nebylo nic špatného. 42Jakýsi muž přišel z Baal-Šališi a přinesl Božímu muži chléb prvotin, dvacet ječných chlebů a čerstvé zrní v klasu. On přikázal: „Dej to mužům, a ať se najedí.“ 43Ale jeho služebník odpověděl: „Jak bych tím obsloužil sto lidí?“ On pokračoval: „Dej to mužům, a ať se najedí, neboť Jahve promluvil takto: ‘Bude se jíst a ještě zbude.’“ 44Obsloužil je, oni se najedli a ještě podle Jahvova slova zbylo.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ELISHA AUGMENTS THE WIDOW'S OIL. (
2Kgs 4:1-7)
there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets--They were allowed to marry as well as the priests and Levites. Her husband, not enjoying the lucrative profits of business, had nothing but a professional income, which, in that irreligious age, would be precarious and very scanty, so that he was not in a condition to provide for his family.
the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen--By the enactment of the law, a creditor was entitled to claim the person and children of the insolvent debtor, and compel them to serve him as bondmen till the year of jubilee should set them free.
2 a pot--or cruet of oil. This comprising her whole stock of domestic utensils, he directs her to borrow empty vessels not a few; then, secluding herself with her children, [the widow] was to pour oil from her cruse into the borrowed vessels, and, selling the oil, discharge the debt, and then maintain herself and family with the remainder.
6 the oil stayed--that is, ceased to multiply; the benevolent object for which the miracle had been wrought having been accomplished.
8 PROMISES A SON TO THE SHUNAMMITE. (
2Kgs 4:8-17)
Elisha passed to Shunem--now Sulam, in the plain of Esdraelon, at the southwestern base of Little Hermon. The prophet, in his journey, was often entertained here by one of its pious and opulent inhabitants.
10 Let us make a little chamber--not build, but prepare it. She meant a room in the oleah, the porch, or gateway (
2Sam 18:33;
1Kgs 17:19), attached to the front of the house, leading into the court and inner apartments. The front of the house, excepting the door, is a dead wall, and hence this room is called a chamber in the wall. It is usually appropriated to the use of strangers, or lodgers for a night, and, from its seclusion, convenient for study or retirement.
13 what is to be done for thee?--Wishing to testify his gratitude for the hospitable attentions of this family, he announced to her the birth of a son "about this time next year." The interest and importance of such an intelligence can only be estimated by considering that Oriental women, and Jewish in particular, connect ideas of disgrace with barrenness, and cherish a more ardent desire for children than women in any other part of the world (
Gen 18:10-
Gen 18:15).
19 RAISES HER DEAD SON. (2Ki. 4:18-37)
My head, my head!--The cries of the boy, the part affected, and the season of the year, make it probable that he had been overtaken by a stroke of the sun. Pain, stupor, and inflammatory fever are the symptoms of the disease, which is often fatal.
22 she called unto her husband--Her heroic concealment of the death from her husband is not the least interesting feature of the story.
24 Drive, and go forward--It is usual for women to ride on asses, accompanied by a servant, who walks behind and drives the beast with his stick, goading the animal at the speed required by his mistress. The Shunammite had to ride a journey of five or six hours to the top of Carmel.
26 And she answered, It is well--Her answer was purposely brief and vague to Gehazi, for she reserved a full disclosure of her loss for the ear of the prophet himself. She had met Gehazi at the foot of the hill, and she stopped not in her ascent till she had disburdened her heavy-laden spirit at Elisha's feet. The violent paroxysm of grief into which she fell on approaching him, appeared to Gehazi an act of disrespect to his master; he was preparing to remove her when the prophet's observant eye perceived that she was overwhelmed with some unknown cause of distress. How great is a mother's love! how wondrous are the works of Providence! The Shunammite had not sought a son from the prophet--her child was, in every respect, the free gift of God. Was she then allowed to rejoice in the possession for a little, only to be pierced with sorrow by seeing the corpse of the cherished boy? Perish, doubt and unbelief! This event happened that "the works of God should be made manifest" in His prophet, "and for the glory of God."
29 take my staff . . . and lay . . . upon the face of the child--The staff was probably an official rod of a certain form and size. Necromancers used to send their staff with orders to the messengers to let it come in contact with nothing by the way that might dissipate or destroy the virtue imparted to it. Some have thought that Elisha himself entertained similar ideas, and was under an impression that the actual application of his staff would serve as well as the touch of his hand. But this is an imputation dishonorable to the character of the prophet. He wished to teach the Shunammite, who obviously placed too great dependence upon him, a memorable lesson to look to God. By sending his servant forward to lay his staff on the child, he raised [the Shunammite's] expectations, but, at the same time, taught her that his own help was unavailing--"there was neither voice, nor hearing." The command, to salute no man by the way, showed the urgency of the mission, not simply as requiring the avoidance of the tedious and unnecessary greetings so common in the East (
Luke 10:1), but the exercise of faith and prayer. The act of Gehazi was allowed to fail, in order to free the Shunammite, and the people of Israel at large, of the superstitious notion of supposing a miraculous virtue resided in any person, or in any rod, and to prove that it was only through earnest prayer and faith in the power of God and for His glory that this and every miracle was to be performed.
34 lay upon the child, &c.--(see
1Kgs 17:21;
Acts 20:10). Although this contact with a dead body would communicate ceremonial uncleanness, yet, in performing the great moral duties of piety and benevolence, positive laws were sometimes dispensed with, particularly by the prophets.
35 the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes--These were the first acts of restored respiration, and they are described as successive steps. Miracles were for the most part performed instantaneously; but sometimes, also, they were advanced progressively towards completion (
1Kgs 18:44-45;
Mark 8:24-
Mark 8:25).
38 PURIFIES DEADLY POTTAGE. (
2Kgs 4:38-41)
there was a dearth in the land--(see on
2Kgs 8:1).
the sons of the prophets were sitting before him--When receiving instruction, the scholars sat under their masters. This refers to their being domiciled under the same roof (compare
2Kgs 6:1).
Set on the great pot--As it is most likely that the Jewish would resemble the Egyptian "great pot," it is seen by the monumental paintings to have been a large goblet, with two long legs, which stood over the fire on the floor. The seethed pottage consisted of meat cut into small pieces, mixed with rice or meal and vegetables.
39 went out into the field to gather herbs--Wild herbs are very extensively used by the people in the East, even by those who possess their own vegetable gardens. The fields are daily searched for mallow, asparagus, and other wild plants.
wild vine--literally, "the vine of the field," supposed to be the colocynth, a cucumber, which, in its leaves, tendrils, and fruit, bears a strong resemblance to the wild vine. The "gourds," or fruit, are of the color and size of an orange bitter to the taste, causing colic, and exciting the nerves, eaten freely they would occasion such a derangement of the stomach and bowels as to be followed by death. The meal which Elisha poured into the pot was a symbolic sign that the noxious quality of the herbs was removed.
lap full--The hyke, or large cloak, is thrown loosely over the left shoulder and fastened under the right arm, so as to form a lap or apron.
43 SATISFIES A HUNDRED MEN WITH TWENTY LOAVES. (
2Kgs 4:42-44)
They shall eat, and shall leave thereof--This was not a miracle of Elisha, but only a prediction of one by the word of the Lord. Thus it differed widely from those of Christ (
Matt 15:37;
Mark 8:8;
Luke 9:17;
John 6:12).
