II Kings 04 The Shunammite and Her Son

 II Kings 04

The Shunammite and Her Son

8 Now it came to pass one day, that Elisha went to Shunem; and there was a great woman there, and she kept him to eat bread: and it came to pass, that whenever he passed by, he would go there to eat bread.

9 And she said to her husband, Behold, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

10 Let us make him a little chamber by the wall, and put there for him a bed, and a table, and a chair, and a candle: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he will retire thither.

11 And it came to pass one day, that he came thither, and went into the chamber, and lay down there.

12 And he said to his servant Gehazi, Call this Shunammite. And he called her, and she stood before him.

13 For she had said unto him, Say unto her, Behold, thou hast dealt very kindly with us: What shall be done for you? Is there anything to be said for you to the king or to the commander of the army?” She said, “I live among my people.”

14 Then he said, “What then shall be done for her?” Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”

15 So he said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood at the door.

16 And he said, “At this set time, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.”

17 And the woman conceived and bore a son at the set time, according to the time of life that Elisha had told her.

18 And the child grew, and it came to pass one day that he went out to his father, who was with the reapers.

19 And she said to her father, “Woe to my head! Won’t you lie to your servant?” Then she said to a young man, “Carry him to his mother.” 

20 So he took him and carried him to his mother, and he lay on her knees until noon, and then he died. 

21 Then she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door on him and went out.

 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, so that I may run to the man of God and bring him back.” 

23 He said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither a new moon nor a Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” 

24 So she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Drive on and go; do not stop until I tell you.”

 25 So she went and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite.”

 26 Now therefore run to meet her, and say to her, Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your son? And she said, Is it well.

27 And she came to the man of God at the mountain, and took hold of his feet; but Gehazi came near to take her away. But the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is grieved with bitterness within her, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

28 And she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? said I not, Do not deceive me?

29 And he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the lad.

30 And the lad's mother said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So he arose, and followed her.

 31 Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid his staff on the boy's face, but there was no voice or sense in him. So he went back to meet him and told him, "The boy did not wake up."

 32 When Elisha came to the house, behold, the boy was lying dead on his bed. 

33 So he went in and shut the door on them both and prayed to the Lord. 

34 Then he went up and lay on the boy, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself on him, and the boy's flesh became warm. 

35 Then he went back and walked up and down the house, and went up again and stretched himself on him. Then the boy sneezed seven times, and the boy opened his eyes. 

36 Then he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her, and she came to him. And he said, Take thy son.

37 And she came and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took her son, and went out.