Bible Commentaries

husband = man. Hebrew "ish. App-14.

bondmen. Compare Leviticus 25:39 and Nehemiah 5:5.

borrow not a few = scant not.

who brought = they bringing.

she poured out. Elisha's fifth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

debt = creditor.

children = sons.

Shunem. In the plain of Esdraelon. The native place of Abishag (1 Kings 1:3).

great = wealthy, or a person of position (2 Samuel 19:32).

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

chamber = upper chamber, or wall-chamber.

candlestick = lampstand. Very little furniture used in the East to-day.

servant = young man.

careful . . . care. Figure of speech Polyptoton = exceedingly careful.

spoken for to the king. This confidence in his influence with the king is accounted for by the miraculous aid recently given by Elisha in 2 Kings 3:16-19.

door = entrance.

of life, or of spring. Read "that season about the time of spring of which Klisha had said unto her". The sixth miracle. Compare 2 Kings 2:15.

child = progeny.

now. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "now therefore".

her soul = herself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

vexed = bitter.

deceive = cajole.

said. In what Elisha said the signs given are put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the things symbolized by them.

salute him not. Idiom. The salutation being ceremonial and taking time.

child. Hebrew. na"ar = youth.

thy soul = thou.

Take up thy son. The seventh miracle (2 Kings 2:15).

wild vine: i.e. a plant with vine-like tendrils. Not the grape, but probably the colocynth.

death. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for that which causes death.

no harm = no evil thing. Elisha's eighth miracle Compare 2 Kings 2:15.

servitor = attendant. Old English = one who serves.

an hundred men. Elisha's ninth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15. One of three (App-10) miracles of feeding multitudes. Compare Matthew 14:20; Matthew 15:34.