◄ 2 Kings 4:22 ►
And the woman called her husband and said, "Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may go quickly to the man of God and return."
Study Bible
And the woman called her husband
This phrase introduces the Shunammite woman, a notable figure in 2 Kings 4. Her initiative in calling her husband reflects her proactive and decisive nature. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, women typically held domestic roles, yet this woman demonstrates leadership and spiritual insight. Her actions parallel other biblical women like Deborah and Abigail, who also took decisive actions in times of need.

and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys,
The request for a servant and a donkey indicates the urgency and importance of her mission. Donkeys were common means of transportation, signifying her intent to travel quickly. The mention of a servant highlights her social status, as she had resources at her disposal. This reflects the cultural norm where wealthier families had servants to assist in daily tasks.

that I may go quickly to the man of God and return.”
The "man of God" refers to the prophet Elisha, who was known for performing miracles and serving as a conduit for God's power. Her desire to go quickly underscores her faith and urgency, as she seeks divine intervention for her son. This reflects a deep trust in God's representatives, similar to the faith shown by the centurion in Matthew 8:5-13, who also sought healing through a man of God. The Shunammite woman's journey to Elisha can be seen as a type of seeking Christ, the ultimate mediator between God and humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Shunammite Woman
A notable woman from Shunem who showed great faith and hospitality. She is central to the account, demonstrating trust in God's power through the prophet Elisha.

2. Her Husband
The Shunammite woman's husband, who is asked to provide a servant and a donkey for her urgent journey. His role highlights the cultural and familial dynamics of the time.

3. Elisha
The man of God referred to in the verse. Elisha is a prophet who performs miracles and serves as a conduit of God's power and presence.

4. Servant and Donkey
These are the means by which the Shunammite woman intends to travel quickly to Elisha, indicating her urgency and determination.

5. Shunem
A town in the territory of Issachar, where the Shunammite woman and her family reside. It serves as the starting point of her journey to seek Elisha.
Teaching Points
Faith in Action
The Shunammite woman's immediate response to seek Elisha demonstrates her active faith. Believers are encouraged to act promptly and decisively when seeking God's intervention.

The Role of Spiritual Leaders
Elisha's role as a man of God underscores the importance of spiritual guidance and mentorship in the Christian life. Believers should seek wise counsel from godly leaders.

Urgency in Spiritual Matters
The woman's urgency in reaching Elisha reflects the importance of prioritizing spiritual needs and addressing them without delay.

Family Dynamics and Faith
The interaction between the Shunammite woman and her husband highlights the importance of communication and cooperation in pursuing spiritual goals within a family.

Trust in God's Power
The account encourages believers to trust in God's power to work through His chosen instruments, whether they be prophets, pastors, or other spiritual leaders.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the Shunammite woman's response to her situation demonstrate her faith, and how can we apply this in our own lives when facing challenges?

2. In what ways does the account of the Shunammite woman and Elisha parallel other biblical accounts of faith and divine intervention?

3. What can we learn from the Shunammite woman's interaction with her husband about the role of family support in spiritual pursuits?

4. How does the urgency shown by the Shunammite woman in seeking Elisha challenge us to prioritize our spiritual needs and seek God's guidance promptly?

5. How can we identify and seek out "men of God" or spiritual leaders in our own lives to help us grow in faith and navigate difficult situations?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 17
The account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath parallels the account of Elisha and the Shunammite woman, highlighting themes of faith and divine intervention.

Hebrews 11
This chapter discusses faith, providing a broader context for understanding the Shunammite woman's actions as an example of living faith.

James 5:16-18
The power of prayer and righteous living is emphasized, connecting to the Shunammite woman's reliance on the man of God for divine help.
Sermons
Great TrialsD. Thomas 2 Kings 4:18-31
A Day in a Mother's LifeWilliam Forsyth, A. M.2 Kings 4:18-37
Concerning Accidents2 Kings 4:18-37
Death and RestorationC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 4:18-37
The Empty HomeF. S. Webster, M. A.2 Kings 4:18-37
The Lady of Shunem: 2. the Son Taken and RestoredJ. Orr 2 Kings 4:18-37
People
Elisha, Gehazi
Places
Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, Shunem
Topics
Asses, Calleth, Donkey, Donkeys, Husband, Please, Quickly, Return, Run, Servants
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 4:16-22

     5720   mothers, examples

Library
When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband! is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation

Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church

Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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