Ver. 1. Now there cried a certain woman.] Here we have miraculorum congeriem. In this fourth chapter four signal miracles are set forth done by Elisha, worthily called Thaumaturgus, or, the wonder worker. Unto Elisha.] Who had so lately relieved the three kings in their necessity, and therefore she believed that he both could and would help her, a distressed prophet’s widow. Thy servant my husband is dead.] And died in debt; which he needed not to have done, if he would have complied with Jezebel, and fed on her trough, as others did; but he chose rather to keep faith and a good conscience, as Luther did, who refused a cardinalship when it was offered him; and when he lay a-dying, made his will for his wife and children on this manner, Domine Deus, gratias ago tibi quid volueris me esse pauperem super terrain et mendicum, &c. Lord God, I thank thee for my present poverty, and now, I pray thee, take care of my poor wife and children, to whom I cannot bequeath house, lands, possessions, moneys. But I humbly beseech thee to feed them, breed them, teach them, keep them, as thou hitherto hast done me, O Father of the fatherless, and Judge of the widows. Thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord.] The Rabbis and some others have thought that this was good Obadiah’s widow, and that he, by feeding the Lord’s prophets in those perilous times, had spent his estate, and died indebted to the king, to whose father he had been steward. But this is not very likely.
Ver. 2. What shall I do for thee?] Pay thy debts for thee I cannot; but if any way else I may bestead thee, I shall do it. What hast thou in the house?] viz., Toward the payment of thy debts, which thou oughtest to endeavour to thine utmost. Thy handmaid hath not anything.] Of any value. Hereby it appeareth that she was left very poor, yet speaketh she very respectfully of her late husband all along.
Ver. 3. Even empty vessels.] They must be empty hearts, saith Bernard; empty of self, and all ungodly lusts, which God will fill with the oil of grace: Intus existens prohibet alienum, else that precious liquor would be spilt upon the ground. Borrow not a few.] Ne paucifices. Let not men be constrained in their own heart; there is enough in God.
Ver. 4. Thou shalt shut the door upon thee.] It was time to shut the door, saith a reverend man, when many greater vessels must be supplied from one little one. But why must the door be shut? (1.) That she might be the more free to pray; (Matthew 6:6) (2.) That she might manifest her own faith, and not be hindered by the unbelief of others; [see Mark 6:5,6] (3.) That it might not be thought that the oil was by anybody secretly conveyed into the house to them.
Ver. 5. And shut the door, &c.] This her prompt and present obedience was a noble fruit of her heroical faith. She doth not reason, as Naaman did, but run; she doth not dispute, but despatch the prophet’s commands. God loveth Curristas non Quaeristas, saith Luther. And she poured out.] And the more she poured out, the more she might; the angels making new supplies of oil continually, saith A Lapide.
Ver. 6. There is not a vessel more.] The cruse never ceased running, till there was no room; so elsewhere God never ceased abating, till Abraham stopped begging.
Ver. 7. And live thou and thy children of the rest.] This was more than she desired of the prophet. God is oft better to his people than their prayers, than their hopes. Men must likewise see to it, that their ministers’ widows and children have a comfortable subsistence.
Ver. 8. That Elisha passed to Shunem.] Abishag’s country. (1 Kings 1:3) See Joshua 19:18. And the Rabbins say that this good Shunammite was Abishag’s sister’s daughter. Where was a great woman.] Great in wealth, and great also in virtue, as the Chaldee understandeth it. Cavens sibi a peccato. -Chald. Paraph.
Ver. 9. Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man.] Holiness will as little be hid as light, fire, musk, &c. A holy man is like a crystai glass with a clear lamp in the midst of it. Which passeth by us continually.] Shunem was not far from mount Carmel; and this prophet went still about doing good.
Ver. 10. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall.] Where he may be privately, and without disturbance. She knew the tumult of a large family, unfit for the quiet meditations of a prophet; retiredness is most meet for the thoughts of a seer.
Ver. 11. And he turned into the chamber, and lay there.] To the great benefit, no doubt, of the whole family, who received many divine instructions from him, and were much helped on by his prayers and holy practices.
Ver. 12. Call this Shunammite.] Gehazi it seemeth was sent to call her, but withal to acquaint her with the business, -viz., that if she had any suit to the king or his general, &c., -and to bring back her answer; whereupon consulting with Gehazi what was to be done for her, and understanding by him that she had no child, Elisha bade Gehazi call her, as 2 Kings 4:15.