2 Kings 4:18–37

Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son

¹⁸When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. ¹⁹And he said to his father, “Oh, ⁿmy head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” ²⁰And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. ²¹And she went up ^oand laid him on the bed of the ^gman of God and shut the door behind him and went out. ²²Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to ^gthe man of God and come back again.” ²³And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither ^pnew moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” ²⁴Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” ²⁵So she set out and came to the man of God ^qat Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. ²⁶Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “All is well.” ²⁷And when she came ^rto the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” ²⁸Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? ^sDid I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’ ” ²⁹He said to Gehazi, ^t“Tie up your garment and ^utake my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, ^vdo not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And ^ulay my staff on the face of the child.” ³⁰Then the mother of the child said, ^w“As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. ³¹Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child ^xhas not awakened.”

³²When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. ³³So he went in and ^yshut the door behind the two of them ^zand prayed to the Lord. ³⁴Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as ^ahe stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. ³⁵Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up ^aand stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. ³⁶Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” ³⁷She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. ^bThen she picked up her son and went out.