Verse 1
husband = man. Hebrew "ish. App-14.
bondmen. Compare Leviticus 25:39 and Nehemiah 5:5.
Verse 3
borrow not a few = scant not.
Verse 5
who brought = they bringing.
she poured out. Elisha"s fifth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15.
Verse 7
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
debt = creditor.
children = sons.
Verse 8
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).
Verse 9
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.
Verse 10
chamber = upper chamber, or wall-chamber.
candlestick = lampstand. Very little furniture used in the East to-day.
Verse 12
servant = young man.
Verse 13
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.
Verse 15
door = entrance.
Verse 17
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.
Verse 18
child = progeny.
Verse 26
now. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "now therefore".
Verse 27
her soul = herself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
vexed = bitter.
Verse 28
deceive = cajole.
Verse 29
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.
Verse 30
thy soul = thou.
Verse 36
Take up thy son. The seventh miracle (2 Kings 2:15).
Verse 39
wild vine: i.e. a plant with vine-like tendrils. Not the grape, but probably the colocynth.
Verse 40
death. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for that which causes death.
Verse 41
no harm = no evil thing. Elisha"s eighth miracle Compare 2 Kings 2:15.
Verse 43
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.