Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 4:27
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, Let her alone; for her soul [is] vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid [it] from me, and hath not told me.
27. to the hill ] Elisha had been standing on a height which enabled him to command a view of the road for some distance.
she caught him by the feet ] She fell down, and clung to his feet in the attitude of humblest supplication. Cf. Mat 18:29, where the servant adopts this suppliant posture when appealing to his fellow for mercy.
Gehazi came near to thrust her away ] The word in other places indicates a considerable degree of force. The servant thought that the dignity of his master was not sufficiently regarded by the Shunammite, and would have taken her away.
The Lord hath hid it from me ] We need not conclude from these words that the prophet expected to be warned supernaturally concerning those who were likely to come to seek his help. We know from other instances that the prophets were in many cases no more enlightened than others. In 2Sa 7:3, Nathan bids David do all that is in his heart for the Lord is with him. But presently he is sent to inform the king that God will not give him leave to build the temple, as he wished. The family at Shunem had been made by the prophet a subject of intercession with the Lord. It is therefore not unnatural that Elisha should consider that their misfortunes might be specially announced. We must suppose that, after her grief had spent somewhat of its force, she opens it to Elisha, and follows her narration with the words of the next verse.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
She caught him by the feet – To lay hold of the knees or feet has always been thought in the East to add force to supplication, and is practiced even at the present day. Compare Mat 18:29; Joh 11:32.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. The Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.] In reference to this point he had not now the discernment of spirits. This, and the gift of prophecy, were influences which God gave and suspended as his infinite wisdom saw good.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
She caught him by the feet; she fell at his feet, and touched them, as a most humble and earnest suppliant. Compare 1Sa 25:24; Mat 28:9. Withal, she intimated, what she durst not presume to express in words, that she desired him to go along with her. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; judging this posture indecent for her, and offensive to his master.
Let her alone, for her soul is vexed within her; disturb her not, for this uncouth gesture is a sign of some extraordinary grief.
The Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me; whereby he signifies that what he knew or did was not by any virtue inherent and abiding in himself, but only from God, who revealed to him only what and when he pleased. Compare 2Sa 7:3.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when she came to the man of God to the hill,…. To the top of it:
she caught him by the feet; in reverence to him, and as a supplicant, she prostrated herself at his feet, and, out of affection to him, caught hold on them, and held them fast, and determined not to leave him until he had promised to go with her, see Mt 28:9. It was usual with the Jews to lay hold on and kiss the feet or knees of those to whom they did homage, or made supplication, see Mt 28:9.
[See comments on Lu 7:38], and so with the Greeks, as may be observed in various passages in Homer y and others:
but Gehazi came near to thrust her away; as being troublesome and disagreeable to his master, and not for her honour and credit:
and the man of God said, let her alone, for her soul is vexed within her; or “is bitter” z, full of trouble and distress, and knows not what to do, nor very well what she does:
and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me: what is the cause of this her trouble; for prophets did not know things of themselves, nor had they the vision of prophecy at their will and pleasure, but according to the will of God.
y Vid. Barthium ad Claudian. de Raptu Proserpin. l. 1. ver. 50. z “amara”, Pagninus, Montanus, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) To the hill.Probably to the summit.
She caught him by the feet.She laid hold of (clasped) his feet. Assuming the posture of an humble and urgent suppliant, and no doubt pouring out a flood of passionate entreaties for help.
But (and) Gehazi came near to thrust her away.He thought her vehemence a trespass upon the dignity of his master. (Comp. Mat. 19:13; Joh. 4:27.)
The Lord hath hid it from me.Supernatural knowledge of every event was not a characteristic of the gift of prophecy. (Comp. 2Sa. 7:3 seq. for a somewhat similar case of ignorance on the part of a prophet.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. She caught him by the feet “This scene is natural and very graphic. If you ask after a person whom you know to be sick, the reply at first will invariably be, Well, thank God, even when the very next sentence is to inform you that he is dying. Then the falling down, clasping the feet, etc., are actions witnessed every day. I have had this done to me often before I could prevent it. So, also, the officious zeal of the wicked Gehazi, who would thrust the broken-hearted mother away, probably thinking her touch pollution, agrees perfectly with what we know of the man and of the customs of the East.” Thomson.
The Lord hath hid it from me The prophets were not always illumined with the gift of foresight or of vision. They were not always “in the Spirit.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
This is a most interesting part of the narrative. It is here rising to a great degree of earnestness. Her whole soul was in action, and the body participated, as is evident in catching hold of the prophet. Not in anger, as Gehazi thought; but in love, as Elisha well interpreted by her looks. And her words vehemently spoke it in the most fervent pleading. What she said strongly expressed her faith that even now, unpromising as matters appeared, that gracious God who gave a son so contrary to all her expectations, could as easily give him to her again. Did I desire a son? Was this blessing first in my thoughts? Was it not in God’s? And did God raise my expectations, and then so suddenly blast them? Surely this can never be in the plan of him whose counsel shall stand, and who will do all his pleasure. Isa 46:13 . Reader! oh that you and I had grace to exercise such lively faith in Jesus? May we not, with infinitely greater reason, as to the foundation of our faith, may we not say; Did we desire a Saviour? Did we first ask this unspeakable gift of our God? Did we even know that we needed a Saviour? Nay, did we not stand out long, very long, after the blessed, precious gift was given, against all his gracious calls; and in actions, if not in words, say, We will not have man to reign over us? Now then, when he by his Holy Spirit hath conquered our stubborn nature, and made us willing in the day of his power; shall we fear or doubt his love? Did God our Father raise such glorious hopes of salvation; and will he now disappoint them? Oh! precious Jesus! I would gather a lesson from the Shunammite’s faith; and as she caught thy servant the prophet by the feet, so Lord would I lay hold of thee while I lie at thy feet, and never, no never, let thee go until that thou bless me.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 4:27 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, Let her alone; for her soul [is] vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid [it] from me, and hath not told me.
Ver. 27. She caught him by the feet. ] Which she held fast, to show the instance of her request, and the strength of her confidence, together with her firm resolution, not to leave him till she had that she came for, as 2Ki 4:30 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
her soul = herself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
vexed = bitter.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
vexed
Heb. “bitter.” 1Sa 1:10.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
him by the feet: Heb. by his feet, Mat 28:9, Luk 7:38
thrust: Mat 15:23, Mat 20:31, Mar 10:13, Joh 4:27, Joh 12:4-6
Let her alone: Mar 14:6, Joh 12:7
vexed: Heb. bitter, 1Sa 1:10, Job 10:1, Pro 14:10, Pro 18:14
hid it from me: 2Ki 6:12, Gen 18:17, 2Sa 7:3, Amo 3:7, Joh 15:15
Reciprocal: Jos 1:1 – Moses’ minister 1Sa 30:6 – grieved 1Ki 1:27 – and thou 1Ki 12:22 – General 1Ki 14:5 – the Lord 2Ki 4:37 – fell at his feet 2Ki 6:9 – thither the Syrians Est 8:3 – fell Job 3:20 – the bitter Job 7:11 – the anguish Job 27:2 – vexed my soul Psa 109:22 – and my Pro 31:6 – of heavy hearts Isa 38:15 – in the Heb 11:35 – Women
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 4:27. She caught him by the feet After the manner of a most humble and earnest supplicant; intimating, what she did not dare to express in words, that she desired him to go along with her. Gehazi came near to thrust her away Either thinking she was rude, and made too free with the prophet; or knowing his master did not expect such abasement, especially from her who had been so kind and friendly to them, and that he would not be pleased to see her lie at his feet, Gehazi would have raised her up. The man of God said, Let her alone Disturb her not, for this gesture is a sign of some extraordinary grief. And the Lord hath hid it from me God hath not shown me the cause of it. By this he signifies, that what he knew or did, was not by any virtue inherent in himself, but from God, who revealed to him only what he pleased, and when he pleased.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she {o} caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul [is] vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid [it] from me, and hath not told me.
(o) In token of humility and joy that she had met with him.