2 Kings 4:8-20

8One day, Elisha went to Shunem. A rich woman lived there. She asked Elisha to eat a meal with her family. So every time that he went near her house, he stopped there to eat a meal.

9Then the woman said to her husband, ‘Listen! I believe that this man who often eats with us is a holy man who serves God.

10We should make a small room on the roof of our house for him. We can put a bed, a table, a chair and a lamp in the room. Then, when he comes to visit us, he can stay there.’

11One day, Elisha came to Shunem again. He went up to the room on the roof. He lay down to rest there.

12He told Gehazi, his servant, ‘Ask the woman to come here.’ So Gehazi did that. The woman came and she stood in front of Elisha.

13Elisha said to Gehazi, ‘Say to her, “You have done a lot to take care of us. So what can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king, or to the officer who leads the army?” ’ The woman replied, ‘I live here safely among my own people.’

14But Elisha asked Gehazi again, ‘What can we do to help her?’ Gehazi said, ‘She has no son. But her husband is an old man.’

15Elisha said, ‘Ask her to come here.’ When Gehazi did that, she came and she stood near the door.

16Elisha said to her, ‘About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.’ The woman said, ‘No, my master! You are a man of God. Please do not tell me lies.’

17But the woman did become pregnant. At that time next year she gave birth to a son. Elisha had said that this would happen.

18One day, when the child was older, he went out to see his father. His father was working in a field with his men at harvest time.

19He said to his father, ‘My head is hurting! Yes, it hurts!’ His father said to a servant, ‘Carry the boy to his mother.’

20So the servant lifted him up and he carried him to his mother. The boy sat on his mother's knees until midday. Then he died.