2 Kings 4:8-37

8One day when Elisha passed through Shunem, where there was a prominent woman who persuaded him to eat some food. And so it was, whenever he passed through, he would stop for a meal.

9Then she said to her husband, “Behold now, I realize that this man who often passes through is a holy man of God.

10Please, let’s make a little walled room on the roof, and let’s put there a bed, a table, a chair, and a lampstand for him. Then whenever he comes to us, he can stay there.”

11One day he came there, and retired to the upper chamber and lay down there.

12Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him.

13He said to him, “Tell her: Behold, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can be done for you? Can something be communicated to the king or to the commander of the army for you?” She answered, “I am living among my own people.”

14So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” Then Gehazi answered, “In fact, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

15“Call her,” he said. And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

16Then he said, “At this season next year, you will be embracing a son.” But she said, “No, my lord, do not lie to your handmaid, man of God.”

17Nevertheless, the woman conceived and bore a son during that season the following year, just as Elisha had told her.

18Now when the child was grown, one day he went out to his father among the reapers.

19Then he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

20So he picked him up and brought him to his mother. The child sat on her lap until noon, and then died.

21She then went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door on him and went out.

22Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys that I may run to the man of God and come back.”

23But he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither New Moon nor Shabbat.” But she said, “It will be well.”

24Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Move on! Don’t slow down riding unless I tell you.”

25So she set out and came near the man of God at Mount Carmel. Upon seeing her from a distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite.

26Please, run now to meet her and ask her: ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the boy?’” She answered, “It is well.”

27But when she arrived at the mountain, up to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. Then Gehazi stepped forward to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is bitter within her, yet Adonai has hid it from me and has not told me.”

28“Did I ask my lord for a son?” she said. “Didn’t I say, ‘Don’t deceive me’?”

29Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, don’t greet him. Or if anyone greets you, don’t answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the child.”

30But the mother of the child said, “As Adonai lives and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So he arose and followed her.

31Gehazi passed on ahead of them and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or response. So he returned to meet him and told him, saying, “The boy has not awakened.”

32When Elisha entered the house, there was the child, dead and laying on his bed.

33So he entered and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to Adonai.

34Then he got up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself upon him. So the flesh of the child became warm.

35Then he stepped down and walked in the house to and fro, and then he got up on the bed and stretched himself on him. The child sneezed seven times, then the child opened his eyes.

36He then called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her. When she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”

37She came, fell at his feet and bowed down to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.