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2 Kings 4 · a question people ask

Didn't Elisha know what had happened?

In the text

He says he didn't. When the mother catches hold of his feet, Elisha says, "Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me" (4:27). Just before, seeing her far off, he had sent Gehazi to ask, "Is it well with your child?" (4:26). He had said, "At this season next year, you will embrace a son" (4:16), and she bore a son "as Elisha had said to her" (4:17); of the child's death he says the LORD had not told him (4:27). The chapter says no more than that.

The verses

“So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite. Please run now to meet her, and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?’” She answered, “It is well.” When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.””
2 Kings 4:25-27 · World English Bible
“He said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.” The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season when the time came around, as Elisha had said to her.”
2 Kings 4:16-17 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4: It is well

With her son dead on the man of God's bed, the Shunammite told her husband "It’s all right" (4:23) and Gehazi "It is well" (4:26): in Hebrew both are shalom. And Elisha's "At this season next year" (4:16) uses, in Hebrew, words from the LORD's promise of a son to Sarah (Genesis 18:14).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions