Gehazi's Story of the Woman's Son Restored to Life
Gehazi, whose name means "valley of sight" [3], served as the attendant to the prophet Elisha. He is prominently featured in several narratives within the book of 2 Kings, including the restoration of the Shunammite woman's son to life [4]. This particular event is recounted in 2 Kings 4, where Elisha raises the child from the dead after he suddenly dies [9].
Later, in 2 Kings 8, Gehazi appears before King Joram, relating the "great things which Elisha had done" [4]. At this precise moment, as Gehazi was describing how Elisha had restored the dead son to life, the very woman whose son had been revived appeared before the king to appeal for her house and land [1, 2]. Gehazi identified her to the king, stating, "My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life" [1, 2].
This convergence of events is noted by various commentators as providential. Adam Clarke suggests that this timing was a "very providential occurrence" for the Shunammite woman, as Gehazi's account was immediately corroborated by the woman herself, prompting the king to order the restoration of her property [6]. John Gill similarly highlights the instantaneous nature of the woman's petition coinciding with Gehazi's narrative, emphasizing that Gehazi was speaking of "the very person" who then appeared [5]. Keil & Delitzsch also observe that the king was specifically asking Gehazi about Elisha's deeds, and Gehazi was in the midst of recounting the Shunammite's son's resurrection when she arrived [7].
Gehazi's role in Elisha's ministry was significant, serving as his messenger on at least two occasions to the Shunammite woman [4]. However, his story is also marked by a significant moral failing. In 2 Kings 5, Gehazi fraudulently obtained money and garments from Naaman, the Syrian general whom Elisha had healed of leprosy [4, 10]. Elisha had refused any reward from Naaman, but Gehazi, driven by greed, secretly pursued Naaman and lied to him to acquire gifts [4]. As a consequence of this act, Gehazi was miraculously afflicted with incurable leprosy and was dismissed from Elisha's service [4].
Despite this severe punishment and dismissal, Gehazi is still found in the presence of King Joram in 2 Kings 8, recounting Elisha's miracles [4]. This raises questions about his status and the timeline of events. The Babylonian Talmud, in Sanhedrin 107b.10, discusses Gehazi's story, noting that Elisha was teaching about impure creeping animals when Naaman, a leper, came to him [8]. This rabbinic tradition focuses on the context of Naaman's healing and Gehazi's subsequent actions.
The narrative of Gehazi's later appearance before the king, after his leprosy, suggests that the events in 2 Kings are not always presented in strict chronological order. His presence at court, detailing Elisha's miracles, indicates that he still held some knowledge or connection to the prophet's deeds, even if he was no longer in Elisha's direct service. The account serves to highlight divine providence in the timing of the Shunammite woman's appeal, ensuring her property was restored through a direct witness to Elisha's power [6].
Sources
- 2 Kings “As he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.” -- 2 Kings 8:5”
- II Kings “II Kings 8:5 (KJV) — And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Gehazi — valley of sight”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gehazi — (valley of vision), the servant or boy of Elisha. He was sent as the prophet's messenger on two occasions to the good Shunammite, (2 Kings 4:1) ... (B.C. 889-887); obtained fraudulently money and garments from Naaman, was miraculously smitten with incurable leprosy, and was dismissed from the prophet's service. (2 Kings 5:1) ... Later in the history he is mentioned as being engaged in relating to King Joram all the great things which Elisha had done. (2 Kings 8:4,5)”
- 2 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Kings 8:5: And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life,.... Which was the Shunammite's son: that, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life cried to the king for her house, and for her land; came and presented her petition to the king at that very instant: and Gehazi said, my lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life; the very person I am speaking of.”
- 2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 8:5: This is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life - This was a very providential occurrence in behalf of the Shunammite. The relation given by Gehazi was now corroborated by the woman herself; the king was duly affected, and gave immediate orders for the restoration of her land.”
- 2 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Kings 8:4: And just at that time the king was asking Gehazi to relate to him the great things that Elisha had done; and among these he was giving an account of the restoration of the Shunammite's son to life.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 107b.10: Rabbi Yitzḥak says: This was the incident involving Gehazi: At that moment, Elisha was sitting and teaching the halakhot of the eight impure creeping animals. Now Naaman, the general of the army of Aram, was a leper. A certain young Jewish woman who had been taken captive from Eretz Yisrael said to him: If you go to Elisha, he will heal you. When Naaman came to him, Elisha said to him: Go immerse in the Jordan. Naaman said to him: Are you mocking me by suggesting that this will cure me? Those companions who were with Naaman said to him: What is the differe”
- 1 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 17:17: We have here a further recompence made to the widow for her kindness to the prophet; as if it were a small thing to be kept alive, her son, when dead, is restored to life, and so restored to her. Observe, I. The sickness and death of the child. For aught that appears he was her only son, the comfort of her widowed estate. He was fed miraculously, and yet that did not secure him from sickness and death. Your fathers did eat manna, and are dead, but there is bread of which a man may eat and not die, which was given for the life of the world, Joh 6:49, Joh 6:50. Th”
- 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 5 (introduction): Two more of Elisha's miracles are recorded in this chapter. I. The cleansing of Naaman, a Syrian, a stranger, from his leprosy, and there, 1. The badness of his case (Kg2 5:1). 2. The providence that brought him to Elisha, the intelligence given him by a captive maid (Kg2 5:2-4). A letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel, to introduce him (Kg2 5:5-7). And the invitation Elisha sent him (Kg2 5:8). 3. The method prescribed for his cure, his submission, with much ado, to that method, and his cure thereby (Kg2 5:9-14). 4. The grateful acknowle”