Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 4
Elisha had prayed and God had started to answer his prayer. The body of the boy, who had been dead for several hours, was becoming warm. Perhaps that meant that blood had started to flow through the body again.
Elijah had taught Elisha how to pray. Elijah did not pray weak prayers; he prayed in a firm and definite manner. He expected God to answer his prayers. Sometimes, he prayed about the same matter over a long period of time (James 5:17-18). God showed Elijah by his Spirit what prayers God wanted him to pray. So when God did not answer those prayers at once, Elijah repeated the same prayers (1 Kings 17:21, 19:10 and 19:14).
So Elisha too knew that he must not give up. It was clear to him that God wanted the boy to live (4:16; 4:28). He moved away from the boy, probably to give his complete attention to God in prayer. Then, after some time, he returned to the boy and carried out the same actions as previously.
That was when the boy became alive again. He seemed to need to clear something from his head before he could open his eyes. When he at last opened his eyes, he had recovered. God had given him back his life.
Elisha called his servant, who called the boy’s mother. What God had done for the boy, astonished her. She lowered her body to the ground to show her deep respect to Elisha as God’s servant.
We shall read about a later event in the lives of this woman and her son in 2 Kings 8:1-6.
Next part: A meal for the sons of the prophets at Gilgal (2 Kings 4:38)
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