Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 8
We last read about this woman, and her simple trust in God (faith) in 2 Kings 4:8-37. She had no child, but God gave to her a son. The boy died; but God answered Elisha’s prayer and the boy became alive again.
She knew Elisha to be a genuine prophet, a holy man who spoke messages from God. So when Elisha warned her about the famine (serious lack of food), she believed him. She knew that this was a genuine message from God. It would be very difficult to remain in Israel during a famine that lasted for 7 years. So, she made arrangements to live abroad, as Elisha had directed her to do.
She went to Philistia, which was about 60 miles (100 kilometres) from her home at Shunem. She took her son with her. The Bible does not explain what happened to her husband. However, he was already an old man at the time of their son’s birth (4:14). So, perhaps he died before the woman and her son returned to Israel.
In the Bible, we often read about Philistia in references to its many wars against Israel. However, Philistia was also an important place of safety for people from Israel when there were troubles in Israel. Isaac went there during a famine (Genesis 26:1). David also lived there for more than a year, when Saul wanted to kill him (1 Samuel 27:1-2). He brought with him 600 men from Israel, and they lived peacefully in Philistia. They made many friends there, who remained loyal to David afterwards (2 Samuel 15:18-22). The king of Gath in Philistia gave David and his men their own village to live in, called Ziklag (1 Samuel 27:5-6).
Next part: An appeal to the king for the return of land (2 Kings 8:3)
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