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But the frequency of his visits, so far from inducing familiarity, only led to increased
reverence on the part of the Shunammite. Her observation had led her to regard
Elisha as not only far different from those who at that period may sometimes have
passed as prophets, but even from ordinary sons of the prophets - even as a man of
God distinguished by holiness. All this she urged on her husband as she proposed to
make provision not only for his more proper entertainment, but for his complete
privacy. In Palestine an outside stair led up from the road to the roof of the house, so
that it was not necessary to pass through the interior of a dwelling. Part of the roof of
the house she would now surround with walls, so making an "upper chamber" of it.
This would give to the prophet at all times undisturbed, and, if he wished it,
unobserved access to, and egress from, his lodging. This was indeed thoughtful,
unselfish, and withal, respectful kindness and hospitality. The chamber thus
provided, as well as the scanty furnishing of it, may seem to our modern notions very
simple. Yet it implied the surrender by the family of the part of the house most
appreciated in the East, while the furniture, however scanty according to our ideas,
included not only more but better than was ordinarily found in the very simple
sleeping apartments of Orientals.^170 Evidently the object was to provide for a
prolonged stay on the part of the prophet, and for his complete privacy, and, as
appears from the context (v. 13), it included not only the prophet, but also his
servant.
There was such delicacy about all this "trouble" with which the Shunammite had
been "troubled"^171 for him and his servant, that Elisha, who had at first been reluctant
to accept any hospitality, now regularly availed himself of the provision for his
comfort and retirement. It was only natural that he should have thought of some
return to his hostess. Accordingly on one occasion he directed his servant Gehazi,^172
whom we here meet for the first time, to inquire of the Shunammite what service he
could render to her.
The suggestion: "Is there [ought] to be spoken for thee [is there occasion for it] to the
king or the captain of the host?" indicates a somewhat insecure state of things, as
well as a somewhat despotic order in the State when "the captain of the host" stands
ominously near to the king. At the same time it also implies the existence of better
relations between the monarch and the prophet, and so confirms the view formerly
expressed that the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, attested at almost every stage by
direct Divine manifestations, tended at least to arrest the progress of apostasy in
Israel.
The answer of the Shunammite to Gehazi:^173 "I dwell among my own people,"
manifests not only a true Israelitish spirit of frank independence, but reflects a
(^)