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favorable light on that district, which (as all other parts of the country) would be
primarily under the rule of its own eldership.
What followed is most pictorially set forth. To the question of Elisha, what there was
to be done for her, Gehazi, who certainly had keen worldly insight, replied: "Surely,
she has no son, and her husband is old." It was only a suggestion, and in this respect
also characteristic of Gehazi. But now, when it was not to be a favor asked of man,
but wondrous mercy to be granted by God, Elisha spake to the Shunammite not
through Gehazi but directly,^174 giving her the promise of what under the Old
Testament was regarded as bringing far deeper than merely a mother's joy.
And there is about her answer such air of genuineness, a mingling of hope with a not
daring to expect, and withal such absence of any legendary embellishment, that we
can almost imagine ourselves hearing her speak it, as she respectfully stands within
the shadow of the door.
It was as Elisha had said, and the Shunammite became the joyous mother of a son.
Since then years had passed, during which we have no record of Elisha's continued
visits to the "great" house, now gladdened by the voice of a child. Perhaps he no
longer, or at least, not so often, passed by; more probably Scripture, after its wont, is
silent on that which is purely personal in the history. But the child had passed
through five of the stages which Jewish affection, watching with special fondness the
opening life, has successively marked by no less than nine designations.^175 They are
so interesting that we shall here put them down. The yeled ("born," "babe"^176 ) had
successively become a yonek, or suckling, and an olel, who, no longer satisfied with
only this nourishment, asks for bread,^177 then a gamel, or weaned one, and next a
taph, one who clings to his mother.
And he had passed through this stage also, and was just entering on the stage
designated by elem, becoming firm and strong. It was the time of harvest, and the
child was going out to his father to the reapers, when the hot Eastern sun struck his
head. At his cry of pain the father bade one of the servants carry the child back to his
mother. All that long morning she pressed his aching head to her bosom, till when
the mid-day sun shot down its arrows he lay still and dead in her arms. Not a cry of
lament escaped that brave mother to tell them in the house of the terrible desolation
that had swept over it. Her resolve was taken with the rapidity and unfailing certitude
that comes of faith. To Elisha, or rather to Elisha's God! He had given; He could
restore the child. In any case she would go with her complaint, not to man, but to the
God of almighty help, and not rest satisfied with anything unless it came directly
from Him.
(^)