2 Kings 4:25 - Exposition

So she went and came unto the man of God to Mount Carmel. Carmel was to Elisha what Gilead had been to Elijah in his early days—a place for solitary retirement and meditation, where, free from disturbance, he might hold communion with nature and with God. It was not usual for his disciples to intrude upon him there, except at stated times, when gatherings were held at his residence for edification and for worship. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off —literally, over against him ; i.e. coming towards him ( ἐρχομένην , LXX .)— that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite. The prophet knew her at a distance, probably by her attire and carriage. We may gather, from her husband's words in 2 Kings 4:23 , that she was one of those who had been accustomed to attend the gatherings on new moons and sabbaths.