Verse 21
21. He stretched himself upon the child three times This procedure should be compared with Elisha’s in raising the son of the Shunammite woman, (2 Kings 4:34, note,) and Paul’s in restoring Eutychus, (Acts 20:10.) Elijah had no power, like Christ, to raise the dead by a single word of command; (Luke 7:14; Luke 8:54; John 11:43;) but confident that God would, through his agency, bring the child’s soul back again, he resorts to every rational means, and prays with greatest fervency for the desired result. Three was a sacred number; and the prophet’s thrice stretching himself upon the child was in keeping with the threefold form of daily prayer among the pious Israelites, (Psalms 55:17, Daniel 6:10,) and the threefold benediction of the high priest. Numbers 6:23.
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