In Second Kings, chapter eight, verse two, the woman demonstrated sincere faith and faithfulness to God’s prophet in a time of general apostasy, as in chapter four, verses eight through thirty-seven, the Lord guided and helped her in her time of need. It is a satisfaction to find that there was yet faith in Israel. There were still those to whom the prophet was the mouthpiece of God, who waited on his words and accepted them as Divine commands whereto they were ready to render immediate and entire obedience. Elisha’s Influence Helps the Shunammite to the Possession of her House and Field. By the advice of Elisha, the woman whose son the prophet had restored to life, as in Second Kings four, verse thirty-three, had gone with her family into the land of the Philistines during seven years of famine and remained there for seven years.
The kindness of the good Shunammite to Elisha received a reward for the care taken of her in famine. It is well to foresee an evil and wisdom when we anticipate it, to hide ourselves if we lawfully may do so. When the famine was over, she returned to the land of the Philistines. The land was no proper place for an Israelite, any longer than was the necessity for it. Time was when she dwelt so securely among her people that she had no occasion spoken for to the king.
However, there is much uncertainty in this life that things or persons may fail us, which we most depend upon, and those befriend us which we think we shall never need. Sometimes events, no matter how small, prove of consequence, as here. The king was ready to believe Gehazi’s narrative when this was confirmed. To grant her request and to support a life that was given once and again by miracle.