Prophet Pearls #4 – Vayeira (2 Kings 4:1-37)

The process performed by Elisha to the death boy is so similar as performing CPR.

Wonder if our trio may be afraid not to believe that jc existed in case he did. Be brave my brothers.

I’ve read over this a few times, and i can’t find any indication that she told her husband that the boy was dead… from the husbands perspective it seems the boy had a headache, so he had the servant take him to his mom to do the mom thing.. and the mom comes wanting a donkey and tells her husband shalom, all is well.. perhaps he figures she is just a silly woman over reacting to a headache, seeking prayer from the prophet. or a concerned mama taking the extra precaution…

Is there a difference between mortality and immortality when we hear resurrection? Those people will all die one day.

Thank you Nehemia for the correct understanding of the ‘double portion’ (Kings 2:9) This changes the type of relationship between Eliyahu and Elisha and gives it a much more meaningful expression … For me Eliyahu comes over as representing the Father and Elisha the son, and as much as the son is not higher than the father …
2Kgs 2:12 And Elisha is seeing, and he is crying, `My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen;’ and he hath not seen him again; and he taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them into two pieces.

At 80 and a beliver since 16 it is so refreshing to begin to find more clafity and revealed truth that translators have kept hidden in many cases on purpose! (Marcion, Constantine) Thus I say, Shalom havah naghlia!

As a woman (mother of two) of longtime faith who happens to be married to a middle eastern man the Shunnamite woman’s actions have never seemed unusual to me. She is ready to accept whatever God has ordained for her- even childlessness but once the God of the Prophet has granted her a son she feels the rights attending that grant and she knows where her hope lies and where to go for help; to Yahova via his prophet-not her husband. She knows the care of children is her responsibility and once there is nothing more she can do she turns to God because her husband isn’t going to have any solutions at that point. She protects him from the news of their son’s death because she hopes that God will resurrect him and there is no reason to grieve him yet. I believe the “Shalom” she speaks is in faith. I also think that she is the one who has the personal relationship with God through his prophet (to me Elisha is a picture of the Messiah-Jesus) her husband does not share the relationship but he does condone it. Also no respectful middle eastern man would call me by my first name unless it were family or a close family friend so referring to her by a title other than her name doesn’t seem weird either. I assume it observes the distance of respect for gender, for her husband and for her culture…Although that particular title reminds me of the same one in the Song of Solomon which also ties in the idea of her having a personal relationship with God through a mediator.

Nehemia and Keith, your work is so beneficial to all of us who don’t speak Hebrew. What a blessing you both are. It helps me in talking with people critical of the Bible too. Thank you!
Thanks to Nehemia I know what name to call on!

I think I can offer a different perspective of why the father seemed as if he didn’t care about the boy. I don’t read in this section that the father had more than one wife or more than one child. Maybe it’s somewhere else in scripture that I don’t know about?
I come from a farming family and when it is planting and harvest time my dad and grandpa are unreachable. Especially during harvest because they have to get certain crops out before it frosts or snows, which is what we know was going on bc of vs 18. We did not bother my dad or grandpa for anything during planting and harvest bc we would either be ignored or scolded. Their minds are solely on the crops during these two times of year.
I believe the father told his hired man to take the boy to his mother bc he didn’t know this was life and death. He probably just thought the kid was sick and he doesn’t have time to deal with it right now. He has crops to get out and it is more important for him to keep doing his job and making sure work is done and done right so he sends him with the reaper instead of taking him himself.
In my personal experience if I were sick at school during planting and harvest time it was always my grandma who would come pick me up never my dad. At a very young age if I couldn’t go to school I had to stay home alone until my grandma could get to the farm to care for me. Not bc my dad didn’t care but bc he had a job to get done and he had a limited amount of time to do it.
It seems that the mother never mentions anything of the child’s death to her husband bc he is questioning why she wants to go see the man of God vs 23 and her answer she gives doesn’t indicate that she told him either vs 23.
In my life there were many things my grandma simply didn’t tell my dad or grandpa during these two times of year to avoid conflict. Now if one of us died, in our case, I’m sure she would have told them but she also didn’t have a prophet to run to to bring us back to life hahaha
So in my personal view I would not conclude that he didn’t love his son or had multiple families, I think he simply didn’t know the severity of the situation and so he kept his mind focused on his work bc he new his wife would take care of the situation.
Thank you for all your hard work and studies!

Anyways verse 24 says this was not on a Holy day; it simply lead us to hypothesizing about what she did do on them.

Shalom,
We enjoyed the ‘Pearls’ for today. I was wondering if the the word ‘yalak’ in verse 24 is a derivative of ‘valak’ which is the word in my Bible? Also, taking a donkey on Shabbat doesn’t mean she rode it there but could simply have used it after Shabbat for the tiring ride home. Who knows, but as a Cananite may not have been well educated in All of Torah, since it does forbid this.
“…is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle (livestock)…” Ex.20

I also meant to thank your for the clarification on the blessing Elisha was asking for… even growing up I thought that was rather arrogant of him to ask for a double portion… to be greater than his teacher.

These mis-translations are what frustrates me about so many translations today… and as Keith said, without knowing Hebrew it is almost impossible to know Yehovah’s truth! I don’t know Hebrew… yet… but I’m working on it a little at a time.

Nehemia and Keith…

Shalom! Thank you so much for your teachings… You both make scripture come to life in a way that helps us know Yehovah’s truth.

Keith… I can SO relate to what you are talking about.. the woman speaking PEACE when there was no peace…

13 years ago, Sept. 22 I lost my husband to lung cancer… just 12 DAYS after being diagnosed.

Our son, Rick, was born with a crippling disease and has had 7 spine surgeries, 6 leg surgeries and is now in a wheelchair.

3 weeks after my husband’s death, our son and his best friend were in a car accident which fractured Rick’s spine and broke his pelvic apart..
On the way to the hospital I was wondering why I wasn’t more upset… why wasn’t I crying hysterically?… and the scripture Philippians 4:7 about ‘the peace of God that doesn’t make sense’ came to mind…. that was when I got it!

Those moments when I finally really understand what a scripture means to my life today are what I call my ‘Kiss on the forehead moments.” I feel as though Papa… my nickname for Yehovah… has taken my face in His hands, tilted my head back just a bit and has kissed me on the forehead. These moments are so precious to me.

Again… thank you both so much for your teachings. I learn so much from them.

So, why was the door being shut mentioned a few times? I believe Keith touched on it, but never really answered it. Love the Torah and Prophet Pearls, by the way!

Shalom Nehemia! I have been so blessed by these teachings. My absolute hearts desire is searching and learning from our Father. I have always been curious about the people who were brought back to life and Yeshua who was brought back to life from death. I was thinking “where is the difference?” And I realized through reading that there is a very big difference. These people had died and Yehovah had given them breath again in their bodies. Their bodies never left. (If I have missed something, please correct me). When Yeshua died and was resurrected his body was not found. Although he was seen by many. I am not a textual scholar and I know very little Hebrew but I personally think knowing the meaning of resurrection is very important. And I think you’re teachings are very important. Thank you for all your hard work! I have been praying for Yehovah to bless you and your ministry. Shalom shalom!

Very glad to hear the many parallels between Sarah’s and Shunamite woman’s motherhood-prophesy; as a youngster in sunday school I got that connection very early, and as the text was being heard again tonight my mind’s eye was on Sarah at the doorway of the tent! Perhaps I had better teachers back then than I realized. Also, clarity of 2/3 of Eliyahu’s spirit being requested makes better sense. Greatly appreciate these things confirmed in the original language, culture/context. YHVH bless you both. Shalom.

What a beautiful portion!The story of how Yehovah impacted those women through his prophet is inspiring. It’s long been one of my favorites, and hearing your perspectives on it makes it even richer.

If I may, I would like to raise a few questions on the topic of the resurrection..

I believe, those people having been resurrected at the time of the prophets, also died at the end of it all. This means the fall in the garden of Eden has not been made undone, otherwise it may have been mentioned. At least all the prophets would have been made immortal immediately. If anybody deserved it, they did. But they all died.

Which takes me to the next question – why would Jehovah, who doesn’t change, suddenly change and make the fall in the garden of Eden of no effect without some intervention or new plan ?

And , if he has had a plan of Salvation from the beginning, he would have worked it out in a way of being understandable to at least some?

But how?

I believe, that choosing a nation to reveal himself through, he has done just that. The nation Israel stands as a witness to Jehovah, yet they too have missed the mark.

Which takes me to the last question,
Who qualifies??

Thank you again Nehemiah and Keith for revealing more truth and insight of the Hebrew scriptures regarding; Elijah and Elisha the fire and water that was awesome! The two woman, one being poor and one being rich. It is true that provision comes when they helped and supported Yehovah’s servants. I loved it!

Like you I also am drawn to the Spirit of Elijah! It has a strong connection and part of my life and calling! Especially the proclaiming and declaring of His name, Yehovah!

Blessings and Shalom in
Yehovah’s name!

Also wanted to mention how much I value your teachings.

A wise person said “the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” Nehemiah, you mentioned many resurrection verses but Keith, you shied away from mentioning the greatest resurrection of all……Yeshua’s! Paul said, “if Yeshua was not resurrected, we are still dead in our sins.”
Yeshua said he who denies me, my Father will deny him at the last day.
It’s time to preach “thus say’s Yehovah……..”with a circumcised heart.
In these latter days people need the whole gospel more than ever.

Why do you think Eliyahu went up in the chariot after the letter was sent. 2Ki 2:1 does not give a date.

Shalom can be used as a command or directive, that is where there is caosh, speak Shalom to bring His order to a situation.

Really great job; you two. This is also reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah, who were well psssed child bearing age. However, HaShem comes and promises them a son, next year at the appointed time or time of life, passover. And Issac is born. Abraham takes him up the hill to offer his son to YeHoVah, and is resurrected from The Father raises His son from the dead.

There are many similar patterns in the Tanak, which would be said, someone just wrote repeats, just like some Jewish might think Yeshua’s similarities were just made up. What we learn is obediance brings blessing, which is life giving, and that could mean a Revelation from Yehovah. Yeshua sais, If you don’t know Moses, then you don’t know Me. It is important to follow the words given to Moses, that are written, so that we may receive real revelation, rather than a forced revelation from adding to or subtracting from Yehova’s words.

Kings may speak a command or decree, but they are always written down just as He said. The written is the confirmation of the spoken, they must match, or the mesage is not from the Kings. Any deviation from the written, can lead us astray, off the derek.

I need a clarification : In 2 Kings 2 : 11 – Eliyahu is taken up by a chariot of fire and in and in 2 Chronicles 21: 12 Eliyahu sents a letter to Yahoram the King of the southern Kingdom . Going by the dates of the reigns of the King of Israel and Judah this letter seems to be written after he was transported by the chariot of fire .
Was Eliyahu taken up and put into the Southern Kingdom ?

Joy Mathew
Hyderabad , India
+91-7306032138

I would love a link to more information about the weights with the Hebrew lettering on them.

All glory be to YHVH and thanks to you for the pearls you are enabled to reveal .
I usually listen to the portions before the Sabbath so that when I read the Torah and prophets on Sabbath it gives me a better understanding . May YHWH bless you both .

Joy Mathew
Hyderabad , India
+91 – 7306032138

Thanks for the additional information you bring! I believe that these guys actually could run faster in those days–see 1 Kings 18:46. And they probably did it barefooted. ?

I’ve very much enjoyed this discussion/teaching, as I have all the Prophet Pearls and Torah Pearls. I like hearing the meanings of the words. In Hebrew, and also the benefit of Nehemia’s research in ancient cultures.

Great commentary!! Because you both did such a wonderful job, we insist you continue. I love to know exactly what it says in Hebrew. Todah rabbah!

First, I would like to thank both Nehemia and Keith for the study, preparation, and presentation of Torah Pearls and Prophet Pearls. Many times y’all are my “guest” for Shabbat! It is truly a privilege and joy to entertain your ideas and insights.

Perhaps because Elisha only asked for 2/3 the “spirit” of Elijah he was given the privilege of preforming twice as many miracles as Elijah. Even my JPS translates the 2Kings 2:9 verse as “double portion of your spirit”. But in the footnotes it says “literally ‘two-thirds'”. Do you think the translations are prejudiced toward “double” because of the outcome rather than the actual words? Definitely another example of interpretation rather than translation.

Nehemia, in the Hebrew is there any indication that the father knew of the death of the Shunammite woman’s son? I have read the English translations and find no reason to think she told him or anyone else what had transpired. The distance from Shunam to Mt. Carmel is about 20 miles according to BibleHub.com or 15 miles according to Bible.org. Donkeys can travel at 8-10 miles per hour (lovelongears.com) if carrying a light load. This jenny carried two, or the servant ran very fast! (Twenty year old men marathon runners average pace of 9:01:10 minuets per mile.) All in all it was probably at minimum a 2 1/2 hour trip each direction. So they probably arrived at Shunam after 6 pm. with the father still in the fields supervising the harvest.

Shalom, Shalom. May you all have a delightful week of study!

Travis, my question, too. Does the Hebrew for moed refer to non-feast or set apart days?

I was an empty vessel, and I owed a debt I could not afford to pay.

But it was paid for me, and now I live on the oil that is the sustenance from God himself.

I enjoyed Nehemia and Keith again this week and I can definitely relate to the woman’s purposeful handling of each possible derailment. Anyone of those conversations could have meant the permanent loss of her son. Even in the natural, successful businessmen don’t spend time talking to people about their product and end goal if those people are not part of they’re market. It distracts from the mission and can possibly prevent the vision they have from coming to fruition. Momma took care of business. There were so many lessons to learn in the this portion. I think it’s best not to try to build doctrines on the details of the expression of Jehovah’s character presented here, as some in my tradition are want to do, but to see how certain is His desire for us to be taken care of and when He sees to us, there is no limit to His creativity in doing so, even with fallible human beings involved. Of course, there is much more in this portion. This is just what stood out the furthest for me. Shalom

is it possible that the moedim appointed time in Torah and prophet portion being actually be on one of the Feast Days? Is there way to get uncut script or audio. Would love to hear more of Nehemia’s thoughts on Sabbath and on miracles of Yeshua that he started.

it would be interesting to hear Nehemia’s thoughts on the miracles of Yeshua, and his words to the Samaritan woman on “lliving water”

P.S..A More Probable Site:

Although public opinion supports this site, there is much to be said for the proposal, promulgated by Robinson and supported by Conder and other good authorities, that the pool was at the “Virgin’s Fount” (see GIHON), which is today an intermittent spring whose “troubled” waters are still visited by Jews for purposes of cure. As the only source of “living water” near Jerusalem, it is a likely spot for there to have been a “sheep pool” or “sheep place” for the vast flocks of sheep coming to Jerusalem in connection with the temple ritual. See Biblical World, XXV, 80 ff.

E. W. G. Masterman.

Thank you very much for all the effort and hard work.

Talking about Elisha and miracles and living waters…
On a similar note—-could there possibly be a connection ?

BETHESDA
“house of mercy”
Exod.15:26

be-thez’-da (Bethesda; Textus Receptus of the New Testament, Joh 5:2 (probably beth chicda’, “house of mercy”); other forms occur as Bethzatha and Bethsaida):

If I’m in shape, walking around the block isn’t work.
If I’m on death’s door, walking beyond the front porch may be so much work that it’s impossible.
I’ve been in both circumstances.
Torah doesn’t define how far is work, and how far is not.
There’s freedom in Torah, when we release the pre-conceived, human-imposed notions.

It has been my heartfelt desire to have Nehemiah record the Tanakh–spoken in Hebrew, and not glossing over the pronunciation of YHWH–and make it available to the world. Hearing Nehemiah speak the Prophets in Hebrew is awesome! Our Creator indeed answers the desires of our hearts.

Wow!!! A Pearl of Great Value!!!! Thank You! Will share this at my Shabbat table.

Prophets come along when the nation is not doing what the nation is suppose to do.She may be a schulemite but she has heard him in her village .and is leaning into the message of God.God creates events to solidify the belief. Her husband and nothing else can prevent her from taking hold.

It’s not considered work for the priests to work for Gods service,intercess and she and the donkey could be considered not working because she is on an intercession request mission.

What if the King/Commandor is the Word of the Lord. Because,the child comes from God?

I agree with Rachel, it has taken me about 2 hours to get through this portion, stopping at the related verses cited. I am nowhere near finished, you have no idea how this portion has touched me personally; I am that Shunamite woman — Shalom.

Finished listening… Amazing Prophet pearl portion, I think I need to listen to it 5 more times to completely understand…. solid packed with information

(-Rachel-)