2 Kings 4:28

KJV

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

KJV (with Strong's)

Then she said {H559}, Did I desire {H7592} a son {H1121} of my lord {H113}? did I not say {H559}, Do not deceive {H7952} me?

Complete Jewish Bible

Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Didn't I say not to deceive me?"

Berean Standard Bible

Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”

American Standard Version

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The Shunammite woman's poignant cry in 2 Kings 4:28 encapsulates her profound grief and sense of betrayal after her miraculously given son dies. Her words are a desperate reminder to the prophet Elisha of her initial reluctance to accept the promise of a son, fearing precisely such a devastating disappointment, highlighting the raw human struggle with suffering that follows a divine blessing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the emotional climax of the Shunammite woman's desperate appeal to the prophet Elisha following the sudden, tragic death of her son. The narrative begins with her exceptional hospitality towards Elisha, leading him to miraculously promise her a son despite her advanced age and her husband's ([2 Kings 4:8-10](/2_kings/4-8 "2 Kings 4:8-10 - The Shunammite Woman's Hospitality")). Her initial response, recorded in [2 Kings 4:16](/2_kings/4-16 "2 Kings 4:16 - Elisha's Prophecy to the Shunammite Woman"), was one of cautious skepticism, "Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid," expressing a fear of false hope. Miraculously, she conceived and bore the son ([2 Kings 4:17](/2_kings/4-17 "2 Kings 4:17 - The Miraculous Birth of the Shunammite's Son")), bringing immense joy. However, this joy was tragically short-lived when, as a young boy, he suddenly collapsed and died ([2 Kings 4:19-20](/2_kings/4-19-20 "2 Kings 4:19-20 - The Son's Sudden Death")). Her immediate, decisive action was to lay the child on Elisha's bed and set out to find the prophet, bypassing her husband's questions and demonstrating an unwavering resolve born of both grief and a glimmer of hope in Elisha's power. Her confrontation in verse 28 is the emotional peak of her journey, setting the stage for Elisha's subsequent miraculous intervention.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, hospitality was a sacred duty and a highly valued virtue, particularly when extended to prophets and strangers, as exemplified by the Shunammite woman's provision for Elisha. Furthermore, bearing a son was of paramount importance, especially for an older woman, as it ensured continuation of the family line, provided security in old age, and was often seen as a profound divine blessing, while barrenness was considered a great sorrow or even a social stigma. The miraculous birth of a son to an elderly, previously barren woman (reminiscent of Sarah in [Genesis 18:10-14](/genesis/18-10-14 "Genesis 18:10-14 - Sarah's Laughter and the Promise of Isaac") or Hannah in [1 Samuel 1:27](/1_samuel/1-27 "1 Samuel 1:27 - Hannah's Prayer for a Son")) was a clear sign of divine favor. The sudden death of a child, therefore, was not only a personal tragedy but also a profound theological crisis, challenging the perceived blessing and raising questions about God's faithfulness or the prophet's integrity. Elisha, as a "man of God," was understood to be an intermediary through whom divine power could operate, making him the natural, albeit desperate, recourse for the grieving mother.

* **Key Themes:** The narrative of the Shunammite woman is rich with several profound themes. First, it powerfully illustrates **Grief and Despair**, capturing the raw, unvarnished pain of a mother who has lost her only child, especially one miraculously given. Her words are a testament to the depth of human suffering when joy is abruptly turned to sorrow. Second, it explores the **Weight of Divine Promises** and the human struggle with understanding God's ways, particularly when blessings are followed by trials. Her reproach implies a questioning of why a gift was given if it would lead to such profound sorrow, reflecting a common human reaction to suffering after a period of great joy, echoing laments found in [Psalm 77](/psalms/77 "Psalm 77 - A Psalm of Lament and Remembrance"). Third, the theme of **Fear of False Hope** is prominent, stemming from her initial caution, "Do not deceive me." This reveals a deep human vulnerability to disappointment and the protective instinct to guard one's heart against potential future pain. Finally, despite her apparent reproach, her actions demonstrate an underlying **Faith in Desperation**. Her journey to Elisha, bypassing all others, indicates a deep-seated belief that he, as God's prophet, possessed the power or means to intervene, even in the face of death, setting the stage for one of the Bible's most dramatic resurrections ([2 Kings 4:32-35](/2_kings/4-32-35 "2 Kings 4:32-35 - Elisha Resurrects the Son")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Desire (Hebrew, _sha'al'_):** This word, often translated "ask" or "request," here carries the nuance of "did I ask for this?" or "did I even request this blessing?" It emphasizes that the son was not something she actively sought but rather a miraculous gift initiated by Elisha. Her question underscores that she did not invite this particular form of potential heartbreak; it was a consequence of a divine intervention she initially approached with caution.
* **Deceive (Hebrew, _kāzav'_):** This verb means "to lie," "to disappoint," "to fail," or "to prove false." When she recalls her plea, "Do not deceive me," she is expressing her profound fear that the promise of a son would turn out to be a cruel illusion, leading to greater sorrow. From her perspective, the son's death has made Elisha's promise feel like a profound disappointment or even a "lie" in its outcome, leading to a state worse than her original childlessness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord?":** This rhetorical question is laden with pain and reproach. It highlights that the son was not her request but a divine initiative through Elisha. By asking this, she implies, "I never asked for this joy if it meant this much pain. I was content before." It's a bitter lament, suggesting that the gift has become a source of unbearable suffering, making her previous state of childlessness seem preferable to the agony of loss.
* **"did I not say, Do not deceive me?":** This second rhetorical question serves as a powerful reminder of her initial skepticism and caution when Elisha first promised her a son ([2 Kings 4:16](/2_kings/4-16 "2 Kings 4:16 - The Shunammite Woman's Caution")). She explicitly recalls her fear of being given false hope or a promise that would ultimately lead to disappointment. From her perspective, the death of her son is the ultimate "deception," a cruel reversal of a miraculous blessing, confirming her worst fears and magnifying her grief.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs **Rhetorical Questions** to convey the Shunammite woman's intense grief and sense of injustice. Her questions are not seeking information but expressing profound anguish and a veiled accusation against Elisha, and by extension, against the perceived outcome of a divine promise. There is also a strong element of **Pathos**, as her words evoke deep sympathy for her suffering. The **Irony** is palpable: a miraculous gift, intended as a blessing, has become the source of her deepest sorrow, fulfilling her initial fear of "deception." Her direct, unvarnished confrontation with the prophet also showcases **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader knows Elisha's power, and her desperation sets the stage for the ultimate demonstration of God's power through him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The Shunammite woman's raw expression of grief and questioning in 2 Kings 4:28 resonates deeply with the human experience of suffering, especially when it follows a period of divine blessing. It challenges simplistic notions of cause and effect in God's dealings and highlights that even those in covenant with God can experience profound loss and confusion. Her words echo the laments found throughout Scripture, where faithful individuals wrestle with God's apparent silence or paradoxical actions. This narrative underscores God's sovereignty over life and death, and His ability to work through His chosen servants even in the face of seemingly insurmountable tragedy. Ultimately, it foreshadows God's compassionate response to human suffering and His power to bring life out of death.

* [Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Response to Loss")
* [Psalm 77:7-9](/psalms/77-7-9 "Psalm 77:7-9 - Asaph's Lament and Questioning")
* [John 11:21](/john/11-21 "John 11:21 - Martha's Lament to Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Shunammite woman's bold and honest confrontation with Elisha provides a powerful model for believers navigating profound grief and disappointment. Her willingness to articulate her pain, confusion, and even her perceived sense of betrayal demonstrates that authentic faith does not require suppressing our deepest emotions or pretending to understand God's every move. Instead, it invites us to bring our rawest laments directly to God, or to those who represent Him, trusting that He is big enough to handle our questions and our sorrow. Her actions remind us that even when circumstances seem to contradict God's past blessings or promises, our hope should remain anchored in His character and power. It encourages us to persist in seeking divine intervention, even when hope seems lost, for God often works most powerfully in our moments of greatest desperation, revealing His glory through our deepest trials.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Shunammite woman's honesty in her grief challenge your own approach to prayer and lament when facing disappointment or loss?**
* **Have you ever felt "deceived" by a blessing that was later taken away? How did you process that experience with God?**
* **What does this narrative teach us about the tension between human expectation and divine sovereignty in times of suffering?**
* **In what ways can we, like the Shunammite woman, demonstrate persistent faith even when circumstances seem to contradict God's promises?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Shunammite woman say, "Did I desire a son of my lord?" if she later accepted him?**

Answer: Her question is not a rejection of the son himself, but an expression of profound grief and a sense of "I told you so" directed at Elisha. When Elisha first promised her a son, she responded with caution, "Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid" ([2 Kings 4:16](/2_kings/4-16 "2 Kings 4:16 - Shunammite's Initial Caution")). This indicates she was wary of false hope or a promise that would lead to disappointment. Now, with the son's death, her worst fears have been realized. Her question implies, "I didn't ask for this miracle if it was going to lead to such unbearable pain. I was content in my childlessness before, and now my sorrow is far greater." It's a lament born of extreme anguish, not a literal denial of her joy in having the son.

**What does the word "deceive" imply in this context?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "deceive" (_kāzav_) carries the meaning of "to lie," "to disappoint," or "to fail." When the Shunammite woman reminds Elisha, "Do not deceive me" (her original plea), she is recalling her fear of being given a false promise or a hope that would ultimately prove to be a delusion. From her perspective, the miraculous gift of a son, followed by his sudden death, felt like a cruel "deception" or a profound disappointment of the highest order. It wasn't that Elisha intentionally lied, but that the outcome felt like a betrayal of the hope the promise had instilled. This highlights the human tendency to perceive tragic outcomes as a form of divine "failure" or "deception" when our expectations of blessing are shattered.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the Shunammite woman and her resurrected son, initiated by her desperate plea in [2 Kings 4:28](/2_kings/4-28 "2 Kings 4:28 - The Shunammite Woman's Plea"), powerfully foreshadows the ultimate work of Jesus Christ. Just as Elisha, as God's prophet, was the instrument through whom life was restored, so Jesus is the very embodiment of life, the one who declares, "I am the resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). The Shunammite woman's raw grief and desperate appeal mirror humanity's cry for deliverance from the pervasive power of death and sin. Her son's resurrection, a temporary return to earthly life, points forward to Christ's own definitive victory over death and the promise of eternal life for all who believe in Him ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - New Life in Christ")). Furthermore, her initial caution against "deception" finds its ultimate answer in Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, The Way, The Truth, The Life")), offering promises that are unfailingly true and a hope that does not disappoint ([Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "Romans 5:5 - Hope Does Not Disappoint")). In Christ, the sting of death is overcome ([1 Corinthians 15:55](/1_corinthians/15-55 "1 Corinthians 15:55 - O Death, Where Is Your Sting?")), and the ultimate "deception" of sin is defeated, leading to a resurrection not merely to mortal life, but to everlasting glory.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 30:1

¶ And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

2 Kings 4:16

And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, [thou] man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.