Elisa hjælper en enke
1En kvinde, som var enke efter en af profeterne, kom en dag hen til Elisa og sagde: „Herre, du ved selv, at min mand tjente Gud af hele sit hjerte, men han havde sat sig i gæld, og nu forlanger kreditoren, at begge mine sønner skal sælges som slaver, fordi vi ikke kan betale, hvad vi skylder ham.”
2„Hvad kan jeg gøre for dig?” spurgte Elisa. „Sig mig, hvor meget har du derhjemme?”
„Jeg har ingenting,” svarede hun, „bortset fra en lille krukke med olivenolie.”
3Så sagde Elisa: „Gå ud og lån alle de tomme beholdere, du kan, af dine naboer. 4Gå derefter hjem og luk dig inde i dit hus sammen med dine sønner. Hæld så olivenolien fra din lille krukke over i de tomme beholdere og sæt dem til side, efterhånden som de bliver fulde.”
5Det gjorde enken så. Sønnerne rakte hende beholderne, og hun fyldte dem en efter en. 6Snart var de alle fyldt til randen.
„Er der ikke flere beholdere?” spurgte hun.
„Nej, det var den sidste,” svarede de. Så kom der ikke mere olivenolie ud af hendes krukke.
7Enken gik derefter hen og fortalte det til profeten. „Gå hen og sælg olivenolien og betal din gæld,” sagde han. „De penge, der bliver tilovers, kan du og dine sønner leve af.”
Elisa opvækker en død dreng i Shunem
8Elisa kom tit igennem Shunem på sine rejser, og en af byens velstående kvinder plejede at inviterede ham til middag, hver gang han kom forbi. 9På et tidspunkt sagde kvinden til sin mand: „Jeg ved, at det er en hellig profet, som ofte spiser her. 10Jeg synes, vi skal indrette et lille gæsteværelse til ham på taget og sætte en seng, et bord, en stol4,10 Borde og stole blev dengang kun brugt i de kongelige paladser, i byrådet og hos velhavende folk, så det var noget helt særligt, denne kvinde gjorde ud af Elisa. Normalt sad folk på tæpper eller puder på gulvet og spiste. og en lampe derop, så han har sit eget værelse, når han kommer her på gennemrejse.”
11Næste gang Elisa kom på besøg, gik han op på værelset og lagde sig på sengen for at hvile sig. 12Så sagde han til sin tjener, Gehazi: „Kald på vores værtinde og sig, at jeg vil tale med hende.” Da hun indfandt sig, 13sagde Elisa til Gehazi: „Sig til hende, at vi værdsætter alt det, hun har gjort for os, og spørg hende så, om jeg kan gøre noget for hende til gengæld. Hun kan bare sige til, hvis hun ønsker, at jeg skal lægge et godt ord ind for hende hos kongen eller hos hærføreren.”
„Nej, jeg mangler ikke noget. Jeg har det godt her,” svarede hun.
14„Hvad kan vi så gøre for hende?” spurgte Elisa sin tjener. Han svarede: „Hun har ingen søn—og hendes mand er efterhånden gammel.”
15„Kald på hende igen,” beordrede Elisa.
Da hun stillede sig i døren, 16tiltalte Elisa hende direkte. „Næste år ved denne tid vil du stå med en søn på armen,” sagde han.
„Åh, du Guds profet,” indvendte hun, „giv mig ikke falske forhåbninger.”
17Men Elisas ord stod ved magt. Snart efter blev kvinden gravid, og det følgende år fødte hun en søn—nøjagtig som Elisa havde forudsagt.
18Nogle år senere var drengen en dag med sin far på høstarbejde. 19Pludselig beklagede drengen sig over en voldsom hovedpine, og faderen sagde til en af tjenerne: „Bær ham hjem til hans mor.”
20Det gjorde tjeneren, og hans mor sad med ham på skødet indtil middagstid. Da døde han. 21Så bar hun ham op i gæsteværelset, lagde drengen på profetens seng og lukkede døren, 22hvorefter hun sendte følgende besked ud til sin mand: „Send straks en tjener og et æsel hjem, så jeg kan komme af sted til profeten. Jeg er snart tilbage igen.”
23„Hvorfor vil du have fat i ham i dag?” spurgte manden tilbage. „Det er jo hverken helligdag eller sabbat.”
Hun svarede: „Tag det bare roligt.”
24Så sadlede hun æslet, satte sig op og sagde til tjeneren: „Skynd dig at trække af sted med æslet. Du skal ikke standse, før jeg siger til.”
25Da hun nærmede sig Karmels bjerg, fik Elisa øje på hende i det fjerne. „Se, det er kvinden fra Shunem, der kommer der,” sagde han til sin tjener Gehazi. 26„Løb hen og hils på hende og spørg, hvordan det går med hendes mand og den lille dreng.” Det gjorde Gehazi. „Tak, vi har det godt,” svarede kvinden tilbage.
27Men da hun nåede frem til Elisa på bjerget, faldt hun på knæ foran ham og klamrede sig til hans fødder. Gehazi prøvede at trække hende væk, men profeten sagde: „Lad hende være. Hun er i stor nød, og Herren har ikke fortalt mig, hvad der er i vejen.”
28Da sagde kvinden til Elisa: „Herre, var det mig, der bad om at få en søn? Sagde jeg ikke, at du ikke måtte give mig falske forhåbninger?”
29„Gør dig klar til at tage af sted,” sagde Elisa til Gehazi. „Tag min stav med og skynd dig hen og læg staven på drengens ansigt. Spild ikke tiden med snak undervejs.”
30Men drengens mor sagde: „Så sandt Herren lever, og du selv er i live, jeg vender ikke hjem, uden at du kommer med.” Så fulgte Elisa med hende.
31Gehazi skyndte sig at gå i forvejen, og da han kom til huset, lagde han staven på drengens ansigt, men der var intet livstegn. Så vendte Gehazi om og gik Elisa i møde: „Drengen kom ikke til live,” sagde han.
32Da Elisa kom ind i huset, så han den døde dreng, som lå på hans seng. 33Han gik ind i værelset og lukkede døren. Så bad han til Herren, 34og da han havde bedt, lagde han sig hen over drengen—med sin mund på drengens mund, med sine øjne over drengens øjne og med sine hænder på drengens hænder. Da begyndte varmen at vende tilbage i drengens krop. 35Så rejste Elisa sig og gik frem og tilbage i værelset. Derefter lagde han sig igen hen over drengen som før. Denne gang nyste drengen syv gange og slog øjnene op.
36Derpå sagde profeten til Gehazi: „Kald på kvinden.” Da drengens mor kom ind i værelset, sagde Elisa: „Her er din søn.” 37Da faldt hun på knæ foran Elisa, hvorefter hun tog sin søn og gik ud.
Profeteleverne oplever to mirakler
38Elisa vendte derefter tilbage til Gilgal. På den tid var der hungersnød i landet. En dag, da han havde undervist profeteleverne, sagde han til Gehazi: „Sæt den store gryde på ilden og lav en ret mad til de unge mennesker.”
39En af eleverne gik ud for at samle urter og fandt en vild slyngplante med agurklignende frugter. Han plukkede så mange af de ukendte frugter, han kunne bære i sin kappe. Da han kom tilbage, skar han dem i stykker og kom dem i gryden. 40Men så snart mændene smagte maden, råbte de forfærdet: „Mester, maden er giftig.”
41„Skaf mig noget mel,” befalede Elisa. Da han havde hældt melet i gryden, sagde han: „Nu kan I godt spise det.” Og ingen af dem blev syge.
42En dag kom en mand fra Ba’al-Shalisha til Elisa med en sæk nyhøstede bygkerner og 20 små brød, der var lavet af årets første byghøst. Elisa bad Gehazi om at servere brødene for profeteleverne.
43„Hvordan skal jeg kunne mætte hundrede mennesker med den smule mad?” indvendte Gehazi.
„Gør nu, som jeg har sagt,” vedblev Elisa, „for Herren siger, at der vil være rigeligt til alle og tilmed blive noget til overs.”
44Og ganske rigtigt. Som Herren havde sagt, sådan gik det.
1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.4.3 borrow not…: or, scant not 4And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.4.7 debt: or, creditor
8¶ And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.4.8 it fell on a day: Heb. there was a day4.8 constrained him: Heb. laid hold on him 9And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 11And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. 15And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16And 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.4.16 season: Heb. set time 17And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
18¶ And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.4.23 well: Heb. peace 24Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.4.24 slack…: Heb. restrain not for me to ride 25So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.4.27 him…: Heb. by his feet4.27 vexed: Heb. bitter 28Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? 29Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.4.31 hearing: Heb. attention 32And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. 34And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.4.35 to and fro: Heb. once hither and once thither 36And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
38¶ And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. 40So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. 41But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.4.41 harm: Heb. evil thing
42¶ And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.4.42 the husk…: or, his scrip, or, garment 43And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. 44So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.
