Elisha, from his outlook on mount Carmel, saw a cloud of dust in the plain of Esdraelon, and he called the attention of Gehazi to the flying figures at the head of it. On swept the riders over the plain. Elisha once more put his hand up to shade his eyes from the glare of the sun, and said, “Behold, it is the Shunammite; run now,” and ask, “Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child?” By sending his servant to meet her, Elisha showed how highly he esteemed this woman. However, to the salutation of Gehazi, she returned only the short, indefinite answer, “It is well,” in order, doubtless, not to be detained by further explanations. She would at once hasten to the prophet himself. When she came near him, overcome by grief, which she had repressed until then, she threw herself at his feet, in the manner of Orientals, and sobbed out her great sorrow, at the same time imploring his assistance. Gehazi could not understand it. He thought her conduct in clasping his master’s feet an offence against his dignity, and “came near to thrust her away.” But Elisha said, “Let her alone.” Give the poor grief-stricken woman a chance to compose herself and to tell her trouble. Presently, the stricken mother called the prophet’s attention to his own promise, meaning to say thereby, I did not complain of my childlessness, and did not demand a son; now, however, I am grief-smitten, for it is better never to have a child than to have one and lose it. The grief and the lamentation of the woman moved the compassionate heart of the prophet so much that he desired to bring her relief as soon as possible. He therefore 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.” This shows that he was to go as quickly as possible. He was even to refrain from saluting any one. It is well known that salutations are far more ceremonious in the Orient than with us, and inferiors always remain standing until persons of higher rank pass by, and thus annoying delay was often occasioned. This command to hasten would draw off the attention of the mother from her excessive grief, and, possibly, Elisha may have hoped that life had not yet entirely left the child, and that utter decease might yet be prevented by swift interference. But the importunity of the woman, that Elisha himself should come, proceeded from the conviction that the child was already completely dead, and that now not Gehazi, but only the prophet himself, who had promised her the son, could help. To this deep confidence he promptly responded. Gehazi carried out his commission by hastening on to Shunem, and placing the prophet’s staff upon the face of the child, and, by means of the divine power, of which the staff was the symbol, he was to execute a prophetical act in awakening the child out of the death-sleep.