Elisha and the Son of the Shunamite/2
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Elisha and the Son of the Shunamite
Exegetical Approaches
Critique of Elisha
The story is filled with implicit criticism of Elisha who overstepped his prophetic authority when he promised the Shunamite a son.
Sources:modern scholars1
Elisha's miracles – Elisha's tenure as prophet is marked by extensive miracle-making, with most of the miracles being initiated by Elisha rather than Hashem.2 Thus in our story, he neither asks for, nor receives, any Divine directive to grant the Shunamite a son.
Prophetic autonomy – According to these sources, though a prophet may at times invoke miracles on his own,3 Elisha betrayed a certain amount of hubris in thinking that he could bring life at his own discretion.4
Biblical parallels – R" M Lichtenstein and Dr. Zivan5 compare the language used in our story to describe the fulfillment of the prophetic promise with that found in the parallel story of Sarah and the birth of Yitzchak.6 By Sarah, we are told, "וַתֵּלֶד שָׂרָה...לַמּוֹעֵד אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים". Our story echoes, "וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן לַמּוֹעֵד... אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלֶיהָ אֱלִישָׁע." The near identical wording highlights the one difference: in our story Elisha replaces Hashem.7 The parallel thus reinforces the problematic nature of Elisha's actions, suggesting that he saw himself as God, rather than Hashem's servant.
Geichazi's suggestion: אֲבָל בֵּן אֵין לָהּ – Y. Amit finds fault with the fact that it is Geichazi rather than Elisha who mentions the Shunamite's childless sate. How could Elisha, a frequent visitor in the Shunamite's home, be unaware of her barrenness? Such a lack of knowledge betrays a lack of interest and concern in the welfare of his hostess.8
The Shunamite's reaction: אַל תְּכַזֵּב בְּשִׁפְחָתֶךָ
- R. Sabato claims that in these words, the Shunamite expresses doubt not in Hashem's omnipotence, but in the abilities of a flesh and blood prophet to grant life.9 Though Elisha was oblivious to the problematic nature of his actions, she was properly wary of a prophet who exceeded his authority.
- R. Lichtenstein, following Rashi, Radak, and Ralbag, instead suggests that the words reflect the Shunamite's natural fear that the baby not survive. After numerous years of wishing for a son, hoping and then being disappointed each month, she cannot bear the thought of another shattered dream. In light of this, R. Lichtenstein criticizes Elisha for not consulting with the Shunamite before declaring his miracle. The prophet should have been sensitive to her fragile state and not made such a unilateral decision regarding her life.
Why allow the baby to be born? If Elisha went too far in his proclamation, why did Hashem fulfill the prophetic decree?
- R. Sabato suggests that had the boy not been born, Elisha might have learned his own limits, but would not have appreciated his dependence on God. Only through the later death of the child, and Elisha's need to pray to Hashem to revive him, could he learn this lesson.
- It is also possible that Hashem fulfilled the word of Elisha because not doing so would cast doubt on the prophet's abilities, leading people to question his status as a true prophet.
Son's death – The son's death was necessary to teach Elisha about the limits of his authority.10 R. Samet,11 however, questions whether it is fair to teach Elisha a lesson at the expense of the Shunamite. These sources might respond that since the son was revived there was no lasting harm done to her through the experience.
"וַה' הֶעְלִים מִמֶּנִּי וְלֹא הִגִּיד לִי" – Hashem hides the reason for the Shunamite's distress from Elisha to teach him that he, too, is dependent on God. This is the first time in the story that the name of Hashem is mentioned.12 Ironically, only when Hashem leaves Elisha does he seem to remember Him.
Geichazi's failure – In sending Geichazi, Elisha proved that he had not yet internalized the lesson and still thought that human effort would be enough to revive the boy. The failure taught him that any action done by mortals alone would not suffice.13
"וְאֵין קוֹל וְאֵין קָשֶׁב" – Dr. Zivan suggests that the narrator's description "וְאֵין קוֹל וְאֵין קָשֶׁב" recalls the same phrase used to describe the failure of the Baal prophets on Mt. Carmel.14 The allusion sends the message that belief in the omnipotence of a prophet leads one to view him as a god, and borders on idolatry.
"וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֶל י"י" – The boy is only revived when Elisha prays to Hashem, thereby demonstrating his realization that life and death are in Hashem's hands alone and that his human abilities are, in fact, limited.15
"וַיָּשֶׂם פִּיו עַל פִּיו וְעֵינָיו עַל עֵינָיו וְכַפָּיו עַל כַּפָּו" – R. Samet questions that if the prayer was so central to the boy's revival, why is it mentioned only in passing, while the description of the human efforts are detailed?
- Dr. Zivan responds that the text wants to show how even after the prayer, Elisha had to work hard to resuscitate the boy. Mere speech was not to be enough. He needed to be active, use his full body, give of his own warmth, and even that did not suffice.16 Only after a second round does the boy begin to revive.
- Radak suggests that these actions were actually a means for Elisha to focus his prayer on the one for whom he was praying.17
In Praise of Elisha
The story revolves around the greatness of the prophet who both brings life and revives the dead.
Context of the story – The story is found in the midst of an entire series of stories which highlight Elisha's miracle-making. Together, they build a portrait of a prophet of great ability who cares not just for the nation as a whole, but for the individuals within.
Indirect speech – Ralbag and Abarbanel suggest that Elisha does not speak directly to the Shunamite, but rather through Elisha, due to his great modesty. Ralbag lauds the prophet for this and calls on others to emulate the trait.
Geichazi's suggestion – Such modesty could also explain why Elisha was unaware of the women's barren state. Since he tried to avoid direct contact with her, he was not cognizant of her plight.
The boy's death – This approach would suggest that the boy died a natural death, the result of heat stroke or the like. It was not meant as punishment for sin. Once it happened, though, it provided another opportunity for the prophet to display his power.
"וַי"י הֶעְלִים מִמֶּנִּי" – This position does not view the fact that Hashem kept the death of the boy from Elisha as a sign of Divine disapproval. After all, Hashem does not share every natural occurrence that occurs with his prophets. Malbim suggests that had the death been a punishment, Hashem might have told Elisha in advance so that he could prevent it through prayer or repentance, but since the death resulted from natural causes, He saw no need.
Geichazi's failure
- Rashi, following Tanchuma places the blame for the failed attempt at revival on Geichazi, suggesting that en route to the Shunamite he repeatedly gloated about the miracle he was to perform, thereby diminishing the dignity of the action. He was punished measure for measure, in not being able to perform the act he prided himself on.
- Malbim, instead, suggests that Elisha had not realized that the boy had actually died, assuming that he had simply fainted. As such, he thought that Geichazi's powers would suffice. Howerver, since the tragedy was much greater they did not.18
Biblical parallels – The linguistic parallels to the story of the annunciation of the birth of Yitzchak could be understood as
Flaw in the Shunamite
The Shunamite did not sufficiently appreciate the miracle bestowed upon her, and did not recognize that the supernatural birth of her son brought with it the responsibility of raising him to greatness.
Sources:R"E Samet
The Shunamites' title: אִשָּׁה גְדוֹלָה – R. Samet notes that, unlike other childless women in Tanakh, the Shunamite is not introduced to the reader as barren, but rather as an important woman. He suggests that this implies that the Shunamite's barren status must not have bothered her greatly.19 She replaced a life of motherhood with one of business, taking care of her estate and involving herself with acts of hospitality.
No request for a son – According to R. Samet, the Shunamite does not ask for her son because it was simply not high on her list of priorities. When told of her upcoming pregnancy, she replies ""אַל תְּכַזֵּב בְּשִׁפְחָתֶךָ", not out of fear of being disappointed, but because she is not in the frame of mind to become a mother. It is for this very reason that Elisha had not thought on his own of granting her a son. Had the Shunamite been yearning for a child, he would probably have taken notice of the fact by himself and not needed Geichazi to enlighten him.
Evaluation of the Shunamite – R. Samet views this lack of desire for a child negatively, suggesting that the Shunamite did not sufficiently appreciate the blessing of motherhood. One, however, might question both R. Samet's assumption regarding the emotional state of the Shunamite20 and his evaluation that one who has managed to come to terms with barrenness need be viewed negatively.21
Biblical parallels – R"E Samet attempts to support his negative view of the Shunamite by contrasting her with other barren women in Tanakh. While Sarah, Rachel, and Channah all express their joy and thanksgiving on bearing a child,22 and see to it that the child is raised so as to become a leader (thereby meriting their miraculous birth) the Shunamite does neither.23 The text shares no prayer of thanksgiving and no description of her caring for the child in any special way. However, an argument from silence is not necessarily fair. Moreover, though it is indisputable that Yitzchak, Yaakov, Yosef, Shimshon and Shemuel all become leaders, we know almost nothing about their upbringing and it is not clear that the Shunamite invested less in her son than these mothers.24
"וַיִּגְדַּל הַיָּלֶד... וַיֵּצֵא... אֶל הַקֹּצְרִים" – R. Samet points to this description of the boy's growth as evidence that the Shunamite did not invest properly in the son given to her via miracle. He was not raised to learn Torah or do good deeds, but rather to work in the field. It should be noted, however, that the description of his maturation, "וַיִּגְדַּל הַיָּלֶד... וַיֵּצֵא... אֶל הַקֹּצְרִים" is really not all that different from that of Yaakov, "וַיִּגְדְּלוּ הַנְּעָרִים... וְיַעֲקֹב אִישׁ תָּם יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים". Neither says anything about the boys' spiritual maturation.25
Reaction to death – R. samet claims that it is only with the death of her son, that the Shunamite realizes both what she had been given and what she had lost. She finally recognizes that if Hashem made a miracle to grant her a son, it could not have been in vain. Her son could not have been meant to be like all other children. This realization leads her to correct her earlier attitude. No longer does she take her son for granted. No longer is she satisfied with a motherless lot, but instead, she does all in her power to have Elisha bring about a second miracle.
"וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָרְצָה וַתִּשָּׂא אֶת בְּנָהּ" – R. Samet claims that these actions suggest that after the child's "second birth," the Shunamite has learned her lesson. Her falling and bowing express the thanksgiving earlier omitted, and her "lifting of her son" represents her knowledge that she must bring him up in an exalted manner and raise him to be a leader.
Elisha's role – R. Samet puts some of the blame on the prophet as well, maintaining that he did not properly inform the Shunamite of her responsibilities and that he did not take an active role in correcting the situation after the fact. Elisha could have had the boy join his band of "בני הנביאים" and trained him to prophecy, yet, Elisha felt no obligation to play a role in the boy's upbringing and made no connection to him.
"וַי"י הֶעְלִים מִמֶּנִּי וְלֹא הִגִּיד לִי" – Since Elisha broke ties with the boy, Hashem, measure for measure, kept him in the dark about his fate.
Failure to revive – The initial failure to revive the boy stems from this same issue, Elisha's having distanced himself from the welfare of the family. In sending Geichazi to revive the boy, he demonstrated that he had not as yet learned the necessity of creating a personal connection to the boy. Thus, it is only when he personally plays a role in the revival that it is successful.
"וַיָּשֶׂם פִּיו עַל פִּיו וְעֵינָיו עַל עֵינָיו וְכַפָּיו עַל כַּפָּו" – R. Samet suggests that the method of revival further symbolizes Elisha's recognition that he should have formed a personal relationship with the child. His connecting eye to eye, mouth to mouth represents his new connection to the boy and personal intervention in his life.
No Flaw
The death of the son of the Shunamite was not related to any sin, but was rather was the result of natural causes.