Biblical view of marriage #120: What will the neighbors think?
One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine. So she said to her husband, "I know that he is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there."
Some time later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight. Then he said to his servant Gehazi, "Call this Shunammite woman." He did so, and when she stood before Elisha, he told Gehazi, "Say to her, 'You have lavished all this care on us; what can we do for you? Can we say a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?'"
She replied, "I am living among my own people."
Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?"
"Yes!" Gehazi answered. "She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."
"Call her," said Elisha. When she had been called, and stood at the door, Elisha promised, "This time next year you will be fondling a baby son."
"Please, my lord," she protested, "you are a man of God; do not deceive your servant."
Yet the woman conceived, and by the same time the following year she had given birth to a son, as Elisha promised.
(2 Kings 4:8-17, New American Bible)
Some time later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight. Then he said to his servant Gehazi, "Call this Shunammite woman." He did so, and when she stood before Elisha, he told Gehazi, "Say to her, 'You have lavished all this care on us; what can we do for you? Can we say a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?'"
She replied, "I am living among my own people."
Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?"
"Yes!" Gehazi answered. "She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."
"Call her," said Elisha. When she had been called, and stood at the door, Elisha promised, "This time next year you will be fondling a baby son."
"Please, my lord," she protested, "you are a man of God; do not deceive your servant."
Yet the woman conceived, and by the same time the following year she had given birth to a son, as Elisha promised.
(2 Kings 4:8-17, New American Bible)