This ancient text, a treasure trove of aggadic (interpretive) narratives, offers a unique lens through which to view familiar biblical tales.
Our story centers on a woman, unnamed but clearly distressed, who seeks out the prophet Elisha on Mount Carmel. She prostrates herself before him, overcome with grief. Her words are a lament: "Would that my vessel had remained empty! But it was filled, and now its contents are spilt." What does she mean? What precious gift has been lost? The text doesn't spell it out directly, leaving us to infer the context from the broader narrative of Elisha in 2 Kings. We know from there that he performed a miracle for her, multiplying her oil to save her sons from being taken into slavery. So, we can assume this is connected to that miracle.
Elisha's response is intriguing. He states, "Everything which the Holy One, blessed be He, doeth, He telleth to me, but He has hidden this matter." Why would God conceal something from his prophet? The text then quotes 2 Kings 4:27, focusing on the moment when Gehazi, Elisha's servant, attempts to push the woman away.
"And when she came to the man of God… and Gehazi came near to thrust her away." Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer delves into the meaning of "to thrust her away," offering a rather startling interpretation. It explains that Gehazi placed his hand upon "her pride, which was upon her breasts." This is a jarring image, isn't it? It suggests a level of intimacy and perhaps even impropriety that clashes with our expectations of a prophetic encounter.
The text continues, quoting Elisha: "And the man of God said, Let her alone… and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me." This raises so many questions! Was Gehazi's action a contributing factor to the tragedy that has befallen the woman? Did his inappropriate behavior somehow sever the connection, causing God to withdraw his favor? Or is it about the woman's own actions, alluded to by Gehazi's actions?
Elisha then takes his staff and gives it to Gehazi, instructing him: "Do not speak with thy mouth any word at all; know that thou goest and placest the staff upon the face of the lad, that he may live." The narrative here assumes we know the rest of the story (from 2 Kings 4). Elisha is sending Gehazi to try and resurrect the woman's son who has died. And his instructions are very specific: No talking. Just action.
Why the silence? Perhaps it's because words have failed. Perhaps it's because Gehazi's previous actions have tainted the situation, and only a direct, silent act of healing can restore what was lost.
This passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer offers a complex and unsettling glimpse into the world of biblical prophecy. It reminds us that even those closest to God can be fallible, that miracles can be fragile, and that sometimes, the reasons for our blessings and our losses remain shrouded in mystery. It’s a story that lingers, prompting us to consider the hidden dimensions of faith, the consequences of our actions, and the delicate balance between divine grace and human frailty.