2 Kings 4:27
And 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.
And when she came to the man of God to the hill,.... To the top of it:
she caught him by the feet; in reverence to him, and as a supplicant, she prostrated herself at his feet, and, out of affection to him, caught hold on them, and held them fast, and determined not to leave him until he had promised to go with her, see Matthew 28:9. It was usual with the Jews to lay hold on and kiss the feet or knees of those to whom they did homage, or made supplication, see Matthew 28:9.
See Gill on "Luke 7:38", and so with the Greeks, as may be observed in various passages in Homer {y} and others:
but Gehazi came near to thrust her away; as being troublesome and disagreeable to his master, and not for her honour and credit:
And the man of God said, Let her alone, for her soul is vexed within her; or "is bitter" {z}, full of trouble and distress, and knows not what to do, nor very well what she does:
and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me: what is the cause of this her trouble; for prophets did not know things of themselves, nor had they the vision of prophecy at their will and pleasure, but according to the will of God.
{y} Vid. Barthium ad Claudian. de Raptu Proserpin. l. 1. ver. 50.
{z} hrm "amara", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.