Then she saddled the donkey and told her servant, “Drive onward; do not slow the pace for me unless I tell you.”
We may well suppose that, after the birth of this son, the prophet was doubly welcome to the good Shunammite. He had thought himself indebted to her, but henceforth, as long as she lives, she will think herself in his debt, and that she can never do too much for him.
Commenting on 2 Kings 4:18-37
Then she saddled an ass,.... Her servant did it by her order: and said to her servant, drive, and go forward; make all the haste he could: slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee; do not be afraid of riding too fast for me; if thou dost, I will tell thee; till then, keep on a good pace: Abarbinel says she walked...
Drive, and go forward--It is usual for women to ride on asses, accompanied by a servant, who walks behind and drives the beast with his stick, goading the animal at the speed required by his mistress. The Shunammite had to ride a journey of five or six hours to the top of Carmel.