2 Kings 4:23

“Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” “Everything is all right,” she said.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The husband questions his wife’s decision to travel to the prophet on a regular day. He asks why she is going to him today when it is neither a New Moon nor a Sabbath.

The words — מַדּוּעַ (Ma.du.a') means "why?" and חֹדֶשׁ (Cho.desh) means "new moon." The husband uses these terms to highlight the unexpected timing of her journey.

The thread — The husband’s mention of the New Moon and Sabbath reflects the designated times for religious gatherings recorded in Numbers 28:11 and 1 Chronicles 23:31. Numbers 10:10 similarly lists New Moons and appointed feasts as occasions for assembly, though it does not include the Sabbath.

Why it lands — The husband assumes religious observance dictates travel, but the wife’s reply asserts that her personal need overrides customary scheduling. The text requires readers to recognize that divine encounters are not confined to liturgical calendars.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֗אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said מַ֠דּוּעַMa.du.a'why?אַ֣תְּ'a.ti[are] you הֹלֶ֤כֶתho.lakh.tigoing אֵלָיו֙'e.La/vto/ him הַיּ֔וֹםhai./Yomthis/ day לֹֽא־lo'-not חֹ֖דֶשׁCho.deshnew moon וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not שַׁבָּ֑תsha.Batsabbath וַתֹּ֖אמֶרva./To.merand/ she said שָׁלֽוֹם׃sha.Lompeace

King James Version

And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

Cross-references

Numbers 10:10 And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”
Numbers 28:11 At the beginning of every month, you are to present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,
1 Chronicles 23:31 Whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, they were to serve regularly before the LORD in the numbers prescribed for them.
Isaiah 1:13 Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.