Then he said to Gehazi, gird up thy loins
His loose and long garments about him, that he might make quicker dispatch in travelling:
and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way;
not for the sake of travelling with it, but for an end after mentioned:
if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer
him not again;
that so no time may be lost:
and lay my staff upon the face of the child;
he not intending when he said this to go himself, but at the time, as near as he could, when this action was performed, would pray to God to restore life to the child; for he could not imagine that by this bare action it could be done.