Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 4:35

"Then he returned, and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes." — 2 Kings 4:35 (ASV)

He returned. —From the bed.

Walked in the house to and fro. —Or, in the chamber. Elisha’s walking to and fro is an index of intense excitement. He was earnestly expecting the fulfillment of his prayer. Cornelius à Lapide thinks the prophet walked “ut ambulando excitaret majorem calorem quem puero communicaret” (!)

The child sneezed. —The verb occurs here only. It denotes a faint rather than a loud sneeze (Hebrew, atîshâh; Job 41:10). It is omitted by the Septuagint, which has, and he bowed himself over the boy until seven times. The repeated sneezing was a sign of restored respiration .

Keil supposes that whereas Elijah raised the widow’s son at once, his successor only restored the Shunammite’s son by degrees; and that this indicates an inferiority on the part of Elisha. But the narrative in 1 Kings 17:17 and following is plainly abridged.