And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
Ver. 21. And he stretched himself.] As well to express the fervency of his prayer, as the desire he had to make him even partaker of his own life. See a like posture, 2 Kings 4:34 .
Three times] Alternis incubates et orans. Pray on still. He prayed thrice, saith one, to intimate his praying to the blessed Trinity. He prayed at first, saith another, but nothing came: he prayed therefore again more fervently, and yet a third time with greatest ardency, and had his request.