Many similarities exist between the infertility, ultimate birth and near death experience of Yitzhak and the son of the Shunamite woman. Is the death of the son a criticism of the mother who failed to raise this miracle child in a worthy fashion or is it a criticism of Elisha who overstepped his limitations as a prophet? Geihazi's repeated failures in the story might attest to his flawed personality. However, perhaps his failure is meant to teach Elisha that his success as a prophet depends on a direct, non-bureaucratic contact with the common people.