It was a perfectly natural question, for these people are and were in the habit of proffering favors and services and then expecting and begging for pay.

Elisha knew them well.

He could not comprehend that any body should build for him that humble little chamber for the mere sake of old friendship, and with no selfish motive whatever.

It used to seem a very impolite, not to say a rude, question, for Elisha to ask the woman, but it does not seem so to me now.

The woman said she expected nothing.