C. F. Keil and Franz Delitzsch on 1 Kings 17:21

1Ki 17:21

He stretched himself (יתמדד) three times upon him, not to ascertain whether there was still any life left in him, as Paul did in Act 20:10, nor to warm the body of the child and set its blood in circulation, as Elisha did with a dead child (2Ki 4:34), - for the action of Elisha is described in a different manner, and the youth mentioned in Act 20:10 was only apparently dead, - but to bring down the vivifying power of God upon the dead body, and thereby support his own word and prayer.“This was done, that the prophet’s body might be the instrument of the miracle, just as in other cases of miracle there was an imposition of the hand.” - Seb. Schmidt.

He then cried to the Lord, “Jehovah, my God, I pray Thee let the soul of this boy return within it.” על־קרבּו, inasmuch as the soul as the vital principle springs from above.