2 Kings 4:38

_AND ELISHA CAME AGAIN TO GILGAL: AND THERE WAS A DEARTH IN THE LAND; AND THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS WERE SITTING BEFORE HIM: AND HE SAID UNTO HIS SERVANT, SET ON THE GREAT POT, AND SEETHE POTTAGE FOR THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS._ There was a dearth in the land ... (see the notes at 2 Kings 8:1 .) the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. When receiving instruction, the scholars sat under their masters. This refers their being domiciled the same roof (cf. 2 Kings 6:1). SET ON THE GREAT POT. Since it is most likely that the Jewish would resemble the Egyptian "great pot," it is seen by the monumental paintings to have been a large goblet, with two long legs, which stood over the fire on the floor. The seethed pottage consisted of meat cut into small pieces, mixed with rice or meal,

38-44 There was a famine of bread, but not of hearing the word of God, for Elisha had the sons of the prophets sitting before him, to hear his wisdom. Elisha made hurtful food to become safe and wholesome. If a mess of pottage be all our dinner, remember that this great prophet had no better for himself and his guests. The table often becomes a snare, and that which should be for our welfare, proves a trap: this is a good reason why we should not feed ourselves without fear. When we are receiving the supports and comforts of life, we must keep up an expectation of death, and a fear of sin. We must acknowledge God's goodness in making our food wholesome and nourishing; I am the Lord that healeth thee. Elisha also made a little food go a great way. Having freely received, he freely gave. God has promised his church, that he will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her poor with br...

Verse 38. _CAME AGAIN TO GILGAL_] He had been there before with his master, a short time prior to his translation. _SET ON THE GREAT POT AND SEETHE POTTAGE FOR THE SONS OF THE_ _PROPHETS._] It was in a time of _dearth_, and all might now stand in need of refreshment; and it appears that the prophet was led to put forth the power he had from God to make a plentiful provision for those who were present. The father of the celebrated Dr. Young, author of the _Night Thoughts_, preaching a charity sermon for the benefit of the _sons of the clergy_, took the above words for his text; nor could they be said to be inappropriate....

THERE WAS A DEARTH IN THE LAND - Rather, “The famine was in the land.” The seven years’ dearth of which Elisha had prophesied (marginal reference) had begun. THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS - See 1 Kings 20:35 note. They were sitting before him as scholars before their master, hearing his instructions....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 4:1 TYPICAL MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ELISHA. General _introduction_._ _The miracles of this chapter are all of them miracles of mercy. The first and last consist in the multiplying of food, and thus belong to the same class as our Lord's feeding the four and the five thousands, and Elijah's increasing the meal and oil of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:10). It serves no useful purpose to ask how miracles of this class were wrought. The inspired writers have not told us; and our own thoughts upon the subject can at the best be mere unfounded conjectures. The rationalistic attempts which have been made to solve the mystery exhibit a weakness and feeblen

AND ELISHA CAME AGAIN TO GILGAL,.... Where he was with Elijah a little before his assumption to heaven, 2 Kings 2:1 and whither he went, there being a school of the prophets, as he did to all places where there were any, and where he had been before with Elijah; partly to instruct, encourage, and strengthen them, and partly to confirm his office as a prophet by miracles, which he did in several places he came to: AND THERE WAS A DEARTH IN THE LAND; a famine through drought: AND THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS WERE SITTING BEFORE HIM: as disciples before their master, see Acts 22:3 AND HE SAID UNTO HIS SERVANT; very probably Gehazi: SET ON THE GREAT POT, AND SEETHE POTTAGE FOR THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS; who seemed to have lived together in one hous

3. THE MIRACLES CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The widow's oil multiplied (2 Kings 4:1)_ 2. The Shunammite and her reward (2 Kings 4:8) 3. The son of the Shunammite raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:18) 4. The deadly pottage healed (2 Kings 4:38) 5. The multitude fed (2 Kings 4:42) In the previous chapter Elisha appeared as the saviour of Israel, and now he acts in behalf of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets. His name is not given. Elisha had known him as one who feared the Lord. And now the widow deeply in

TWO MINOR MIRACLES OF ELISHA. The death (poison) in the pot healed and the feeding of a hundred prophets. The bread of the firstfruits (2 Kings 4:42) was by the Law the property of the priests (Numbers 18:13; Deuteronomy 18:4). Here the loaves and ears of corn are offered to prophets. In the Christian _Teaching of the Twelve Apostles_ the prophets are to be given of the firstfruits, for they are your priests. There is no similar instance in the OT....

Elisha at Gilgal heals the noxious Pottage (Not in Chronicles) 38. _Elisha came again to Gilgal_ There are no notes of time in this narrative, or in the others, though we can see, here and there, that the events are not put together chronologically. (See below, on 2 Kings 8:1.) Elisha had been at Gilgal with Elijah, but there is no need to suppose that -came again" alludes to that visit. Gilgal (on which see note on 2 Kings 2:1 above) was a centre of prophetic activity and it is probable that it was visited frequently both by Elijah and Elisha. _and_there was _a dearth in the land_ The first noun has the article, and the clause might well be rendered - _the_famine was in the land". The allusion will then be to the famine foretold in...

II. MIRACLES ON BEHALF OF THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS 4:38-44 As the spiritual head of the sons of the prophets, Elisha frequently was called upon apparently to use his powers for the benefit of the group. On two occasions he rescued these men from serious sickness and possible death. In the closing verses of chapter 4 the author narrates (1) the healing of the noxious pottage (2 Kings 4:38-41); and (2) the multiplication of the loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44). A. HEALING OF THE NOXIOUS POTTAGE 4:38-41 TRANSLATION (38) And Elisha returned to Gilgal. Now famine was in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. And he said to his lad, Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets. (39) And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and