2 Kings 4:38

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.

andthere was a dearth in the land The first noun has the article, and the clause might well be rendered - thefamine was in the land". The allusion will then be to the famine foretold in 2 Kings 8:1. That some of the incidents related before that chapter occurred after the famine, see note on 2 Kings 8:4.

the sons of the prophetswere sitting before him They would naturally gather round the great prophet, made famous by a large share of Elijah's spirit, and catch at all he had to say. We can see from this story one aspect of the life in the colleges of the prophets. The members sat at the feet of some elder member, and learnt from him their duty and how to carry it out. (Cf. 2 Kings 6:1, and note.) By Elisha's teaching, which would be drawn from his own experience, they would gather faith and courage, seeing that God was working in their midst, and had not forsaken Israel in spite of their sins. Hence grew the hope of a thorough reformation in the breasts of these who must be regarded as the reformers of their time.

unto his servant Probably some one of the sons of the prophets, appointed to wait on Elisha while he tarried at Gilgal.