2 Kings 4:38 KJV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 4:38

2 Kings 4:38. There was a dearth in the land The same that we read of chap. 2 Kings 3:1. It continued seven years, just as long again as that in the time of Elijah. For if a wicked nation will not be reformed by a lesser judgment, they must expect to be visited with a greater. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him To hear his wisdom, and be instructed in the law, that they might teach others. He said unto his servant, Seethe the pottage, &c. By this it appears that they... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1-44

Miracles of care for the remnant (4:1-44)The widow of one of the prophets was in desperate trouble. She had hardly any food left and was about to lose her only means of income; for her sons were to be taken from her in payment for a debt. Elisha’s miraculous provision of oil enabled her to pay the debt and so preserve a few of God’s faithful in days of extreme hardship (4:1-7).Another of Israel’s faithful was the wife of a wealthy landowner. She recognized Elisha as God’s representative and... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:38

IV. THE MIRACLE OF HEALING THE DEATH IN THE POT"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 boil pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage; for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 4:38

38. there was a dearth in the land—(see on 2 Kings 8:1). the sons of the prophets were sitting before him—When receiving instruction, the scholars sat under their masters. This refers to their being domiciled under the same roof (compare 2 Kings 6:1). Set on the great pot—As 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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 4:38-41

The deadly effects of apostasy 4:38-41God again disciplined Israel by withholding fertility from the land and producing a famine (2 Kings 4:38; cf. 1 Kings 17). The people were not only hungry for bread but also for what would truly satisfy their spiritual hunger, namely, the Word of God. The wild gourds were similar to Baalism. They looked attractive but proved disgusting and deadly when consumed. Scripture compares meal or bread to the Word of God because it is what satisfies people’s most... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:1-44

Various Miracles of ElishaThe miracles related of Elisha in this and the following chapters resemble many of those previously recounted of Elijah. Thus both prophets multiplied the sustenance of a woman in need (2 Kings 4:1-7; 1 Kings 17:8-16); both restored a dead child to life (2 Kings 4:8-27; 1 Kings 17:17-24); both came into conflict with their king on the occasion of a famine (2 Kings 6:24-33; 1 Kings 18); and both brought a violent death upon certain individuals who offended them (2 Kings... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 4:38

(38) And Elisha came again.—Now Elisha had returned, commencing a new narrative. The word “return” refers to the prophet’s annual visit. (Comp. 2 Kings 4:25, and 2 Kings 2:1, Notes.) The story is not put in chronological sequence with the foregoing.And there was a dearth.—And the famine was.The sons of the prophets were sitting before him.—As disciples before a master; probably in a common hall, which served for lecture, work, and dining-room. (Comp. 2 Kings 6:1; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 14:1; Acts... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 4:38-44

(38-44) Elisha among the sons of the prophets at Gilgal during the famine. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Kings 4:1-44

2 Kings 4:29 read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1-44

ELISHA’S MIRACLES2 Kings 4:1-44WE are now in the full tide of Elisha’s miracles, and as regards many of them we can do little more than illustrate the text as it stands. The record of them clearly comes from some account prevalent in the schools of the prophets, which is however only fragmentary, and has been un-chronologically pieced into the annals of the kings of Israel.The story of Elisha abounds far more in the supernatural than that of Elijah, and is believed by most critics to be of... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 4:38

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1-44

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:38

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 4:38

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 4:38-41

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:1-44

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 4:38

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 4:38-44

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Kings 4:1-44

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1-44

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