2 Kings 4:38-39

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 4:38-44

We have here Elisha in his place, in his element, among the sons of the prophets, teaching them, and, as a father, providing for them; and happy it was for them that they had one over them who naturally cared for their state, under whom they were well fed and well taught. There was a dearth in the land, for the wickedness of those that dwelt therein, the same that we read of, 2 Kgs. 8:1. It continued seven years, just as long again as that in Elijah's time. A famine of bread there was, but not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:38

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:39

And one went out into the fields to gather herbs ,.... To put into the pottage, the gardens affording none in this time of dearth; or, however, being scarce, were at too great a price for the sons of the prophets to purchase them; and therefore one of them went out into the field to gather what common herbs he could: and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full ; thought to be the same with coloquintida, the leaves of which are very like to a vine, of a very... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:38

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,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:39

Wild gourds - This is generally thought to be the coloquintida, the fruit of a plant of the same name, about the size of a large orange. It is brought hither from the Levant, and is often known by the name of the bitter apple; both the seeds and pulp are intensely bitter, and violently purgative. It ranks among vegetable poisons, as all intense bitters do; but, judiciously employed, it is of considerable use in medicine. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1-44

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 17:10-16 ). It serves no useful purpose to ask how miracles of this class were wrought. The inspired writers have not told us; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:38

And Elisha came again to Gilgal ; i.e. revisited Gilgal, where he had been previously with his master ( 2 Kings 2:1 ), either casually, or perhaps on one of his regular circuits (Keil) to visit the schools of the prophets. And there was a dearth in the land —probably the dearth again mentioned in 2 Kings 8:1 — and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. Some translate "the sons of the prophets dwelt with him " (Vulgate, Luther, Bishop Hersley); but our version is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:38-41

3 . The healing of the unwholesome pottage. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:38-41

Death in the pot: a sermon to young men. These young men were very nearly being poisoned. There was a famine in the land. Elisha came to Gilgal, where there was a school or college of young men in training for the sacred office of teaching others. Perhaps they were not skilled in the art of making the most of the vegetables which grew round about them, and were badly off for food. Elisha ordered his servant to put on the great pot, and make some pottage, or thick broth, for the hungry... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:38-41

The deadly pottage. Two other remarkable, though more briefly related, works of Elisha are narrated in the closing verses of this chapter. Both have to do with "the sons of the prophets" at Gilgal; both relate to a time of famine; and one is an Old Testament anticipation of a signal miracle of Christ. The first is the healing of the deadly pottage. I. THE PROPHETIC COLLEGE . We are transported to Gilgal, and gain a glimpse into the interior of the prophetic school. 1. ... read more

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