2 Kings 4:42

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 4:42

And there came a man from Baalshalisha ,.... Of which place See Gill on 1 Samuel 9:4 , the Targum is, from the south country: and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley ; so that it was now barley harvest, and this the first fruits of it, which, according to the law, Leviticus 23:10 , was to be brought to the priest; but being forbid in the land of Israel going up to Jerusalem, religious men brought their firstfruits to the prophets, and here to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 4:42

Bread of the first-fruits - This was an offering to the prophet, as the first-fruits themselves were an offering to God. Corn in the husk - Probably parched corn or corn to be parched, a very frequent food in the East; full ears, before they are ripe, parched on the fire. 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 4:38-44

Ministries to man, good and bad. "And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land," etc. Elisha had returned to Gilgal, the seat of a school of the prophets; he had come thither once more on his yearly circuit, and during the famine, which prevailed in the land. As the students sat before their master, he discerned in their emaciated forms the terrible effects upon them of the famine. In the narrative we discover the action of several ministries, or events with which men... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:42

And there came a man from Baal-shalisha. "Baal-shalisha" is reasonably identified with the "Beth-shalisha" of Eusebius and Jerome, which they place twelve Roman miles north of Diospolis, or Lydda (now Ludd). By "north" we must probably understand "northeast," since the "land of Shalisha" lay between the territories of Ephraim and Benjamin ( 1 Samuel 9:4 ). The position thus indicated would not be very far from the Gilgal ( Jiljileh ) of 2 Kings 2:1-25 . and 2 Kings 4:38 . And... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:42-44

4. The feeding of a hundred men on twenty loaves . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:42-44

The loaves multiplied. I. THE PROPHET PROVIDED FOE . It was a time of famine. "But they that fear the Lord shall, not want any good thing." Elisha received a thank offering from the people—bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn. The objection to a paid ministry has no warrant in the Word of God . Old Testament and New alike encourage provision for the wants of God's ministers. Jesus said, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Paul said, "They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 4:42-44

The twenty barley loaves. This miracle foreshadows Christ's acts of multiplying the loaves ( Matthew 14:15-21 ; Matthew 15:32-39 , etc.). I. THE GIFT OF LOAVES . In a time of great need in the little society, there came a man from Baal-shalisha, bringing with him twenty barley loaves and a quantity of fresh corn. This welcome gift was: 1. Prompted by a religious motive . It was "bread of the firstfruits." The religious dues were ordinarily paid to priests and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 4:42

Baal-shalisha - Fifteen Roman miles north of Lydda, in the Sharon plain to the west of the highlands of Ephraim. It was, apparently, the chief city of the “land of Shalisha” (marginal reference).Bread of the first fruits - It appears by this that the Levitical priests having withdrawn from the land of Israel (see 2 Chronicles 11:13-14), pious Israelites transferred to the prophets, whom God raised up, the offerings required by the Law to be given to the priests Numbers 18:13; Deuteronomy... read more

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