2 Kings 4:42 - Exposition

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 brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits. It is clear that the more pious among the Israelites not only looked to the prophets for religious instruction ( 2 Kings 4:23 ), but regarded them as having inherited the position of the Levitical priests whom Jeroboam's innovations had driven from the country. The firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil were assigned by the Law ( Numbers 18:13 ; Deuteronomy 18:4 , Deuteronomy 18:5 ) to the priests. Twenty loaves of barley. The "loaves" of the Israelites were cakes or rolls, rather than "loaves" in the modem sense of the word. Each partaker of a meal usually had one for himself. Naturally, twenty "loaves" would be barely sufficient for twenty men. And full ears of corn ; i.e. a few ripe ears of the same corn as that whereof the bread was made. Ears of corn were offered as firstfruits at the Passover ( Leviticus 23:10 ), and were regarded as the most natural and becoming tokens of gratitude for God's harvest mercies. In the husk thereof ; rather, in his bag , or in his sack (see the Revised Version). And he said, Give unto the people — i.e; to the sons of the prophets who dwelt at Gilgal— that they may eat.