2 Kings 4:38 - Meaning and Application

We have Elisha in his proper place, among the sons of the prophets, teaching them and, like a father, providing for them. It was a great blessing for them to have someone over them who truly cared about their condition, because under his care they were both well taught and well fed. There was a famine in the land because of the sin of those who lived there, the same famine mentioned elsewhere (2 Kings 8:1). It lasted seven years, just as long as the famine in Elijah’s day. There was a shortage of bread, but not of God’s word, because Elisha had the sons of the prophets gathered before him to hear his wisdom. They were being trained so they could teach others.

We see here two examples of how carefully he looked after their food. Christ also fed the people who came to hear him, twice. Elisha was especially careful now because of the famine, so that the sons of the prophets would not be brought low in this hard time, but would still be satisfied even in days of hunger (Psalm 37:19).

First, he made harmful food safe and wholesome. On the day of teaching, when all the sons of the prophets were to attend, he told his servant to prepare food for their bodies while he himself broke the bread of life for their souls. It does not seem that there was any meat, only a pot of stew made from herbs (2 Kings 4:38). The sons of the prophets should be examples of self-control and simplicity. They should not crave rich food, but be content with plain fare. If they had no tasty dishes, no sweet dishes, and only a bowl of stew for dinner, they should remember that this great prophet and his guests had no better meal.

One of the servants, who was sent to gather herbs, brought in something harmful or at least very unpleasant, and cut it up into the stew, wild gourds (2 Kings 4:39). Some think this was coloquintida, a plant with a strong purging quality that could be dangerous unless carefully prepared. The sons of the prophets seem to have known more about God’s word than about plants, and they studied their Bibles more than their herb books. If any fruit of the earth is harmful, we should see that as part of the curse, since the original blessing made everything good.

The guests quickly tasted that the food was dangerous, and they complained to Elisha. God gave people the sense of taste not only so good food could be enjoyed, but also so harmful food could be noticed before it reaches the stomach. As Job says, “The mouth tests food” (Job 12:11). This stew was soon found to be dangerous, and they cried out, “There is death in the pot” (2 Kings 4:40). A table can become a trap, and what should support life can bring harm. That is a good reason to eat with caution and not live carelessly. Even while receiving life’s comforts, we should remember death and guard against sin.

Elisha at once cured the bad taste and stopped any harmful result from that stew. As he had once healed the bitter water with salt, so now he healed the bitter broth with meal (2 Kings 4:41). There was likely meal in it already, added by an ordinary hand only to thicken the stew. The same thing was put in again by Elisha’s hand, but this time with the purpose of healing it. So the change was not due to the meal itself, which was only the sign, but to God’s power working through it. Now all was well, with no death and no harm in the pot. We should thank God for making our food wholesome and nourishing. “I am the Lord who heals you.”

Second, he made a little food go a long way. Elisha was brought a gift of twenty barley loaves and some ears of grain (2 Kings 4:42). In that time, this would have been a respectable gift at any time, but especially valuable during a famine. It is said to have been firstfruits, which belonged to God from their increase. Since the priests and Levites were at Jerusalem and not near them, the godly people among them quite reasonably looked on the prophets as God’s receivers and brought their firstfruits to them. This helped support the schools of the prophets.

Having freely received, Elisha freely gave. He told them all to be set before the sons of the prophets, keeping none for himself and none for later. “Do not worry about tomorrow,” in effect, “give it all to the people, so they may eat.” It suits God’s servants to be generous and open-handed, and it suits the fathers of the prophets to be liberal toward the sons of the prophets.

Though the loaves were small, likely no more than what one man would eat at a meal, twenty of them were enough for one hundred men (2 Kings 4:43, 2 Kings 4:44). His servant thought that setting so little food before so many men would only mock them and make his master look foolish for such a large invitation with such poor fare. But Elisha, in God’s name, declared it enough for a full meal, and so it proved. They ate and still had some left, not because their hunger simply stopped, but because the bread increased while they were eating. God has promised his church that he will richly bless her provision and satisfy her poor with bread (Psalm 132:15). For those he feeds, he also fills. What he blesses becomes much, and what he sends hardship on becomes little (Haggai 1:9).

Christ’s feeding of his hearers was a greater miracle than this, but both teach us the same lesson. Those who wait on God in the path of duty may hope for his special care to protect them and supply their needs.