38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal , there was a famine in the land . As the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant , " Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets ." 39 Then one went out into the field to gather herbs , and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds , and came and sliced them into the pot of stew , for they did not know what they were. 40 So they poured it out for the men to eat . And as they were eating of the stew , they cried out and said , "O man of God , there is death in the pot ." And they were unable e to eat . 41 But he said , "Now bring meal ." He threw it into the pot and said , "Pour it out for the people that they may eat ." Then there was no harm in the pot . 42 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah , and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits , twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack . And he said , " Give them to the people that they may eat ." 43 His attendant said , "What , will I set this before a hundred men ?" But he said , "Give them to the people that they may eat , for thus says the Lord , 'They shall eat and have some left over .' " 44 So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over , according to the word of the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:38-44
Commentary on 2 Kings 4:38-44
(Read 2 Kings 4:38-44)
There was a famine of bread, but not of hearing the word of God, for Elisha had the sons of the prophets sitting before him, to hear his wisdom. Elisha made hurtful food to become safe and wholesome. If a mess of pottage be all our dinner, remember that this great prophet had no better for himself and his guests. The table often becomes a snare, and that which should be for our welfare, proves a trap: this is a good reason why we should not feed ourselves without fear. When we are receiving the supports and comforts of life, we must keep up an expectation of death, and a fear of sin. We must acknowledge God's goodness in making our food wholesome and nourishing; I am the Lord that healeth thee. Elisha also made a little food go a great way. Having freely received, he freely gave. God has promised his church, that he will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her poor with bread, Psalm 132:15; whom he feeds, he fills; and what he blesses, comes to much. Christ's feeding his hearers was a miracle far beyond this, but both teach us that those who wait upon God in the way of duty, may hope to be supplied by Divine Providence.