Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. "Give it to the people to eat," said Elisha. Now a man from Baal-shalishahThis phrase introduces us to a man from Baal-shalishah, a location whose name suggests a connection to the Canaanite deity Baal. The name "Baal-shalishah" indicates a region that was likely influenced by pagan worship, yet this man chooses to honor the God of Israel by bringing his offering to Elisha, the prophet. This act signifies a turning away from idolatry and a recognition of the true God, reflecting a theme of faithfulness amidst a culture of spiritual compromise. came to the man of God
The "man of God" refers to Elisha, a prophet who succeeded Elijah. In the Hebrew context, a "man of God" is someone who speaks on behalf of God, serving as a conduit for divine will and power. This title underscores Elisha's role as a spiritual leader and miracle worker, emphasizing the respect and authority he commanded among the people of Israel. with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread
Barley was a common grain in ancient Israel, often associated with the food of the poor due to its lower cost compared to wheat. The "twenty loaves" indicate a substantial offering, reflecting the man's generosity and devotion. In the biblical narrative, bread often symbolizes sustenance and life, pointing to God's provision for His people. This offering of barley bread prefigures the miraculous feeding that follows, echoing themes of divine abundance. from the firstfruits
The concept of "firstfruits" is deeply rooted in the Hebrew tradition, where the first and best portion of the harvest is offered to God as an act of worship and gratitude. This practice acknowledges God's sovereignty and provision, and it is a demonstration of faith that He will continue to provide. By bringing the firstfruits to Elisha, the man is honoring God and seeking His blessing. along with some heads of new grain
The inclusion of "heads of new grain" further emphasizes the offering's connection to the harvest and God's provision. In ancient Israel, new grain was a sign of renewal and hope, symbolizing the cycle of life and God's ongoing care for His creation. This detail enriches the narrative, highlighting the theme of divine sustenance and the anticipation of God's miraculous intervention. 'Give it to the people to eat,' said Elisha
Elisha's command to "give it to the people to eat" demonstrates his faith in God's ability to multiply resources and provide for His people. This directive mirrors the actions of Jesus in the New Testament, who also fed multitudes with limited resources. Elisha's instruction is an invitation to witness God's power and generosity, encouraging trust in His provision even when circumstances seem insufficient. This act of sharing reflects the biblical principle of community and the importance of caring for one another's needs through faith in God's abundance. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God who succeeded Elijah. Known for performing miracles and guiding the people of Israel. 2. Man from Baal-shalishahAn unnamed man who brought the firstfruits of his harvest to Elisha, demonstrating faith and obedience. 3. Baal-shalishahA region in Israel, possibly known for its agricultural produce. 4. Barley LoavesTwenty loaves made from the first ripe grain, symbolizing the firstfruits offering. 5. The PeopleLikely a group of prophets or followers of Elisha who were in need of sustenance. Teaching Points Faith in ActionThe man from Baal-shalishah demonstrated faith by bringing his firstfruits to Elisha, trusting in God's provision. God's ProvisionJust as God provided through Elisha, He continues to provide for His people today, often in unexpected ways. Generosity and ObedienceThe act of giving the firstfruits reflects a heart of generosity and obedience to God's commands. Miracles of MultiplicationGod can multiply our limited resources when we offer them in faith, as seen in both Elisha's and Jesus' miracles. Community and SharingThe sharing of resources within the community of believers is a biblical principle that strengthens and sustains the body of Christ. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the act of bringing the firstfruits to Elisha demonstrate faith and obedience, and how can we apply this principle in our own lives? 2. In what ways does this passage foreshadow the miracles of Jesus, particularly the feeding of the five thousand? 3. How can we trust God to provide for our needs when resources seem limited, as demonstrated in this account? 4. What does this passage teach us about the importance of generosity and sharing within the Christian community? 5. How can we apply the principle of giving our "firstfruits" to God in our modern context, and what might that look like practically? Connections to Other Scriptures John 6:1-14The feeding of the five thousand by Jesus, which parallels Elisha's miracle of feeding many with limited resources. Leviticus 23:10The law concerning the offering of firstfruits, which the man from Baal-shalishah was observing. 1 Kings 17:8-16Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, where God provides miraculously through limited resources. Proverbs 3:9-10The principle of honoring the Lord with the firstfruits, leading to abundance. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11God's provision and multiplication of resources for those who give generously. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Along, Baal, Baalshalisha, Baal-shalisha, Baal-shalishah, Ba'al-shal'ishah, Bag, Baked, Barley, Bread, Bringeth, Bringing, Cakes, Corn, Ears, Eat, Elisha, Eli'sha, Firstfruits, First-fruits, Fresh, Fruit, Fruits, Full, Garden, Grain, Heads, Husk, Loaves, Offering, Ripe, Sack, Shalishah, Thereof, TwentyDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:42 4418 bread
5222 baking 2 Kings 4:40-44 1416 miracles, nature of 2 Kings 4:42-43 8726 doubters 2 Kings 4:42-44 1330 God, the provider
1355 providence
4428 corn
4456 grain
8837 unbelief, and life of faith Library When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband! is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 4:42 NIV2 Kings 4:42 NLT2 Kings 4:42 ESV2 Kings 4:42 NASB2 Kings 4:42 KJV
2 Kings 4:42 Commentaries
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