2 Kings 4:38

Contextual Overview

³⁸When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and make stew for the sons of the prophets.”³⁸ Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, Set on the great pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets. ³⁸ And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. ³⁸ And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, "Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." ³⁸ When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a shortage of food in the land. While the groups of prophets were sitting in front of him, he said to his servant, "Put the large pot on the fire, and boil some stew for these men." ³⁸ Now Elisha went back to Gilgal, while there was famine in the land. Some of the prophets were visiting him and he told his servant, "Put the big pot on the fire and boil some stew for the prophets." ³⁸Elisha came back to Gilgal during a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot and cook stew for the sons of the prophets."³⁸ When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting in front of him, he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets."³⁸ Afterward Elisha returned to Gilgal, and a famine was in the land, and the children of the Prophets dwelt with him. And hee sayd vnto his seruant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the children of the Prophets. ³⁸Now Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his young man, "Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Elisha: 2 Kings 2:1, 1 Samuel 7:16, 1 Samuel 7:17, Acts 10:38, Acts 15:36

a dearth: 2 Kings 8:1, Leviticus 26:26, Deuteronomy 28:22-24, Deuteronomy 28:38-40, 2 Samuel 21:1, Jeremiah 14:1-6, Ezekiel 14:13, Luke 4:25

the sons: 2 Kings 2:3, 1 Samuel 19:20

were sitting: Proverbs 8:34, Luke 2:46, Luke 8:35, Luke 8:38, Luke 10:39, Acts 22:3

Set on the great pot: Mark 6:37, Mark 8:2-6, Luke 9:13, John 21:5, John 21:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:10 - was a 1 Samuel 10:5 - a company 1 Kings 20:35 - of the sons 2 Kings 4:1 - sons 2 Kings 4:42 - bread 2 Kings 6:1 - the place Job 30:4 - for their meat Amos 4:6 - and want Amos 7:14 - neither

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Elisha came again to Gilgal,.... Where he was with Elijah a little before his assumption to heaven, 2 Kings 2:1 and whither he went, there being a school of the prophets, as he did to all places where there were any, and where he had been before with Elijah; partly to instruct, encourage, and strengthen them, and partly to confirm his office as a prophet by miracles, which he did in several places he came to:

and there was a dearth in the land; a famine through drought:

and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: as disciples before their master, see Acts 22:3

and he said unto his servant; very probably Gehazi:

set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets; who seemed to have lived together in one house or college, and to be to the number of one hundred, see 2 Kings 4:43 and therefore required to have a large pot set on to boil pottage for them all.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There was a dearth in the land - Rather, “The famine was in the land.” The seven years’ dearth of which Elisha had prophesied (marginal reference) had begun.

The sons of the prophets - See 1 Kings 20:35 note. They were sitting before him as scholars before their master, hearing his instructions.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 38. Came again to Gilgal — He had been there before with his master, a short time prior to his translation.

Set on the great pot and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. — It was in a time of dearth, and all might now stand in need of refreshment; and it appears that the prophet was led to put forth the power he had from God to make a plentiful provision for those who were present. The father of the celebrated Dr. Young, author of the Night Thoughts, preaching a charity sermon for the benefit of the sons of the clergy, took the above words for his text; nor could they be said to be inappropriate.