And they poured it out for the men to eat, but when they tasted the stew they cried out, "There is death in the pot, O man of God!" And they could not eat it. Then they poured it out for the men to eatThis phrase marks the beginning of a miraculous event orchestrated by the prophet Elisha. The act of pouring out the stew signifies a moment of trust and obedience. In the Hebrew context, the act of serving food is often associated with hospitality and provision, reflecting God's provision for His people. Historically, this event occurs during a time of famine, emphasizing the dire need and the miraculous nature of God's intervention through His prophet. But when they began to eat the stew
The phrase highlights the immediacy of the situation. The men, likely hungry and desperate due to the famine, begin to eat without hesitation. This reflects the human condition of need and the natural response to seek sustenance. In a broader scriptural context, it underscores the theme of reliance on God for daily needs, as seen in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." they cried out
This reaction is one of alarm and distress. The Hebrew root for "cried out" often conveys a sense of urgent appeal or desperate plea, similar to the cries of the Israelites in Egypt. It is a moment of realization that what was meant to nourish is instead harmful, symbolizing the discernment needed in spiritual matters to distinguish between what is truly good and what is not. O man of God
This title for Elisha acknowledges his role as a prophet and a representative of God's authority and power. In the Old Testament, prophets were often referred to as "man of God," indicating their close relationship with the Divine and their role as intermediaries. This acknowledgment by the men shows their recognition of Elisha's spiritual authority and their hope for divine intervention. there is death in the pot!
The phrase is a dramatic declaration of the danger present. The "death in the pot" symbolizes the presence of something harmful and potentially lethal. In a spiritual sense, it can be seen as a metaphor for sin or false teachings that corrupt and bring spiritual death. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the need for purity and the dangers of spiritual contamination. And they could not eat it
This conclusion to the verse highlights the severity of the situation. The inability to eat the stew signifies the recognition of danger and the need for a solution beyond human capability. It points to the necessity of divine intervention to transform what is harmful into something beneficial, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible in God's redemptive work. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God who succeeded Elijah. Known for performing miracles and providing guidance to the people of Israel. 2. The Sons of the ProphetsA group of prophets or disciples who were under the tutelage of Elisha, often seen as a community dedicated to learning and living out God's word. 3. GilgalA location in Israel where Elisha and the sons of the prophets were staying during a time of famine. 4. The Wild GourdsUnidentified plants gathered by one of the sons of the prophets, which were unknowingly poisonous and added to the stew. 5. The StewA meal prepared during a famine, which became inedible due to the poisonous gourds. Teaching Points Divine InterventionJust as God used Elisha to purify the stew, He can intervene in our lives to remove harmful influences and provide for our needs. Discernment and WisdomThe incident highlights the importance of discernment and seeking God's wisdom in our decisions, especially in times of scarcity or crisis. Community and LeadershipThe sons of the prophets relied on Elisha's leadership and guidance, emphasizing the value of godly leadership and community support. Faith in God's ProvisionEven in dire circumstances, we are reminded to trust in God's provision and His ability to turn harmful situations into blessings. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the account of the poisonous stew in 2 Kings 4:40 illustrate the importance of seeking God's guidance in our daily decisions? 2. In what ways can we apply the lesson of divine intervention from this passage to our own lives, especially during challenging times? 3. How does the role of Elisha in this event reflect the responsibilities of spiritual leaders today? 4. What are some modern-day "poisonous gourds" that we might encounter, and how can we seek God's wisdom to avoid them? 5. How can the community of the sons of the prophets inspire us to build supportive and faith-centered communities in our own lives? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 15:23-25This passage describes how God made bitter water sweet for the Israelites, showing His power to transform and purify. Mark 16:18Jesus speaks of His followers being unharmed by deadly poison, illustrating divine protection. Acts 28:3-6Paul is unharmed by a viper's bite, demonstrating God's protection over His servants. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Able, Cried, Cry, Death, Drinking, Eat, Eating, O, Pass, Pot, Pottage, Pour, Poured, Soup, Stew, Thereof, UnableDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:38-40 4534 vine 2 Kings 4:38-41 5268 cooking 2 Kings 4:39-40 4500 poison 2 Kings 4:40-44 1416 miracles, nature of
7773 prophets, role 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 4:40 NIV2 Kings 4:40 NLT2 Kings 4:40 ESV2 Kings 4:40 NASB2 Kings 4:40 KJV
2 Kings 4:40 Commentaries
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