2 Kings 4:43

43 His attendant said, "What, 1will 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.' "

2 Kings 4:43 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:43

And his servitor said
His servant Gehazi very probably:

what, should I set this before one hundred men?
for so many, it seems, the sons of the prophets were in this place; and these loaves being very small, no more, it is thought by some, than one man could eat, and the ears of corn but few, the servant suggests they would be nothing comparatively to such a company of men:

he said again, give the people, that they may eat;
he insisted upon it that his orders should be obeyed:

for thus saith the Lord, they shall eat, and shall leave thereof;
it was suggested to him by a spirit of prophecy, there would be enough for them, and to spare.

2 Kings 4:43 In-Context

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 .

Cross References 1

  • 1. Luke 9:13; John 6:9
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.