2 Kings 4:38

38 And Eliseus returned to Galgal, and there was a famine in the land, and the sons of the prophets dwelt before him: And he said to one of his servants: Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets.

2 Kings 4:38 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:38

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.

2 Kings 4:38 In-Context

36 And he called Giezi, and said to him: Call this Sunamitess. And she being called, went in to him: and he said: Take up thy son.

37 She came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground: and took up her son, and went out.

38 And Eliseus returned to Galgal, and there was a famine in the land, and the sons of the prophets dwelt before him: And he said to one of his servants: Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets.

39 And one went out into the field to gather wild herbs: and he found something like a wild vine, and gathered of it wild gourds of the field, and filled his mantle, and coming back, he shred them into the pot of pottage; for he knew not what it was.

40 And they poured it out for their companions to eat: and when they had tasted of the pottage, they cried out, saying: Death is in the pot, O man of God. And they could not eat thereof.