2 Kings 4:42

“And there came a man from Baalshalisha, etc.] Of which place (see Gill on “<090904>1 Samuel 9:4”), the Targum is, from the south country: and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley; so that it was now barley harvest, and this the first fruits of it, which, according to the law, (<032310>Leviticus 23:10), was to be brought to the priest; but being forbid in the land of Israel going up to Jerusalem, religious men brought their firstfruits to the prophets, and here to Elisha, the father of them; believing it would be dispensed with, and acceptable, since they were not allowed to carry them to the proper person; and in this time of famine was very agreeable to…”

“Baal-shalisha - Fifteen Roman miles north of Lydda, in the Sharon plain to the west of the highlands of Ephraim. It was, apparently, the chief city of the “land of Shalisha” (marginal reference). Bread of the first fruits - It appears by this that the Levitical priests having withdrawn from the land of Israel (see 2 Chronicles 11:13-14), pious Israelites transferred to the prophets, whom God raised up, the offerings required by the Law to be given to the priests Numbers 18:13; Deuteronomy 18:4. In the husk thereof - “In his bag.” The word does not occur elsewhere in Scripture. return to 'Top of Page'”

“First fruits - Which were the priests due, Num 18:12, but these, and probably the rest of the priests dues, were usually brought by the pious Israelites, according to their ability and opportunity, to the Lord's prophets, because they were not permitted to carry them to Jerusalem. Next: 4 Kings (2 Kings) Chapter 5”

“4:42-44 grain . . . loaves of barley . . . first grain: This offering was similar to the first of the crops that were normally presented to God (Lev 23:20) and to the priests (Deut 18:4-5) as their portion. Because of the famine, Elisha shared the offering with all the people. • Elisha’s feeding a hundred people with a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread anticipated the miraculous ministry of Jesus (Matt 14:15-21; 15:32-38). Nothing is impossible for God (Matt 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27).”

“Baalshalisha: Sa1 9:4, Sa1 9:7 bread: Kg2 4:38; Exo 23:16; Deu 12:6, Deu 26:2-10; Sa1 9:7; Ch2 11:13, Ch2 11:14; Pro 3:9, Pro 3:10; Co1 9:11; Gal 6:6 of barley: Kg2 7:1, Kg2 7:16-18; Deu 8:8, Deu 32:14; Joh 6:9, Joh 6:13 the husk thereof: or, his scrip, or garment, Note: Parched corn, or corn to be parched; full ears before they are ripe, parched on the fire. a very frequent food in the East. The loaves were probably extremely small, as their loaves of bread still are in eastern countries. But small as this may appear, it would be a considerable present in the time of famine; though very inadequate to the number of persons. Baal-shalisha, of which the person who made this seasonable present…”

“Feeding of a Hundred Pupils of the Prophets with Twenty Barley Loaves. - A man of Baal-Shalisha (a place in the land of Shalisha, the country to the west of Gilgal, Jiljilia; see at Sa1 9:4) brought the prophet as first-fruits twenty barley loaves and כּרמל = כּרמל גּרשׂ, i.e., roasted ears of corn (see the Comm. on Lev 2:14), in his sack (צקלון, ἁπ. λεγ., sack or pocket). Elisha ordered this present to be given to the people, i.e., to the pupils of the prophets who dwelt in one common home, for them to eat; and when his servant made this objection: "How shall I set this (this little) before a hundred men?" he repeated his command, "Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus hath…”