Luke 15:16

“would fain have filled--rather, "was fain to fill," ate greedily of the only food he could get. the husks--"the hulls of a leguminous plant which in the East is the food of cattle and swine, and often the nourishment of the poorest in times of distress" [STIER]. no man gave . . . him--not this food, for that he had, but anything better (Jer 30:14). This was his lowest depth--perishing unpitied, alone in the world, and ready to disappear from it unmissed! But this is just the blessed turning-point; midnight before dawn of day (Ch2 12:8; Ch2 33:11-13; Jer 2:19).”

“He would fain - He would gladly. He desired to do it. The husks - The word “husks” with us denotes the outward covering of grain. In this there is little nourishment, and it is evident that this is not intended here; but the word used here denotes not only “husks,” but also leguminous plants, as beans, etc. It is also used to denote the fruit of a tree called the “carob or kharub-tree,” which is common in Ionia, Syria, and Rhodes. The tree is more bushy and thick set than the apple tree, and the leaves are larger and of a much darker green. The following is Dr. Thomson’s description of the fruit of this tree (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 22): “The ‘husks’ - a mistranslation - are…”

“He would fain have filled his belly with the husks - He would fain have satisfied himself with worldly comforts. Vain, fruitless endeavour! Luke 15:17”

“he would: Isa 44:20, Isa 55:2; Lam 4:5; Hos 12:1; Rom 6:19-21 that: Psa 73:22 no: Psa 142:4; Isa 57:3; Jon 2:2-8 Luke 15:17”