2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:1-6

Elisha retires from the camp to the college, not desiring honour, but labouring to be useful. And here few miracles are wronged by him. 1. He multiplies the poor widow’s oil, ver. 1-7. 2. He obtains for the good Shunammite the blessing of a son in her old age, ver. 8-17. 3. He raises her child to life when it was dead, ver. 18-37. 4. He heals the deadly passage, ver. 38-41. 5. He feeds a hundred men with twenty small leaves, ver. 42-44.

1. NOW there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets, unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2. And Elisha said unto her, ‘What shall I do for thee? tell me what hath thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house,’ save a pot of oil. 3. Then he said, Go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels, borrow not a few. 4. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her, and she poured out. 6. And it came to pail when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Being me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7. Then she came and told the man of God: and he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Elisha, wherever he goes, is found dispensing blessings around him.

1. A poor widow makes application to him in her distress: Her husband, a prophet, whom Elisha knew, a man who feared God, had died in debe, not contracted by his own extravagances,

but by unforeseen losses, or ruined under the persecution of Je. Neb. He is a rebel. His cruel creditors now were urgent upon her, and her sons are ready to be found for bondmen, through her inability to answer their demands. Note, (1.) Unforeseen providences may ruin an honest man, and leave him under debts he cannot pay; but he who contracts them without a probability of repaying, or by extravagance out-lives his income, is more dishonest than he that rules or freaks. (2.) When a good man is under providential afflictions, he may humbly expect as providential relief.

2. Elisha, though silver and gold he had not, yet puts her in a method to pay her debts, and maintain her family. He enquires what she had left; and when he finds she has neither money nor goods of value, but one pot of oil only, that shall be a fountain of relief. He bids her borrow of her neighbours empty vessels, and, to avoid interruption from her creditors, or not to boast of the miracle, shut her door, and, with her sons assistance, till every vessel, for the oil should not fail. Without hesitation she complies with the prophet’s injunctions, and the inexhausted stream continued flowing till there were no more vessels remaining. Note, (1.) An honest heart will part with the last utensil, rather than not repay a just debt. (2.) When we are desiring in faith on the word of proverb to be found in the way of duty, God will take care we shall not want. (3.) Divine grace, like this fountain of oil, ceases not to flow, till every redeemed soul is filled with all the fulness of God.

3. The widow with joy having acquainted the prophet with the success, he directs her to sell this precious flory, first lately her creditors, then live on the residue, v. 7. Note, (1.) Before we pretend to enjoy what Providence bestows, let every just debt be paid; for, till then, with what comfort can we eat the bread of injustice. (2.) Let the poor, the widow and the fatherless call their care on God, and he hath promoted to care for them. (3.) A little, with God’s blessing, will bring greater contentment, than the affluence of extravagance, and the wages of injustice.

4. ¶ And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman, and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9. And the said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall, and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a flood, and a candlestick: and it shall be when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 11. And it fell on a day that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldst thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath on child, and her husband is old. 15. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

5. THEN spake Elisha unto the woman (“whose son he had restored to life) saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn whereforeer thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine, and it shall also come upon the land seven years. 2. And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3. And it came to pails at the seven years end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to try unto the king for her house, and for her land. 4. And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done. 5. And it came to pails as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life, cried up the king for her house, and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman,

and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. 6. And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that war her’s, and all the fruits of the field, since the day that she left the land, even till now.

We have here,

1. The advice of Elisha to his kind hostels at Shunem. He warned her to remove betimes to some neighbouring country, because of the approaching famine; and Philistia being near, she there fixed her abode. Note, (1.) Men’s sins provoke God’s judgments, and his own unfaithful Israel shall feel the strange heavier than even their idolatrous neighbours. (2.) The prudent man foreshoth the evil and hideeth himself.

2. As soon as the famine was over, the haffed home, and to her grief found her land either frized by the officers for the crown, as forfeited for her leaving the kingdom; or the prelate entrusted with it, refused to give up possession. For want of a friend with the king, which once she thought the should move need, See chap. iv. 13. She is constrained to apply to him herself for redress; and so providence graciously ordered it, that at this very instant he was discounting with Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, about his miracles, and this very woman and her son were the fabled, who now opportunity appear to confirm his narrative. Gehazi being still Elisha’s servant, shews that this event preceded the cure of Naaman, and the siege of Samaria. Note, (1.) The world is so full of knavery, that it is hard finding a man in whom confidence is to be repelled. (2.) A strange coincidence of events, exactly suited to accomplish our desires, proves often to a demonstration the finger of an overruling Governor. (3.) God can raise us up friends in our difficulties, where we shall expected them.

3. The king having heard from the woman herself the confirmation of Gehazi’s report, orders an officer to put her in possession of her estate, and see that every farthing of the profits of it, from the day she left it, be faithfully accounted for. Note, (1.) If the ears of kings are open to the cries of the oppressed, how much more will the King of kings hear their prayers and help them. (2.) The glory of a government is the righteous and impartial administration of justice.

4. ¶ And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick, and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. 8. And the king said unto Hazael, “Take a present in thine land, and go meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 9. So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels burden, and came and stood before him, and said, ‘Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 13. And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit, the LORD hath shewed me, that he shall surely die. 14. And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God ‘wept. 12. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dishe their children, and rip up their women with child. 13. And Hazael said, But what, “is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. 14. So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, What said Elisha is thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldst surely recover. 15. And it came to pails on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipt it in water, and spread to on his face, so that he died: and Hazael resigned in his stead.

2 Kings 4:7-15

What brought Elisha to Damascus is uncertain; what he did there, we are informed.

1. He is contained by Ben-hadad concerning the event of his sickness. The king of Syria no sooner was apprised of his being there, than the report of his former minister weighed more with him than all his idol gods, and he places greater confidence in the prophets of the Lord, than in all the priests of Damascus. With great respect he addresses him, could his prime minister to be his messenger, and orders a magnificent present, as a token of his regard. Note, (1.) Sickness and death pay no compliments to crowned heads. (2.) Many on their death-beds tend to God’s unwilling, that, all their lives long, paid little or no regard to them. (3.) The former that lieth sick is usually more solicitous to know, Shall I recover? than to enquire, What shall I do to be saved?

2. Elisha Page. xxv. In. Mic. vol. 5, 6. 413.

3. Elisha answers his enquiry. His sickness was not mortal, yet his death was determined by the hand of the messenger he had first. On him Elisha lives his eyes with such encumbrances, that Hazael, quite confounded, asks the reason of the tears that hurts from the prophet’s eyes. With astonishment he hears the reason assigned, v. 12. and expresses his indignation at the suffrage of his barbarity the prophet entertains; or his insufficiency, as a dog, for the execution of such a scene of desolations. But Elisha declares his approaching advancement, and whilst power armed his hand, change of liaison would begin change of temper; and what now he startled at, would then no longer shock him. Nair, (1.) Death often enters not by the disease we must be found, but on the side we thought outh睹 most secure. (2.) A good man cannot see misery, without denying a tear of compassion over it. (3.) That sin, which at first shocked with the mention of it, by degrees men commit without horror. (4.) They who are ignorant of the desperate wickedness of the fallen heart, will not believe that possible, which is usually but the natural fruit of the corrupted root. (5.) Self-confidence is a sad symptom of a lure fall. They who think themselves above the power of temptation, are the safest prey to the tempter. (6.) Honours change men’s manners; now ever grow better by advancement; many, very many, have been undone by it.

4. Hazael quickly shows how deceitful was his heart. He begins with a lie, and after that we need wonder at nothing that follows. Concealing the fatal part of his message, he advises the king he would recover: the prophet said right; but he perverted his words, to lull the king into security, and, the very next day, flicked him with a wet cloth; and, having an interest in the army, succeeded him in the throne. Nair, (1.) They are our most dangerous enemies, that by flattering us with life, divert us from serious preparation for death. (2.) The weed of God is not to be blamed for the wickedness of men, who abude it to their encouragement in iniquity.

5. ¶ And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat sang then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. 17. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: “for the daughter of Judah was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. 19. Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah, for David his servant’s sake,” as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children. 20. ¶ In his days I Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. 21. So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him, and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about: and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled into their tents. 22. Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day, Then Libnah revolted at the same time. 23. And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not writers in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 24. And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and I Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 4:8-17

Elisha, in his travels from Carmel to Samaria, often passed through Shunem; and we are told,

1. How kindly he was entertained by a good woman there. As God had blessed her with affluence, her hospitable doors were open to God’s prophets; and though Elisha modestly declined going thither, and took up with humbler accommodations, she fought him out, as a favour begged he would ever take her house in his way; and, to engage him to be more than a passing guest, so profitable had she found his short visits; she solicits her husband to build him a little chamber on the wall, probably of their garden, near their house, the expence of which would be trivial, a prophet’s chamber needing no elegance, and to appropriate this wholly for him; which being retired from noise, would engage him to spend more time with them; and to this her husband gladly consented. Note, (1.) Modest worth deserves entreaty. (2.) That house is highly honoured that entertains a man of God. (3.) A good wife will do nothing without confining her husband, and a good husband will never give her cause to regret her dutiful obedience, by his delight to gratify her in every reasonable desire.

2. Elisha, in gratitude for so hospitable an entertainment, is willing to make this good woman a grateful return. He sends Gehazi,

Gehazi, with professions of his sense of her kindness, to call her to him, that he might enquire what service would be agreeable to her: as he had interest in the court and camp, and would obtain for her husband preferences in either. She readily obeys the prophet’s call, but professes her content in their present situation, and wants nothing more of worldly advantage than they enjoyed. Elisha, at a loss what to do for her, asks his servant, who might be more conversant with the family, and know more of their affairs, who suggests that a son would be the most acceptable blessing, she being childless, and her husband told. Elisha having called her back to his chamber-dress, where she respectfully waited the prophet’s pleasure, assures her of what she can scarcely believe, and fears he only pulled that she shall have a son; but the event verifies the prediction. Note, (1.) A grateful heart will not only acknowledge the kindness shown it, but seize the first occasion to return it. (2.) They who have sufficiency and content at home, may well prefer their lot: content and palaces are seldom so bled. (3.) They who insure that Shannammite’s piety, if here they receive not their reward, may shortly expect a portion, better than that of sons or of daughters.

28. ¶ And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the afters, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day? it is neither new moon, nor Sabbath. And she said, It shall be a well. 24. Then she said, an ash, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; I sack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. 25. 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 Shannammite: 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, It is well with thee? it is well with thy husband? it is 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 thrift her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone, for her God is a vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28. Then he said, Did I desire a son of my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me? 29. Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30. And the mother of the child said, At the LORD liveth, and as thy God liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, but there was neither voice nor hearing: wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 32. And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them toain, and prayed unto the LORD. 34. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and he stretched himself upon the child, and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro, and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child needed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shannammite. So he called her: and when she was come to unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

2 Kings 4:16-24

We have here,

1. An account of the wicked reign of Jehoram king of Judah, who, during his father’s life, was associated with him so general. Utterly unlike the good Jehoshaphat, he cleaved to the sins of the house of Ahab; and having taken his daughter to wife, she poisoned his heart with her sodiatives. Nair, (1.) Good men, to their grief, have very wicked children. (2.) A wicked wife is among the greatest of God’s plagues. (3.) Nothing so dangerous to young men as bad connections. Much more easily will they imbibe the principles and practices of a wicked Ahab, than of a pious Jehoshaphat.

2. His wickedness received severe rebukes. Though God would not, for David’s sake, and for the sake of the Messiah, the light of his Israel, utterly cut them off, yet he began to cut them short. (1.) In the revolt of the Edomites their tributaries; and though Jehoram in battle vanquitted them, yet he could not subdue them, See Gen. xxvii. 40. being diverted. (2.) By the revolt of Libnah, a city of Levites, in the tribe of Judah, who, rather than he compelled to idolatry, a Chron. xxii. 10. 11. resolved to maintain their liberty. Thus on a torturing throne Jehoram set a few years, and then God put a period to his wicked life by a miserable death, See a Chron. xxii. 10. Nair, Tyrants, who abude the power with which God hath remedied them, will often meet here the punishment of their cruelty and oppression, and certainly hereafter an avenging God.

VOL. I.

25. ¶ In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. 26. ‘Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel. 27. And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab. 28. ¶ And he went with Joram the son of Ahab, to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29. And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramoth, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria, and ‘Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

2 Kings 4:18-37

How precarious is every sublunary blessing? how little dependence to be placed upon the comforts of a perishing world. We see,

1. This darling boy, seized in the harrell field, with his father,

complaints, my head, my head; and is sent home to the fond mother’s bosom, and there death closes his eyes. Note, We need stand prepared for sudden strokes; death often seizes at short warning.

2. With silent fismilmen she took the dear couple, and going to the prophet’s chamber, had it on his bed, that the death might not be known, and where it would lie unmolested, till her return: then she hastens to her husband, and begs leave to go to the man of God. He wonders at her journey, as it was not one of the stand seasons when she used to join in worship with him, v. 2, the said, Well, let me go, or he eats till I return; and having his consent, hastens to Carmel. At a distance observing her, the prophet sends to enquire the reason of her coming at this unusual season, and whether all at home were well? She answers well; her faith speaks the language of resignation. Then drawing near, she fails at his feet, whilst hence anguish stops for a while her utterance. Gehazi is affiduous to raise her up, but the prophet restrains him: he fear time heavy grief oppressed her, though the Lord had not revealed to him the cause. At last, her interrupted words began to flow, and in her questions, v. 28, he perceived the cause of her distress. Note, (1.) In every affliction, the consideration from which hand it comes, should silence every complaint. (2.) All is well, when however dishealing the providence we are enabled to submit to, and improve under the visitation. (3.) If he who gives, takes away, we are called to be thankful for the length of the loan, and not to murmur that God resumes his gift. (4.) The joys of earth ebb and flow, and when we think the ray of happiness at our lips, disappointment robs us of the draught; but we have a more abiding portion, which once secured, will never deceive us.

3. Elisha was as ready to help as she to ask, and instantly dispatches Gehazi with his staff to lay on the child’s face, whilst he should pray that God would restore him to life; but the Shannammite, carried that himself would go, will not quit him; and he consents at her importunity, and follows his servant. Gehazi meets them on the road, having to no effect executed his command; and Elisha himself enters the chamber, shuts the door, and with earnest cries to God, begs that the spirit of the child may return; then after waiting a while, with significant gestures, laying his mouth to the child’s mouth, see. In faith of the returning vital breath and heat, the flesh began to wax warm, the channels of life to be again second, and after freezing seven times, the child looked up, and with delight he restored him to the tender mother, overwhelmed with gratitude and joy, v. 37. Note, (1.) The word of God in the mouth of his servants, like the prophet’s staff, is ineffectual to quicken the dead in sins, unless accompanied with the life giving spirit. (2.) In the restoration of the spiritually dead, tho’ the vital principle is infused at once, yet the exercise of the vital functions is gradually recovered. (3.) They who are sent to awake the dead, have need to be men of prayer and patience. (4.) If a dead son restored to life is such a joy as a mother’s heart, how much greater comfort ought it to misalter to see the hands of spiritual death looted from our children?

4. ¶ And Elisha came again to Gilgal, and there sent a dearth in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and see the pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered there of wild gourds his lap-full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. 40. So they poured out for the men to eat: and it came to pass as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot: and they could not eat thereof. 41. But he said, Then bring meal: and he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat: and there was no harm in the pot. 42. ¶ And there came a man from Baal-Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the hulk thereof: and he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. 43. And his servator said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus faith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. 44. So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 4:25-29

Ahaziah, called also Jehoahaz, a Chron. xxii. 17. succeeded his father, and walked, like him, in the wicked ways of Ahab’s family. What could else be expected from the son of Jezebel’s daughter, and the example of a faithless abandoned. At the request of Joram his uncle, he went to battle with him to Ramoth-gilead, where Joram was wounded, and, having taken the place, was carried to Jezreel to be healed. Whether Ahaziah went to visit him, and met, as we shall find, the death he delivered. Nair, (1.) When the dinner’s body is wounded, how solicitous is he to be healed, whilst the more dangerous wounds of his soul neglected, that and are corrupt through his faithfully. (2.) Friendship with the wicked is the path of death.

2 Kings 4:30-44

Elisha’s happy employment was in the prophetic schools, to instruct and encourage by his advice and experience those who might succeed him in the rising generation. Thus we find him employed at Gilgal; and by his miracles relieving their bodies, whilst he fed their souls.

v. He commanded his servant to provide a repair for his disciples,

tuples, after his instructions. They learned temperance in his school, and now the dearth was in the land, subsistence became more difficult, and the plainest fare was welcome. The drought having made herbs scarce, the unfulfilled servant employed to gather them in the fields, found a wild vine (thought to be the Coloquintida, bitter and strongly purgative) and fired a quantity of the gourds into the potage. The taste quickly discovered the noxious quality of the provision, and subjecting poison, they cried out to Elisha. He calls for a handful of meal, and calls it into the pot; the miraculous effect of which healed this bitter broth, as the salt the waters of Jericho. Note, (1.) They who preach mortification to others, must show themselves examples of the self-denial they recommend. (2.) The solicitude of the luxurious, and the bowl of the intemperate, are more dangerous than the prophet’s meal; the one only demanded temporal death, the other brings eternal.

2. Elisha, who before had prevented the poisonous food from hurting, now makes a few loaves suffice for a full report. An Israel was cut off from the temple, the few faithful made the prophets God’s receivers, and employed their tythel for the support of their schools of piety. A good man of Basi-duddha sent his first-fruits of some ears of barley and twenty loaves, to Elisha; poor fare indeed, but acceptable in these times of death. There is no command to set before the people. His servant objects to the possibility of sending an hundred men with such so many provision; but Elisha bids him obey, and God will make it, as the event proved, enough and to spare. Note, (1.) A good man will not eat his mortal alone, but beaks his bread to the hungry. (2.) When God gives his blessing, a little will go far.