Poisoned Stew Made Safe
2 Kings 4:38-41
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2 K.4.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואלישע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הגלגלה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והרעב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הנביאים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ישבים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לנערו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- שפת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- הסיר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הגדולה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- ובשל: CONJ+VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- נזיד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבני: PREP
- הנביאים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- 2 Kgs 4:39-41 (structural): Immediate continuation of the episode: the large pot is used, the pottage is found to be poisonous, and Elisha purifies it — direct resolution of the action begun in v.38.
- 2 Kgs 4:42-44 (thematic): A nearby episode where Elisha miraculously provides food for many (feeding a hundred men with twenty loaves) — shares the theme of prophetic provision in a time of scarcity.
- 2 Kgs 6:1-7 (thematic): Another story centered on the 'sons of the prophets' whose communal need (lost iron) is met by Elisha's miracle — parallels the communal setting and Elisha's role as problem‑solver for the prophetic guild.
- 2 Kgs 2:1-15 (verbal): Earlier scene linking Elisha with Gilgal and the 'sons of the prophets' as a group that accompanies Elijah/Elisha — verbal and situational link (same location/group) establishing the prophetic community context.
- 1 Kgs 17:8-16 (thematic): Elijah's miraculous provision of meal and oil for a widow during famine — thematically parallels the motif of prophetic figures providing sustenance in times of famine.
Alternative generated candidates
- Elisha returned to Gilgal. The famine was in the land, and the company of the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and make stew for the sons of the prophets.”
- Elisha returned to Gilgal. The famine was in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, "Set on the great pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets."
2 K.4.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- השדה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ללקט: VERB,qal,inf
- ארת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וימצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- גפן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שדה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וילקט: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- פקעת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שדה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלא: ADJ,m,sg
- בגדו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ויפלח: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- סיר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הנזיד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
Parallels
- 2 Kings 4:40-41 (structural): Immediate continuation of the episode: Elisha neutralizes the poisonous gourds by instructing the addition of flour, resolving the danger introduced in 4:39.
- 2 Kings 4:42-44 (thematic): Same chapter’s miracle of food provision and multiplication—Elisha feeds many with a small quantity of barley loaves, linking the motifs of food, scarcity, and prophetic provision.
- 1 Kings 17:12-16 (thematic): Elijah’s miracle for the widow of Zarephath, where a jar of meal and cruse of oil do not run out; parallels Elisha’s role as prophet sustaining and providing food in crisis.
- Matthew 14:13-21 (thematic): Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand: another tableau of miraculous multiplication and provision of food for a crowd, echoing the prophetic tradition of divine supply in times of need.
Alternative generated candidates
- One went out into the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine; he gathered from it wild gourds and filled his garment. He came and cut them into the pot of the stew, for they did not know what they were.
- One went out into the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine; he gathered from it wild gourds and filled his cloak. He came and peeled them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were.
2 K.4.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצקו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לאנשים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לאכול: VERB,qal,inf
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כאכלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,pl
- מהנזיד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- והמה: PRON,3,m,pl
- צעקו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- מות: VERB,qal,infabs
- בסיר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ולא: CONJ
- יכלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לאכל: INF,qal
Parallels
- 2 Kings 4:42-44 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel in the same chapter: after neutralizing the poisonous stew, Elisha again provides food miraculously (multiplying loaves) — reinforces the theme of prophetic provision and miracle-working over food.
- 1 Kings 17:12-16 (thematic): Elijah miraculously provides sustaining food for a widow (flour and oil that do not run out). Both stories feature a prophet securing edible provision in a crisis, highlighting prophetic mediation of God’s sustenance.
- Mark 6:41-44 (thematic): Jesus multiplies loaves to feed a hungry crowd. The motif of miraculous provision of safe, sufficient food by a divinely empowered figure links this Gospel episode to Elisha’s miracle.
- Acts 28:3-6 (thematic): Paul is bitten by a venomous snake but suffers no harm. Like the stew declared ‘death’ that is made harmless, both episodes portray divine protection/neutralization of a lethal threat through God’s agent.
- Exodus 16:11-15 (thematic): God provides manna (bread) from heaven to feed Israel in the wilderness. This passage shares the broader theme of divine provision of food in dire circumstances, comparable to Elisha’s intervention.
Alternative generated candidates
- They poured the stew out for the men to eat, and as they ate it they cried out and said, “Death is in the pot, O man of God!” and they could not eat.
- They poured it out for the men to eat; as they were eating the stew they cried out, "Death in the pot! Man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat.
2 K.4.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וקחו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- קמח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- הסיר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- צק: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- לעם: PREP
- ויאכלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רע: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- בסיר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kgs.17:8-16 (thematic): Elijah provides for a widow by miraculously sustaining her supply of flour and oil—similar theme of prophetic provision using meal/flour to make food safe/lasting.
- 2 Kgs.4:42-44 (structural): Immediate continuation of the Elisha stories: Elisha likewise multiplies bread to feed a crowd (twenty loaves to a hundred men), linking the stew‑purification with broader motifs of miraculous food provision.
- Exod.16:4,14-15 (thematic): God provides bread from heaven (manna) to sustain Israel—another example of divine provision of food that meets communal need and is miraculously supplied/regulated.
- Matt.14:13-21 (thematic): Jesus feeds the 5,000 with loaves and fishes—New Testament parallel of a miraculous meal in which a small quantity of food is made to satisfy a large group, echoing the prophetic provision motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said, “Bring some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people.” They ate, and there was nothing harmful in the pot.
- He said, "Bring some flour." He threw it into the pot and said, "Pour it out for the people." They ate, and there was nothing harmful in the pot.
Elisha returned to Gilgal. The famine was in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, “Set the large pot on; boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”
One went out into the field to gather herbs. He found a wild vine in the field and gathered from it wild gourds, filling his cloak; he came and cut them into the pot of the stew, for they did not know.
They poured it out for the men to eat. When they ate of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” and they could not eat.
He said, “Bring some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it out for the people.” They ate, and there was nothing harmful in the pot.