2 Kings 4:39

39 One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs. He found a wild vine. He gathered up some of its gourds. He brought them back with him in his coat. Then he cut them up into the pot of stew. But no one knew what they were.

2 Kings 4:39 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:39

And one went out into the fields to gather herbs
To put into the pottage, the gardens affording none in this time of dearth; or, however, being scarce, were at too great a price for the sons of the prophets to purchase them; and therefore one of them went out into the field to gather what common herbs he could:

and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full;
thought to be the same with coloquintida, the leaves of which are very like to a vine, of a very bitter taste, and a very violent purgative, which, if not remedied, will produce ulcerations in the bowels, and issue in death; some think the white brier or white vine is meant, the colour of whose berries is very inviting to look at, but very bitter and ungrateful, and it vehemently purges ^F2; the Arabs call a sort of mushroom that is white and soft by this name ^F3, but cannot be meant here, because it has no likeness to a wild vine:

and came and shred them into the pot of pottage;
cut or chopped them small, and put them into the pot:

for they knew them not;
what they were, the nature and virtue of them, being unskilful in botany.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F2 Vid. Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. vol. 3. p. 605, 606.
F3 Golius, col. 1817.

2 Kings 4:39 In-Context

37 She came in. She fell at Elisha's feet. She bowed down with her face toward the ground. Then she took her son and went out.

38 Elisha returned to Gilgal. There wasn't enough food to eat in that area. The company of the prophets was meeting with Elisha. So he said to his servant, "Put the large pot over the fire. Cook some stew for these men."

39 One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs. He found a wild vine. He gathered up some of its gourds. He brought them back with him in his coat. Then he cut them up into the pot of stew. But no one knew what they were.

40 The stew was poured out for the men. They began to eat it. But then they cried out, "Man of God, the food in that pot will kill us!" They couldn't eat it.

41 Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it in the pot. He said, "Serve it to the men to eat." Then there wasn't anything in the pot that could harm them.