2 Kings 4:42

And there came a man from Baal-Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twentie loaues of barley, and full eares of corne in the huske thereof: and he said, Giue vnto the people, that they may eate. 2 Kings 4:42 (KJV)

Let us study 2 Kings 4:42 in its broader context (2 Kings 4:38‑44). The narrative occurs during a severe famine while the prophet Elisha, successor of Elijah, was ministering to the people of Israel. Elisha had gathered a school of prophets at Gilgal, and a man from Baal‑shalisha brought an offering to him.

Background

The story is set in a time of scarcity, highlighting God’s concern for His people even when resources are limited. The man’s gift consisted of bread made from the firstfruits of the harvest—twenty loaves of barley and full ears of corn still in their husks. Offering the firstfruits was a prescribed act of worship (cf. Leviticus 23:9‑14), acknowledging God’s provision and ownership of the land.

Setting

Baal‑shalisha lay on the road between Samaria and Beth‑Shemesh, and the offering was brought to Elisha in Gilgal, where the prophets were gathered. The location underscores the movement of God’s provision across the land.

Elisha’s Instruction

Elisha told the man, “Give unto the people, that they may eat.” Despite the famine, Elisha trusted that God would supply the needed sustenance.

The Miracle

When the man expressed doubt about the adequacy of the food for the crowd, Elisha reassured him, “They shall eat and shall leave some thereof” (2 Kings 4:43). The food was miraculously multiplied, feeding a hundred men with leftovers, exactly as Elisha had prophesied.

Spiritual Lessons

This account demonstrates God’s power to multiply what is seemingly insufficient. It teaches that faithful obedience and trust in God’s provision can lead to abundance, even in dire circumstances. The miracle encourages believers to rely on God’s care and to offer what they have, however modest.

Foreshadowing

The multiplication of barley loaves prefigures Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand with loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:13‑21), revealing a consistent divine pattern of meeting physical needs and pointing to greater spiritual fulfillment.

In sum, 2 Kings 4:42 reminds us that God honors even the smallest offerings, can transform scarcity into surplus, and calls us to trust Him wholeheartedly.