The Deadly Stew

38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal,(A) there was a famine(B) in the land. The sons of the prophets(C) were sitting before him.(D) He said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and make stew for the sons of the prophets.”

39 One went out to the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment would hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, but they were unaware of what they were.[a]

40 They served some for the men to eat, but when they ate the stew they cried out, “There’s death in the pot,(E) man of God!” And they were unable to eat it.

41 Then Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it for the people to eat.” And there was nothing bad in the pot.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:39 of what they were added for clarity

Poisoned Stew is Purified

38 Elisha returned to Gilgal during a time of famine in the land. While the Guild of Prophets were having a meal[a] with him, he instructed his attendant, “Put a large pot on the fire and boil some stew for the Guild of Prophets.” 39 Somebody went out into the fields to grab some herbs, found a wild vine, and gathered a lap full of wild gourds, which he came and sliced up into the stew pot, but nobody else knew.

40 When they served the men, they began to eat the stew. But they cried out, “That pot of stew is deadly, you man of God!” So they couldn’t eat the stew.

41 But he replied, “Bring me some flour.” He tossed it into the pot and said, “Serve the people so they can eat.” Then there was nothing harmful in the pot.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 4:38 Lit. were sitting