The Poisonous Stew

38 When Elisha returned to (A)Gilgal, there was (B)a famine in the land. [a]As (C)the sons of the prophets (D)were sitting in front of him, he said to his servant, “(E)Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 Then one went out into the field to gather mallow, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds; and he came and sliced them into the pot of stew, because they did not know what they were. 40 So they poured it out for the men to eat. But as they were eating the stew, they cried out and said, “You man of God, there is (F)death in the pot!” And they were unable to eat. 41 Then he said, “Bring flour.” (G)And he threw it into the pot, and said, “Pour it out for the people that they may eat.” Then there was nothing harmful in the pot.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 4:38 Lit And

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