SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:39
Y salió uno al campo a coger hierbas, y halló una parra montés, y cogió de ella una faldada de uvas silvestres; y volvió, y las cortó en la olla del potaje; porque no sabían lo que era .
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:39
Verse 39. Wild gourds] This is generally thought to be the coloquintida, the fruit of a plant of the same name, about the size of a large orange. It is brought hither from the Levant, and is often known by the name of the bitter apple; both the seeds and pulp are intensely bitter, and violently purgative. It ranks among vegetable poisons, as all intense bitters do; but, judiciously employed, it is of considerable use in medicine.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 39. And one went out into the fields to gather herbs , etc.] 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 f52 ; the Arabs call a sort of mushroom that is white and soft by this name f53 , 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 38-44 - There was a famine of bread, but not of hearing the word of God, for Elisha had the sons of the prophets sitting before him, to hear his wisdom. Elisha made hurtful food to become safe and wholesome. If mess of pottage be all our dinner, remember that this great prophet ha no better for himself and his guests. The table often becomes a snare and that which should be for our welfare, proves a trap: this is a goo reason why we should not feed ourselves without fear. When we ar receiving the supports and comforts of life, we must keep up a expectation of death, and a fear of sin. We must acknowledge God' goodness in making our food wholesome and nourishing; I am the Lor that healeth thee. Elisha also made a little food go a great way Having freely received, he freely gave. God has promised his church that he will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her poor with bread, Ps 132:15; whom he feeds, he fills; and what he blesses, come to much. Christ's feeding his hearers was a miracle far beyond this but both teach us that those who wait upon God in the way of duty, ma hope to be supplied by Divine Providence __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויצא 3318 אחד 259 אל 413 השׂדה 7704 ללקט 3950 ארת 219 וימצא 4672 גפן 1612 שׂדה 7704 וילקט 3950 ממנו 4480 פקעת 6498 שׂדה 7704 מלא 4393 בגדו 899 ויבא 935 ויפלח 6398 אל 413 סיר 5518 הנזיד 5138 כי 3588 לא 3808 ידעו׃ 3045
