BAD STEW

STRANGEST THINGS OF THE BIBLE

Elisha came back to Gilgal discovering a famine in the land. In a gathering of local prophets and disciples, he had a servant take a big pot to make stew for the gathering.

"Elisha returned to Gilgal, and he found that there was a famine throughout the entire country. While the disciples of the local prophets were sitting with him, he told his servant to find a big pot and make a big stew for the prophets’ disciples. 

2 Kings 4:38  The Voice

The servant searched the famine stricken field for any herbs he could find.  He found some uncultivated wild gourds and gathered them up for the stew.

It is possible the wild gourds were "Ecballium elaterium" known as exploding cucumbers.   When you squeeze the pod, it sends seeds flying.  It's fruit is poisonous containing cucurbitacins.

"A man walked out into the fields to look for herbs, and he came across an uncultivated vine and picked enough wild gourds from it to fill the folds of his cloak. He chopped up the gourds and tossed them into the large pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 

2 Kings 4:39  The Voice

The food was ready and was served to the men.  After eating the stew, the men got sick.

"Those who prepared the stew gave helpings of it to the men. While they were eating the stew, they cringed and pushed the bowls away from them. They could not eat it.

Prophets’ Disciples: Man of God, this stew is horrible! It will be the death of us!   

2 Kings 4:40  The Voice

Elisha had the servant bring him some barley meal and add it to the stew.   

Elisha: Go bring some meal.

They brought him some meal, and Elisha threw it in the large pot and renewed the stew.

Elisha: Distribute this food to the people so that they may fill their hungry bellies.

Everyone ate it, and there was nothing wrong with it this time.

2 Kings 4:41The Voice