An Exegesis of 2 Kings

The passage 2 Kings 4: 42-44 is usually given the subheading of "The Multiplication of the Loaves." Its central significance for New Testament scholars is that this passage so precisely prefigures and parallels Christ's multiplication of the loaves and fishes at Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. Christ's miracle of multiplication is recorded in Matthew 14: 13-21, Matthew 15: 32-39 and John 6: 14. In 2 Kings Elisha is shown multiplying 20 loaves with some fresh grain into food sufficient to feed 100 people. When Christ performs his miracle at Tiberias both John and Matthew record that he multiplied 5 loaves with some fish into food sufficient to feed 5,000 with 12 baskets of scraps remaindered. A major distinction between this O

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ed by being imbued with a moral or "lofty theological virtue." The function of these aretalogies is to validate the legitimacy of the prophet's association with the divine by showing his ability to exercise control over the supernatural. In 2 Kings 4: 42-44 a man is said to hail from Baal-shalishah. According to the Talmud, this locale was renowned for being a place of fertility and high agricultural productivity. Although debate has not resolved precisely where this ancient locale was exactly situated, biblical scholars believe that it was close to Gigal where Elisa and the sons of the prophets were staying. Further, since the famine which is recorded in a passage just before this in 2 Kings 4 is believed to have been localized, it is conjectured that a man walking as few as 25 km could have distributed his surplus for Elisha and the sons of the prophet to eat. A curious parallelism between 2 Kings 4: 42-44 and the New Testament depictions of the multiplication of the loaves is that barley is specified in all these references. Barley or Hordeum vulgare is known to have been grown in Egypt since 5,000 B.C. Additionally, it played a major economic role for the tribe of Israel since its earliest days. Barley can be
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Some common words found in the essay are:
BC Additionally, Elijah Elisha, Elisha Christ, Ephraimite Northern, Gigal Elisa, Traditionally Kings, Matthew John, God Christ, John Matthew, Dictionary Vol, 2 kings, york doubleday 1992, york doubleday, 2 kings 4, kings 4, anchor bible, anchor bible dictionary, david noel, bible dictionary, doubleday 1992, noel freedman, freedman ed york, freedman ed, ed york doubleday, ed york,
Approximate Word count = 1226
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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