An Exegesis of 2 Kings

1 Kings and 2 Kings were traditionally clustered in the Hebrew Bible with Joshua, Judges and Samuel and collectively were known as "The Early Prophets." These "Early Prophets" were to be distinguished from those who followed after them, "The Later Prophets" identified as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the 12 Minor Prophets. Biblical scholars contend that Jeremiah is actually responsible for the composition of Kings, the first and second books. Traditionally, Kings has been characterized as part of the bible's "historical books." The exegesis of 2 Kings 4: 42-44 will reveal a passage which bridges the Old and New Testaments and indicates that out of poverty God is able to create wealth for His believers.

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

Category: Philosophy - A