Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 4:42

"And there came a man from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat." — 2 Kings 4:42 (ASV)

Baal-shalisha.—Probably the same as Bethshalisha, mentioned by Jerome and Eusebius, fifteen Roman miles north of Lydda-Diospolis, and not far west of Gilgal and Bethel. (Compare to the land of Shalisha, 1 Samuel 9:4. Its name, Shalisha—as if Three-land—seems to allude to the three wadies, which there meet in the Wâdy Qurâwâ.)

Bread of the firstfruits.—Compare to Numbers 18:13; Deuteronomy 18:4, according to which all firstfruits of grain were to be given to the priests and Levites. Such presents to prophets appear to have been usual in ordinary times. On the present occasion, which was “a time of dearth” (2 Kings 4:42 is connected by the construction with the preceding narrative), one pious person brought his opportune gift to Elisha.

And full ears of corn in the husk thereof—Heb., and karmel in his wallet. The word karmel also occurs in Leviticus 2:14; Leviticus 23:14. The Targum and Syriac render it “bruised grain;” the Jewish expositors, “tender and fresh ears of corn.” In some parts of England, unripe corn is made into a dish called “frumenty.”

The word çiqlôn only occurs in this place. The Vulgate renders it as pera (“wallet”). The Septuagint (Alex.) repeats the Hebrew in Greek letters. The Vatican manuscript omits the word. It reads: “twenty barley loaves and cakes of pressed fruit” (παλάθας). The Syriac gives “garment.”

And he said—i.e., Elisha said.

Give unto the people.—Compare to Matthew 14:16.