BAD STEW

STRANGEST THINGS IN THE BIBLE

WHAT PLANTS ARE EDIBLE?

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 4:41 (The Voice )