2 Kings 4:42
“And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A man arrives from Baalshalisha with twenty loaves of barley and fresh corn in the husk, an offering of firstfruits to the man of God.
Context
Even in famine, one man brings an offering to Elisha. Baalshalisha was a village in the hill country. The gift of firstfruits represents both gratitude and trust, giving God his due even in scarcity.
What Does 2 Kings 4:42 Mean?
In the midst of dearth, when food is scarce and the land is lean, a man makes a journey from Baalshalisha with an offering. Twenty loaves of barley, ears of corn still in the husk, the best of what he has, the firstfruits. He does not wait for abundance to return. He gives now, in the midst of the famine, to the man of God.
Firstfruits are an act of faith and acknowledgment. They say: 'God, you are first. Your claim on my increase is prior to mine.' Even in hunger, the man from Baalshalisha honors God through his representative. And we learn that the kingdom is built not by the rich giving their surplus but by the poor giving their first, their all. Every tithe, every offering made in the midst of scarcity, is a profound word of faith.
In the Original Language
Baalshalisha (Baal Shalisha), 'lord of Shalisha'; the place is known for grain and agricultural abundance, which makes the gift during famine especially significant.
Application
God values not the magnitude of our gift but the sacrifice and faith it represents. Giving our firstfruits, even in lean times, honors God and opens us to his provision.