2 Kings 4:42-44

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Commentary 2 Kings 4:42-44

2 Kings 4:42 A man came from Baal-shalishah – This is the only mention of the place in the Bible. It also is named in Talmud (Sanhedrin 12a), where it is identified as the location where fruits ripen first (Wikipedia). Eusebius identified it with Bathsarisa, a location 15 (Roman) miles north of Lydda (Wikipedia). bringing food from the first fruits – Apparently, these are offerings (sacrifices) for Elisha. twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack – While the description appears to be large, it soon will prove to be too little. Give it to the people – Rather than keeping it for himself, Elisha gives the food away. 2 Kings 4:43 How can I set this before a hundred people? – The narrator now tells us that the grain needs to feed this crowd. Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the L ORD, “They shall eat and have some left.” – Elisha repeats his earlier order and then adds a Word from the L ORD. 2 Kings 4:44 He set it before them, they ate, and had some left – It is understood that the staff first prepared the grain and then served the people.

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Psalm 145:10-18

... Psalm 145:10 All your works shall give thanks to you – The psalmist states that one of the primary functions of creation is to both identify the L ORD and to praise the L ORD what He has done. The work of the L ORD is creation (Genesis 2:2-3). Psalm 145:11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power – This line starts a list of what creation does. It informs others about the L ORD.

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Psalm 145:12 Psalm 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom – Unlike other rulers, the reign of the L ORD is forever. The L ORD is faithful – This is another difference between the L ORD and the other powers. The L ORD remembers His campaign promises and then keeps them. Psalm 145:14 The L ORD upholds all who are falling – Rather than catering to the needs of the powerful, the L ORD looks after the needy. The does not mean that the L ORD despises the rich. After all, Abraham was extremely wealthy and the L ORD loved Abraham. Psalm 145:15 The eyes of all look to you – The psalmist has not transitioned from all of creation to humanity. Therefore, every aspect of the world waits on the L ORD. Psalm 145:16 You open your hand – The L ORD provides. Psalm 145:17 The L ORD is just in all his ways – This line reemphasises how the L ORD acts. Psalm 145:18 The L ORD is near to all who call on him – Unlike other gods that are bound to a specific place, the L ORD is always at hand. ...

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Ephesians 3:14-21

Ephesians 3:14 Ephesians 3:15 Ephesians 3:16 strengthened in your inner being – The author of this letter who is currently not considered to be the Apostle Paul, asks that God support the people. Ephesians 3:17 as you are being rooted and grounded in love. – The “root is used as a metaphor for internal stability.”1 For other examples of this image see 1

Daniel J. Harrington, S.J.; Idem, editor, The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1, Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1991), p. 197.

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the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) and the letters. The phrasing and words used in the interpretation of this parable in Matthew indicates that it reflects the early Church’s ideas and thus the interpretation must be ascribed to it.2 However, others disagree with this assumption.3 Ephesians 3:18 Ephesians 3:19 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend – The author asks that the church be given insight on how the L ORD works. and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge – Additionally, the church must know how much Jesus loves everyone. Ephesians 3:20 to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine – God’s work in the world continues to astonish us. Ephesians 3:21

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John 6:1-21

John 6:1 went to the other side – This comment creates a possible problem with geography since we do not know the starting point.4 John 6:2 A large crowd – The large crowd (John 6:2; 6:5 along with 6:22; 6:24) has the disciples (John 6:3). Note that some of the disciples do not believe (John 6:64) and will no longer follow (John 6:66)5 It almost seems like the signs (John 6:14) which cause the followers to say that Jesus is a prophet need to be repeated (John 6:30). Do we need signs (Worship, Communion, etc) to believe?6 crowd kept following him – The people are wanting healing for their loved ones. Do you blame them? Why do we talk about “defective” faith in these people. Don’t they have “faith” that Jesus can heal? 2

Harrington, The Gospel of Matthew, p. 197. Arland J. Hultgren, Chap. Parables of Life Before God In ‘The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary’, (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000), p. 189. 4 S.D.B. Francis J. Moloney; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., editor, The Gospel of John, Volume 4, Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1998), p. 195. 5 Brian Stoffregen, John 6.1-21 Proper 12 - Year B, http://www.crossmarks.com/ brian/john6x1.htm. 6 Ibid. 3

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For example, Jesus speaks to the nobleman whose son is sick to the point of death and says, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe (John 4:48).” The offical replies, “ ”Sir, come down before my child dies (John 4:49).” Jesus speaks that his son is healed and the nobleman believed and went home. Harsh words are spoken by Jesus to those people who only want to have free food rather than working for God (John 6:25-29). they saw the signs – Every illustration must first lead to Jesus and then they all must point to the Father. John 6:3 up the mountain – God dwells on Mt. Sinai. The mountain in Mediterranean culture was a high outside inhabited and cultivated space, that is, outside the city, the village, or the town. A mountaintop was a well-attested place for communing with God (like Sinai or the Exodus). Since the areas outside towns and villages were considered chaotic and uncontrolled by humans, however, they were believed to be inhabited by various spirits or demons. Meals did not normally take place there. People did not picnic (or do recreational swimming or go mountain climbing) in the first-century Mediterranean world. By Malina & Rohrbaugh in (Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John found at7 ) [p. 126] sat down there with his disciples – This is the position of a teacher. John 6:4 Now the Passover – The sixth chapter of John is a Christian commentary on Jesus and the Passover.8 The identification of the time “sets the theological agenda” of what will follow.9 Passover celebrates the freedom from slavery. The ones without hope are given a new life. John 6:5 Where are we to buy bread – Philip has been with Jesus since John 1:43 and has heard Jesus tell the disciples about food that He has (John 4:32). Πόθεν literally means from where. If one knows who gives then one will ultimately know the Father. The other instances of πόθεν in John are: 7

Stoffregen, ‘John 6.1-21 Proper 12 - Year B’. Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 195. 9 Ibid., p. 196.

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• Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ πόθεν με γινώσκεις ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε (John 1:48 KJV) • When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, ὡς δὲ ἐγεύσατο ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος τὸ ὕδωρ οἶνον γεγενημένον καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει πόθεν ἐστίν οἱ δὲ διάκονοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ ἠντληκότες τὸ ὕδωρ φωνεῖ τὸν νυμφίον ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος (John 2:9 KJV) • The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις ἀλλ΄ οὐκ οἶδας πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει οὕτως ἐστὶν πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος (John 3:8 KJV) • The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? λέγει αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή κύριε οὔτε ἄντλημα ἔχεις καὶ τὸ φρέαρ ἐστὶν βαθύ πόθεν οὖν ἔχεις τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν (John 4:11 KJV) • When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? ἐπάρας οὖν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ θεασάμενος ὅτι πολὺς ὄχλος ἔρχεται πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγει πρὸς Φίλιππον πόθεν ἀγοράσωμεν ἄρτους ἵνα φάγωσιν οὗτοι (John 6:5 KJV) • Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. ἀλλὰ τοῦτον οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐστίν ὁ δὲ Χριστὸς ὅταν ἔρχηται οὐδεὶς γινώσκει πόθεν ἐστίν (John 7:27 KJV) • Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. ἔκραξεν οὖν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ διδάσκων ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ λέγων κἀμὲ οἴδατε καὶ οἴδατε πόθεν εἰμί καὶ ἀπ΄ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐκ ἐλήλυθα ἀλλ΄ ἔστιν ἀληθινὸς ὁ πέμψας με ὃν ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε (John 7:28 KJV) • Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but 5

ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς κἂν ἐγὼ μαρτυρῶ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀληθής ἐστιν ἡ μαρτυρία μου ὅτι οἶδα πόθεν ἦλθον καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγω ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐκ οἴδατε πόθεν ἔρχομαι ἢ ποῦ ὑπάγω (John 8:14 KJV) • We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι Μωϋσεῖ λελάληκεν ὁ θεός τοῦτον δὲ οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐστίν (John 9:29 KJV) • The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἐν τούτῳ γὰρ τὸ θαυμαστόν ἐστιν ὅτι ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε πόθεν ἐστίν καὶ ἤνοιξέν μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς (John 9:30 KJV) • And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον πάλιν καὶ λέγει τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ πόθεν εἶ σύ ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀπόκρισιν οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ (John 19:9 KJV) Jesus said – In contrast to the other accounts, Jesus takes action.10 John 6:6 He said this to test him – The only occurrences of πειράζω (to test) in John are in: • And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγεν πειράζων αὐτόν αὐτὸς γὰρ ᾔδει τί ἔμελλεν ποιεῖν (John 6:6 KJV) • This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγον πειράζοντες αὐτόν ἵνα ἔχωσιν κατηγορεῖν αὐτοῦ ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς κάτω κύψας τῷ δακτύλῳ κατέγραφεν εἰς τὴν γῆν (John 8:6 KJB) Do we need to be tested for our faith? What then do we say about those people who handle snakes, do not have health insurance, or refuse medical treatments? Do we need to be a child (John 6:9)? 10

Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 197.

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he himself knew what he was going to do – This is a rhetorical question.11 This verb ᾔδει is a pluperfect form of οἶδα, which indicates that Jesus knows what is happening.12 John 6:7 Six months’ wages – This is two hundred denarii διακοσίων δηναρίων. We/Philip only look at how we would solve the problem rather than turning to God. buy enough bread for each of them to get a little – Gail R. O’Day in John, The New Interpreter’s Bible writes : “It is probably no accident that the two inaugural miracles involve wine and bread, the sacramental symbols of God’s grace in Jesus” [p. 591]. John 6:8 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother – The rest of the disciples do not understand what is happening either.13 John 6:9 There is a boy – Andrew notices that one of the crowd has kept his wits and brought food. What about the others? Did they have no food or did they trust that God would provide? barley bread – An inexpensive bread.14 John 6:10 Make the people sit down. – Sitting (reclining) is the posture taken when eating. a great deal of grass – Perhaps this image is reminiscent of Psalm 23.15 about five thousand in all – Maybe this number shows that this miracle far surpasses Elisha. This miracle also has echoes of 2 Kings 4:42-44 along with Isiah 25:6 On this mountain the L ORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined (Isiah 25:6 RSV). John 6:11 took . . . thanks . . . distributed – This recalls Holy Communion. 11

Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 197. Ibid., p. 199. 13 Ibid., p. 200. 14 Stoffregen, ‘John 6.1-21 Proper 12 - Year B’. 15 Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, pp. 198, 200.

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John 6:12 Gather – Recalls the Didache16 Unlike the meals of manna in the wilderness this food must not be lost.17 John 6:13 John 6:14 prophet who is to come into the world – This is not a correct view of Jesus. John 6:15 to make him king – A king must provide for his subjects. What do we want make Jesus into? Maybe the people recalled Deuteronomy 18:15-18.18 Who would blame them? Do you want to work for food or have someone give it to you? Obviously, God can feed the entire world. However, today, these types of miracles are very scarce. The question is why? If God only has a limited amount of stuff that can be freely given out, then what about “heaven”? If it is because God does not want these type of followers who are looking for a free meal, then why is “heaven” full of riches? Something else must be happening. Whose job is it to take care of the world? Who is given the task of honoring father and mother? Which ones must help those in need? Not a single answer to these questions point to God. Rather, every on of these tasks are our works. John 6:16 disciples went down to the sea – We assume that the crowd does not follow.19 John 6:17 got into a boat – This is like “Star Trek.” Never beam down to the surface of a planet if you are wearing a red shirt. You will die. The same idea is found here. Do not go into the boat/church without Jesus. You will die. started across – Moloney argues for a translation of were trying.20 Jesus had not yet come – This phrase indicates that Jesus will soon be on the scene. 16

Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 198. Ibid. 18 Ibid., p. 199. 19 Ibid., p. 203. 20 Ibid.

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John 6:18 sea became rough – This type of weather is typical of the Sea of Galilee.21 John 6:19 walking on the lake – This and the following revelation shows that the scene is a theophany that illustrates the OT theme that YHWH controls the sea.22 A possible translation of “beside the sea”, while grammatically possible, must be rejected in this context.23 John 6:20 It is I; do not be afraid. – The disciples are not afraid of the storm but instead they are afraid of Jesus. Commentators do not agree on what the phrase “It is I” might be. Some assume that it is a revelation and others lean toward the idea that the disciples should not be concerned since Jesus is present.24 John 6:21 they wanted to take him – It seems that the incident at sea has not led disciples to a deeper understanding of Jesus. They want to control God. land toward which they were going – The disciples do not know where they are headed.25

References Francis J. Moloney, S.D.B.; Harrington, S.J., Daniel J., editor, The Gospel of John, Volume 4, Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1998). Harrington, S.J., Daniel J.; Idem, editor, The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1, Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1991). Hultgren, Arland J., Chap. Parables of Life Before God In ‘The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary’, (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000), pp. 180–291. Stoffregen, Brian, John 6.1-21 Proper 12 - Year B, http://www. crossmarks.com/brian/john6x1.htm. 21

Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 204. Ibid., p. 202-203. 23 Ibid., p. 204. 24 Ibid. 25 Ibid., p. 203.

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