prophete of God'e o.bility and reo.dinese to help them in every time of need. The uimpleet meo.ne can be made effectual if God blessee it.-J. O. VerR. 42-44.-The twenty barley loaves. 'Ibis miracle foreehadowe Christe acts of multiplying the loaves (Matt. xiv. 15-21; xv. 32-39, etc.). I. THE GIFT OF LOAVES. In a time of great need in the little society, there came a man from Baal-shalisha, bringing with him twenty barley loaves and a quantity of fresh corn. This welcome gift was : 1. Prompted by a religioua motive. It wa.~ " bread of the firstfruits." The religious dues were ordinarily paid to priests and Levites, but in the state of religion in Israel, this good man thought that he kept the spirit of the Law best by bringing his loaves aud corn to Elisha and his pupils. The act is proof (1) of his genuine piety; (2) of his religious good sense; (3) of his habitual con- scientiousness in discharge of duty. He did not conceive that "dearth in the land" freed him from the obligation of the firstfruits. Would that every ahristian bad as high and conscientious a standard in religious giving 1 We may suppose that the man was further moved in pa1t by a benevolent desire to be of service to Elisha and the prophets. In that case he would be no loser by his kindness. 2. Providentw.lly timed to meet a pressing necessity. From the point of view of Elisha and his friends, the visit of the man of Bo.al-shalisha was a signal interposition of Providence for their relief. '!'heir supplies were exhausted, and they had been praying and hoping for a door of help to be opened to them. Just then this anonymous donor from Baal-shalisha comes in with his bread. It was as direct a case of Divine provision as when the ravens brought bread and flesh to Elijah at the brook Cherith (1 Kings xvii. 6). God's ways of providing for his people are endless in their variety. Many instances are on record of help sent in just as wonderful a way to those in need as this passage exhibits. II. 'fHE MIRACULOUS INCREASE. Precious as these twenty barley loaves were, they formed, after all, but scant provision for a hundred hungry men. The prophet bad, however, warrant from God to convert them into the sufficiency required. 1. "Thus saith the Lord." " Give unto the people," said Elisha, "that they may eat," When Gebazi objected that there was not enough for all the company, the prophet repeated his command, adding, "For thus saitb the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof." A "thus saith the Lord" suffices to overcome all objections, What can it not accomplish? It made the worlds at first; it gave the Israelites manna in the wilder- ness; it brought water from the rock; it had but a little before multiplied the widow's oil. If we have this warrant for anything we are told to do, we need not hesitate to attempt it. 2. The people fed. Accordingly, when the bread was served out, it was found to be sufficient for all. It is curiously supposed by some that the miracle was not in the multiplication of the bread, but in causing the portions received to satisfy hunger. The analogy of the other miracles by multiplication, not in the Gospels alone, but in these very histories (1 Kings xvii. 12-16; eh. iv. 1-7), is against this. We see in the provision made (1) a blending of providence and miracle. A.n appreci- able quantity of the bread provided was furnished by the man of Baal-shalisha; God made this sufficient by a direct act of power. Another illustration of the variety of the Divine methods. The one thing certain is that those who trust him wilt be provided for (Ps. xxxiv. 9, 10). We do well to see in it also (2) an image of the true, God-given, spiritual bread, which God brings to us in our spiritual need, and by which he satisfies our spiritual hunger (John vi. 26-58).-J. O.
EXPOSITION. whioh were especially remarkable, and CHAPTER V. which stood in a peculiar relation the one Vere. 1-27.-THl!I OURE OF NAAMAN's towards lhe other. One was the removal of LEPROSY. His GnA1'lTUDl!I; AND THE SIN OF leprosy: the other, its infliction. Oue was G1mAZI. The historian continues his nar- wrought on a foreigner and a man of rative of Elisha's miracles, commenced in emineuoe; the other, on a Hebrew and a oh. ii., ancl gives in the present chapter a servant. The second was altogether con:18- very grn11hic and complete account of two queutio.l upon the first, without w1:ich ilia 1:12 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [on. v. 1-27.