V. Not far from Gilgal was the little village of Baalshalisha,[78] at which lived a farmer who wished to bring an offering of firstfruits and _karmel_ (bruised grain) in his wallet to Elisha as a Man of God.[79] It was a poor gift enough--only twenty of the coarse barley loaves which were eaten by the common people, and a sack[80] full of fresh ears of corn.[81] Elisha told his servitor[82]--perhaps Gehazi--to set them before the people present. "What?" he asked, "this trifle of food before a hundred men!" But Elisha told him in the Lord's name that it should more than suffice; and so it did. FOOTNOTES: [65] Jos., _Antt._, IX. iv. 2. This perhaps is only suggested by the reminiscences of 1 Kings xviii. 2, 3, 12. [66] Lev. xxv. 39-41; Matt. xviii. 25. [67] 2 Kings iv. 10. Not "a little chamber on the wall" (A.V.), but "an _alîyah_ with walls" (margin, R.V.). [68] Frankl., _Jews in the East_. [69] John iv. 27: "Then came His disciples, and marvelled that He was _talking_ (μετὰ γυναικὸς) _with a woman_." [70] 2 Kings iv. 13: "Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care" (LXX., πᾶσαν τὴν ἔκστασιν ταύτην). [71] The Sheykh with whom I stayed at Bint es Jebeil could think of no return which I could offer for his hospitality so acceptable as if I would say a good word for him to the authorities at Beyrout. [72] Gehazi is usually called the _na'ar_ or "lad" of Elisha--a term implying lower service than Elisha's "ministry" to Elijah. [73] 2 Kings iv. 23. Hebrew "Peace"; A.V., "It shall be well." [74] Salutations occupy some time in the formally courteous East. Comp. Luke x. 4. [75] 2 Kings viii. 1. [76] Not "lap," as in A. V. (Heb., _beged_); LXX. συνέλιξε πλῆρες τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ; Vulg., _implevit vestem suam_ (both correctly). [77] Heb., _paquoth_; LXX., τολύπην ἀγρίαν; Vulg; _colocynthidas agri_. Hence the name _cucumis prophetarum_. [78] Lord of the Chain and "Three lands." Three wadies meet at this spot, a little west of Bethel. [79] 2 Kings iv. 42. Karmel, Lev. ii. 14. Perhaps a sort of frumenty. [80] The word for "wallet" (_tsiqlon_; Vulg., _pera_) occurs here only. Peshito, "garment." The Vatican LXX. omits it. The Greek version has ἐν κωρύκῳ αὐτοῦ. [81] See Lev. ii. 14, xxiii. 14. [82] 2 Kings iv. 43. The word for "his servitor" (_m'chartho_) is used also of Joshua. It does not mean a mere ordinary attendant. LXX., λειτουργός; Vulg., _minister_. CHAPTER VI _THE STORY OF NAAMAN_ 2 KINGS v. 1-27 MATT. viii. 3: Θέλω, καθαρίσθητι After these shorter anecdotes we have the longer episode of Naaman.[83] A part of the misery inflicted by the Syrians on Israel was caused by the forays in which their light-armed bands, very much like the borderers on the marches of Wales or Scotland, descended upon the country and carried off plunder and captives before they could be pursued.