(38) Elisha returned to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land, and the disciples of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, “Set the large pot [on the fire] and cook a stew for the disciples of the prophets.” (39) So one of them went out into the fields to gather sprouts. He came across a wild vine and picked from it wild gourds, as many as his garment would hold. Then he came back and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know [what they were]; (40) and they served it for the men to eat. While they were still eating of the stew, they began to cry out: “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. (41) “Fetch some flour,” [Elisha] said. He threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it to the people and let them eat.” And there was no longer anything harmful in the pot.
The Gemara asks about the phrase: Nor any food items that might bring him to impurity; what does it come to include? It comes to include that which the Sages taught: Five food items bring a man to a state of impurity due to emission. And these are: Garlic,
Apropos the arugula plant, the Gemara cites a verse: “And one of them went out into the fields to collect orot” (II Kings 4:39). It was taught in the name of Rabbi Meir with regard to orot in this verse: This is the plant called arugula. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Why are these arugula plants called orot? It is because they enlighten [me’irot] the eyes. Rav Huna said: With regard to one who finds arugula, if he can eat it, he eats it, and if not, he passes it over his eyes, as that too is beneficial. Rav Pappa said: Arugula is most effective when it grows on the border of the field, where it is unadulterated by other plants.
(42) A man came from Baal-shalishah and he brought the man of God some bread of the first reaping—twenty loaves of barley bread, and some fresh grain in his sack. And [Elisha] said, “Give it to the people and let them eat.” (43) His attendant replied, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give it to the people and let them eat. For thus said the LORD: They shall eat and have some left over.” (44) So he set it before them; and when they had eaten, they had some left over, as the LORD had said.
§ The Gemara relates: In the years of Rav Yosef there was a divine anger, manifested by world hunger. The Sages said to Rav Yosef: Let the Master pray for mercy concerning this decree. He said to them: Now, if in the case of the prophet Elisha, when the Sages would take their leave of him, 2,200 Sages would remain behind whom he would support from his own pocket, and yet he would not pray for mercy at a time of divine anger and famine, should I pray for mercy? The Gemara asks: And from where is it derived that this number of scholars would remain behind with Elisha? As it is written: “And his servant said: How should I set this before a hundred men” (II Kings 4:43). What is the meaning of “before a hundred men”? If we say that all of the gifts that he had received, i.e., the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of corn mentioned in the preceding verse, were meant to be placed before one hundred men, in years of drought and famine this was a good deal of food, which would have sufficed for them. Rather, it must mean that each and every one of the loaves was to be placed before one hundred men. Since he had twenty loaves plus two meals of first-fruits and ears of corn, there must have been 2,200 people present.
He makes great (On Shabbat & Holidays days when Musaf (additional prayer service) is said, say instead: He is a tower of) Salvation of His Kingship. And does kindness to his anointed one – to [King] David & his descendants forever. Young lions became needy and starved But, those that seek, the L·rd, did not lack any good. (Psalms 34:11) I was a youth & I also became older, & I did not see a Righteous person abandoned & his children seeking bread. (Psalms 37:25) All day He is graceful & lends & his children are held blessed. (Psalms 37, 26) That that we ate, may it be to satiate. And that which we drank, may it be for healing. And that that we left over, may it be for blessing. As it is written: As it is written: “and he gave it [the food] before them and when they had eaten, they had some left over as [according to] the word of the L·rd. (II Kings 4:44 ) Blessed are you to the L·rd – Who makes the Heaven and Earth. Blessed is the man that will place trust in the L·rd. And the L·rd is his trust. (Jeremiah 17:7 ) The L·rd gives strength to His People. The L·rd will bless his people with peace. (Psalms 29:11) May He Who creates peace in His high places, may He with His mercy, make peace upon us & all His people Israel, & say ye, Amen.