12 basketfuls

Matthew 14:17-21 - "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

"Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

I wonder at what point during the distribution the disciples or any of the people realized what was happening. The story is told matter-of-factly. There's no big fanfare or hubbub mentioned to indicate when that might have been.

I remember seeing one Hollywood director's idea of how this happened. There were large baskets (probably several bushels each) with a fish or some bread deep down inside each one. As food was taken out, more replaced it (unseen) until the baskets were soon overflowing with food.

Possible. I'm not creative enough to imagine another method.

I wonder how much each person had to eat before being "satisfied." Did Jesus give the food extra "filling power"?

I wonder what was done with the 12 basketfuls. Perhaps it was given to some of the poorer folk in the crowd.

I wonder who counted the ~5000 men.