2 Kings 6 & 7 (selected)

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Summary

  • Providential provision of food to end an extreme famine.


Details and/or Comments


Scripture

2 Kings 6-7 selected

Scripture Passage Comments and Links
2Ki 6:24 It happened after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

2Ki 6:25 There was a great famine in Samaria: and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.

Extreme famine because of being besieged by the Syrians.

A "kab" = a unit of measure, approximately 1 quart. / It has been suggested that "dove's dung" was a popular name for the inedible husks of seeds.

2Ki 6:26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, there cried a woman to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

2Ki 6:27 He said, If Yahweh doesn't help you, from where could I help you? From of the threshing floor, or from the winepress?

2Ki 6:28 The king said to her, "What ails you?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'

2Ki 6:29 So we boiled my son, and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him;' and she has hidden her son."

Even to the point of cannibalism. God warned the people that this type of thing would happen, if they rebelled against the true God and followed the wicked ways of the nations around them.


The king blames God (who he doesn't serve!).

Scripture Passage Comments and Links
2Ki 6:31 Then he said, God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stay on him this day.
2Ki 6:32 But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but before the messenger came to him, he [Elisha] said to the elders, Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door fast against him: isn't the sound of his master's feet behind him?
2Ki 6:33 While he was yet talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of Yahweh; why should I wait for Yahweh any longer? The speaker = the king, who was right behind the messenger (unless the messenger spoke in behalf of the king).

His was a half truth. God warned that he would send judgment (as seen in Deuteronomy 28:1-68), but it was because of their sins, that it happened. The king's conclusion - "why should I wait for Yahweh" - was a totally inappropriate response. Instead, they should have repented of their sins.


Scripture Passage Comments and Links
2Ki 7:1 Elisha said, Hear the word of Yahweh. Thus says Yahweh, Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Elisha says there will be an abundance of food in 24 hours.

Perhaps the king changed his mind. Or he decided to wait for the 24 hours. Whatever the reason, once he reached Elisha, his previous statement (about killing Elisha) was not fulfilled.


This is how God did it:

Scripture Passage Comments and Links
2Ki 7:6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great army: and they said one to another, Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come on us.

2Ki 7:7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

God sent a sound that they thought was an approaching army. Terrified, they ran, leaving everything behind.

No details are given for how God did it. This is because it doesn't matter. (It could have easily been a providential display of God's power.) From the Syrian's perspective, they heard a noise, and they interpreted it as an approaching army.

  • Providence - perhaps the most likely explanation, rather than being a miraculous event. (There were other instances in which something was misinterpreted by an army - such as water being mistaken for blood, because of the way the sunlight reflected off it - 2 Kings 3:6-27.)


The prophet's words (from God) proved true.

Scripture Passage Comments and Links
2Ki 7:16 The people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Yahweh.



3:6-27  •  6:1-7, 14-23  •  6 & 7 (selected)

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——
The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.