II Kings 7: Deliverance from Famine and Doubt
Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.
And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
And the people went out, and spoiled the tents 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 the Lord.
And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
II Kings 7 recounts a dramatic turn of events in Samaria, a city besieged and ravaged by famine. This chapter highlights God's power to deliver His people, even in the most dire circumstances, and underscores the importance of faith in the face of seemingly impossible odds. We see how God uses the unlikely – lepers, a servant's wisdom – to bring about His purposes, while exposing the doubt and unbelief that can hinder His work.
A Prophecy of Abundance (II Kings 7:1-2)
Despite King Jehoram's failure to seek the Lord, the prophet Elisha receives a word directly from God. He boldly declares that within 24 hours, the siege will be lifted and food will be plentiful in Samaria (II Kings 7:1). This is a stunning announcement considering the extreme famine gripping the city. However, the king's officer, his "right-hand man," expresses utter disbelief. He questions how such an abundance could possibly occur. Elisha's response is both prophetic and sobering: the officer will witness the provision but will not partake of it (II Kings 7:2). This foreshadows the consequences of unbelief.
Unlikely Messengers of Hope (II Kings 7:3-7)
The news of the Aramean retreat doesn't come from the royal court or the army, but from four lepers, social outcasts relegated to the fringes of society (II Kings 7:3). Facing certain death from starvation, they reason that they have nothing to lose by approaching the Aramean camp and begging for mercy (II Kings 7:3-4). Their desperation leads them to the unexpected discovery that the Aramean camp is completely deserted (II Kings 7:5, 7). The author reveals that God orchestrated this outcome, causing the Arameans to hear the sound of a vast army with chariots and horses, leading them to believe that the king of Israel had hired foreign mercenaries (II Kings 7:6-7). Panic-stricken, they flee, leaving behind their supplies and equipment. This highlights God's creative and often unconventional methods of intervention.
A Crisis of Conscience and a Report to the City (II Kings 7:8-11)
The lepers, initially focused on their own survival, indulge in the abandoned food and loot (II Kings 7:8). However, their conscience soon pricks them. They realize the gravity of their discovery and the responsibility to share this life-saving news with their fellow Israelites (II Kings 7:9). They understand that withholding this information would be wrong and would bring consequences. Driven by a sense of duty, they return to the city and report their findings (II Kings 7:10-11). This illustrates the importance of sharing God's blessings and the responsibility that comes with receiving good news.
Doubt and Discernment (II Kings 7:12-13)
Despite the lepers' report, King Jehoram remains skeptical and suspicious. He assumes a trap, believing the Arameans are lying in ambush, waiting to attack the people when they emerge from the city (II Kings 7:12). This reveals a lack of trust and a propensity to expect the worst. Ironically, wisdom comes from one of his servants, who suggests sending out a reconnaissance mission to verify the lepers' story (II Kings 7:13). The servant's reasoning echoes the lepers' earlier logic: they are already facing death, so risking a small group to investigate is worthwhile. This highlights how God can use even the most humble individuals to provide insight and direction when leaders are blinded by doubt.
Verification and Vindication (II Kings 7:14-20)
The messengers sent to investigate confirm the lepers' report: the Aramean army has indeed fled, leaving behind a trail of discarded clothing and equipment (II Kings 7:14-15). The starving people of Samaria rush out of the city in a desperate frenzy to seize the abandoned provisions. In the ensuing chaos, the king's officer, who had scoffed at Elisha's prophecy, is trampled to death at the city gate (II Kings 7:16-20). This fulfills Elisha's prediction (II Kings 7:2) and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unbelief and arrogance. The chapter concludes with the complete fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His word and His power to bring about the impossible.
II Kings 7 serves as a powerful reminder that God is able to deliver His people from any situation, no matter how desperate. It also underscores the importance of faith, the dangers of doubt, and the responsibility to share God's blessings with others. God often uses the unexpected and the marginalized to accomplish His purposes, highlighting His sovereignty and His ability to work through anyone who is willing to be used.
Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.
And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
And the people went out, and spoiled the tents 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 the Lord.
And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
II Kings 7 recounts a dramatic turn of events in Samaria, a city besieged and ravaged by famine. This chapter highlights God's power to deliver His people, even in the most dire circumstances, and underscores the importance of faith in the face of seemingly impossible odds. We see how God uses the unlikely – lepers, a servant's wisdom – to bring about His purposes, while exposing the doubt and unbelief that can hinder His work.
A Prophecy of Abundance (II Kings 7:1-2)
Despite King Jehoram's failure to seek the Lord, the prophet Elisha receives a word directly from God. He boldly declares that within 24 hours, the siege will be lifted and food will be plentiful in Samaria (II Kings 7:1). This is a stunning announcement considering the extreme famine gripping the city. However, the king's officer, his "right-hand man," expresses utter disbelief. He questions how such an abundance could possibly occur. Elisha's response is both prophetic and sobering: the officer will witness the provision but will not partake of it (II Kings 7:2). This foreshadows the consequences of unbelief.
Unlikely Messengers of Hope (II Kings 7:3-7)
The news of the Aramean retreat doesn't come from the royal court or the army, but from four lepers, social outcasts relegated to the fringes of society (II Kings 7:3). Facing certain death from starvation, they reason that they have nothing to lose by approaching the Aramean camp and begging for mercy (II Kings 7:3-4). Their desperation leads them to the unexpected discovery that the Aramean camp is completely deserted (II Kings 7:5, 7). The author reveals that God orchestrated this outcome, causing the Arameans to hear the sound of a vast army with chariots and horses, leading them to believe that the king of Israel had hired foreign mercenaries (II Kings 7:6-7). Panic-stricken, they flee, leaving behind their supplies and equipment. This highlights God's creative and often unconventional methods of intervention.
A Crisis of Conscience and a Report to the City (II Kings 7:8-11)
The lepers, initially focused on their own survival, indulge in the abandoned food and loot (II Kings 7:8). However, their conscience soon pricks them. They realize the gravity of their discovery and the responsibility to share this life-saving news with their fellow Israelites (II Kings 7:9). They understand that withholding this information would be wrong and would bring consequences. Driven by a sense of duty, they return to the city and report their findings (II Kings 7:10-11). This illustrates the importance of sharing God's blessings and the responsibility that comes with receiving good news.
Doubt and Discernment (II Kings 7:12-13)
Despite the lepers' report, King Jehoram remains skeptical and suspicious. He assumes a trap, believing the Arameans are lying in ambush, waiting to attack the people when they emerge from the city (II Kings 7:12). This reveals a lack of trust and a propensity to expect the worst. Ironically, wisdom comes from one of his servants, who suggests sending out a reconnaissance mission to verify the lepers' story (II Kings 7:13). The servant's reasoning echoes the lepers' earlier logic: they are already facing death, so risking a small group to investigate is worthwhile. This highlights how God can use even the most humble individuals to provide insight and direction when leaders are blinded by doubt.
Verification and Vindication (II Kings 7:14-20)
The messengers sent to investigate confirm the lepers' report: the Aramean army has indeed fled, leaving behind a trail of discarded clothing and equipment (II Kings 7:14-15). The starving people of Samaria rush out of the city in a desperate frenzy to seize the abandoned provisions. In the ensuing chaos, the king's officer, who had scoffed at Elisha's prophecy, is trampled to death at the city gate (II Kings 7:16-20). This fulfills Elisha's prediction (II Kings 7:2) and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unbelief and arrogance. The chapter concludes with the complete fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His word and His power to bring about the impossible.
II Kings 7 serves as a powerful reminder that God is able to deliver His people from any situation, no matter how desperate. It also underscores the importance of faith, the dangers of doubt, and the responsibility to share God's blessings with others. God often uses the unexpected and the marginalized to accomplish His purposes, highlighting His sovereignty and His ability to work through anyone who is willing to be used.