Ben-hadad, who typically appears in contexts of military victory and political maneuvering, here becomes the unwitting instrument of God's miraculous provision when his army's supernatural terror creates the very abundance Elisha prophesied.
2 Kings 7
1Elisha said, “Hear the LORD’s word. The LORD says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”
2Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, “Behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, could this thing be?” He said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”
3Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die?
4If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let’s surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”
5They rose up in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, no man was there.
6For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.”
7Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
8When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drank, then carried away silver, gold, and clothing and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent and carried things from there also, and went and hid them.
9Then they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let’s go and tell the king’s household.”
10So they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”
11Then the gatekeepers called out and told it to the king’s household within.
12The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’”
13One of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let’s send and see.”
14Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them out to the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”
15They went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the path was full of garments and equipment which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king.
16The people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the LORD’s word.
17The king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.
18It happened as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;”
19and that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”
20It happened like that to him, for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.
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Theme
During the Syrian siege of Samaria, Elisha prophesies that the severe famine will end within a day, though a skeptical royal officer will not live to enjoy the relief. Four leprous men, facing certain death from starvation, venture to the Syrian camp only to discover it mysteriously abandoned—God had caused the enemy to hear phantom sounds of approaching armies and flee in terror. The lepers report their discovery, leading to the fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy as abundant food becomes available, while the doubting officer is trampled to death at the city gate.
Context
This chapter concludes the Syrian siege narrative that began in chapter 6, demonstrating God's power to deliver Israel through miraculous intervention.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 Elisha's Prophecy of Relief Elisha predicts the end of famine within a day, but warns a skeptical officer he will not partake of the abundance
- 3-4 Four Lepers Face Desperate Choice Four leprous men decide to surrender to the Syrians rather than die of starvation in the besieged city
- 5-8 Discovery of the Abandoned Syrian Camp The lepers find the Syrian camp deserted after God caused the enemy to flee in terror, and they feast and gather treasures
- 9-11 The Lepers Report Their Discovery Recognizing their moral obligation, the lepers inform the city gatekeepers about the abandoned enemy camp
- 12-16 Verification and Fulfillment The king sends scouts to confirm the report, leading to the people's rush for food and the fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy
- 17-20 The Officer's Death The skeptical royal officer is trampled to death at the gate, exactly as Elisha had predicted
The Siege of Samaria and Its Relief
6:24–7:20 narrative narration hopeful
During a devastating siege of Samaria causing extreme famine and cannibalism, Elisha prophesies divine deliverance and abundant food, which miraculously comes to pass when the Syrian army flees in panic.
person_contrast
Ben-hadad, who typically appears in contexts of military victory and political maneuvering, here becomes the unwitting instrument of God's miraculous provision when his army's supernatural terror creates the very abundance Elisha prophesied.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
2 Kings 7:3 1 reference
2 Kings 7:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 20:1 Lexical
Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and ch…
1 Kings 20:25 Lexical
Muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in…
1 Chronicles 19:6 Lexical
When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one t…
1 Kings 10:29 Lexical
A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so t…
2 Chronicles 1:17 Lexical
They imported from Egypt then exported a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty. The…
2 Kings 7:7 1 reference
2 Kings 7:8 2 references
2 Kings 7:9 2 references
2 Kings 7:10 1 reference
2 Kings 7:14 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Kings 20:21 Lexical
The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.
1 Kings 20:1 Lexical
Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and ch…
Joshua 11:4 Lexical
They went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude,…
2 Kings 7:15 2 references
Lexicals 2
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