2 Kings 6:24

The Siege of Samaria--Cannibalism

24 Now it came about after this, that ¹Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged * Samaria.

2 Kings 6:24 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 6:24

And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria
gathered all his host
Still retaining a grudge and enmity against Israel, and not at all softened by the kind and humane treatment his forces had met with, when in the hands of Israel; and finding he could do nothing in a secret way, by ambush, mustered all his forces together, to try what he could by open war:

and went up, and besieged Samaria;
Jehoram king of Israel not being able to stop him till he came to his capital, which he laid close siege to.

2 Kings 6:24 In-Context

22 He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."

23 So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.

24 Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria.

25 There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver.

26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord , O king!"

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 20:1