2 Kings 6:18-28

18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Strike this people with blindness, I pray." So He ¹struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19 Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow * me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he brought them to Samaria.

20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "O ²LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, "³My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?"

22 He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you ⁴kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? ⁵Set 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 ⁶the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again * into the land of Israel.

The Siege of Samaria--Cannibalism

24 Now it came about after this, that ⁷Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged * Samaria.

25 There was a great ⁸famine 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!"

27 He said, "If the LORD does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?"

28 And the king said to her, "⁹What is the matter with you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'

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2 Kings 6:18-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 6

In this chapter are recorded other wonders of Elisha, as causing iron to swim, 2Ki 6:1-7 having knowledge of the secret counsels of the king of Syria, which he disclosed to the king of Israel, 2Ki 6:8-12 smiting the Syrian army with blindness sent to take him, and which he led into the midst of Samaria, 2Ki 6:13-23, and the chapter is closed with an account of the siege of Samaria, and a sore famine in it, 2Ki 6:24-33.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 9

1. Genesis 19:11
2. 2 Kings 6:17
3. 2 Kings 2:12; 2 Kings 5:13; 2 Kings 8:9
4. Deuteronomy 20:11-16; 2 Chronicles 28:8-15
5. Romans 12:20
6. 2 Kings 5:2; 2 Kings 24:2
7. 1 Kings 20:1
8. Leviticus 26:26
9. Judges 18:23

Footnotes 10

[a]. Lit "nation"
[b]. Lit "smite"
[c]. Lit "smite"
[d]. Lit "said"
[e]. Lit "smite"
[f]. Lit "smite"
[g]. I.e. One kab equals approx 2 qts
[h]. Lit "No, let the LORD help you"
[i]. Lit "to you"
[j]. Lit "said"