2 Kings 6:24

The Siege and Famine of Samaria

24 Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege 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 “Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”

23 So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.

24 Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria.

25 So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver.

26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”