2 Kings 6

Famine in Besieged Samaria (6:24-33)

24 -25 The Arameans’ fear of Israel’s God did not last long. Mainly because Joram and the Israelites had shown no REPENTANCE for their idolatrous ways, God permitted Ben-Hadad to advance right into the heart of Israel and besiege its capital, Samaria. As a result of the siege, supplies to the city were cut off, and food became so scarce that even the barely edible head of a donkey sold for eighty shekels (a kilogram) of silver, an exorbitant price (verse 25).

26-31 In these verses the writer describes a sad incident. During the siege, a woman called out to King Joram for help; he replied that only the Lord could provide help. But then Joram asked the woman what the matter was (verse 27).

The woman had made an agreement with another woman that they would eat their young sons. The first woman had cooked her son and they had eaten him. But the second woman had now hidden her son and broken their agreement.

When the king heard her story he was greatly distressed. Being forced to eat one’s children had been listed as one of the consequences of breaking God’s covenant (Leviticus 26:29). But Joram wasn’t thinking a bout a broken covenant; hewasn’t thinking about Israel’s idolatry, which was the true cause of the siege and resulting famine. Instead, Joram blamed Elisha for Israel’s predicament (verse 31).Elisha could have miraculously provided food, but he didn’t. Elisha could have blinded the forces of Ben-Hadad, but he didn’t. Joram was sure that Elisha, like Elijah before him, was the true “troubler” of Israel; Elisha was Israel’s “enemy” (see 1 Kings 18:1617; 21:20). Accordingly, Joram swore an oath that he would have Elisha’s head cut off that very day (verse 31).

Both in anger and distress, the king tore his robes (verse 30); then the people noticed that underneath his robes he was wearing sackcloth.²⁷

32-33 As usual, Elisha knew in advance what the king was planning. The king first sent a messenger to Elisha and the city elders. Then, it seems, the king himself immediately followed after the messenger, perhaps to revoke the order for Elisha’s execution.²⁸ When the king arrived, he told the elders there was no use waiting on the Lord any longer because He wasn’t going to help them; indeed, it was the Lord who had brought this disaster on them in the first place (verse 33). Joram was beginning to get some insight into Israel’s situation-though not enough to recognize the SIN that had caused it.