2 Kings 6:28

28 What's your trouble?" She answered, "The other day this woman here suggested that we eat my child, and then eat her child the next day.

2 Kings 6:28 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 6:28

And the king said unto her, what aileth thee?
&c.] His passion subsiding, or pitying her as in distress, and supposing that there might be something particular and pressing in her case:

and she answered,

this woman said unto me;
who was now with her, and to whom she pointed:

give thy son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son
tomorrow;
and this was agreed to between them, that first one should be eaten, and then the other, and that they should feed upon one as long as it would last, and then on the other; for it is not to be limited precisely to a day and tomorrow.

2 Kings 6:28 In-Context

26 The king of Israel was walking by on the city wall when a woman cried out, "Help me, Your Majesty!"
27 He replied, "If the Lord won't help you, what help can I provide? Do I have any wheat or wine?
28 What's your trouble?" She answered, "The other day this woman here suggested that we eat my child, and then eat her child the next day.
29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I told her that we would eat her son, but she had hidden him!"
30 Hearing this, the king tore his clothes in dismay, and the people who were close to the wall could see that he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.