2 Kings 6:24-29

Famine in Besieged Samaria

24 Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria.

25 There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels^[a] of silver, and a quarter of a cab^[b] of seed pods^[c] for five shekels.^[d]

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

27 The king replied, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?”

28 Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’

29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.”

2 Kings 6:24-29 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.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Kings 15:18; 1 Kings 20:1; 2 Kings 8:7
• 2. Deuteronomy 28:52
• 3. S Leviticus 26:26; S Ruth 1:1
• 4. Isaiah 36:12
• 5. S Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53-55

Footnotes

• [a] That is, about 2 pounds or about 920 grams
• [b] That is, probably about 1/4 pound or about 100 grams
• [c] Or "of doves’ dung"
• [d] That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams