2 Kings Chapter 7 — Provision and the Syrian Flight
Elisha predicts an end to the famine in Samaria, which is fulfilled when four lepers discover that the Syrian army has fled their camp in terror.
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Notable Verses
2 Kings 7:1
“Elisha said, “Hear the LORD’s word. The LORD says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’ ””
This verse sets the stage for the miraculous economic reversal and the specific prophecy Elisha delivers.
2 Kings 7:3
“Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die?””
The decision of these outcasts becomes the catalyst for the discovery of God's provision for the entire city.
2 Kings 7:9
“Then they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent.””
This marks the moment the lepers recognize their responsibility to share the news of the Syrian retreat with the starving population.
Chapter Summary
2 Kings 7 begins with Elisha prophesying that food prices in besieged Samaria will drop drastically by the next day. A skeptical royal officer doubts this possibility, questioning if even God could provide such abundance. Meanwhile, four lepers at the city gate decide to surrender to the Syrians rather than starve. They arrive to find the Syrian camp completely abandoned because the Lord caused the soldiers to hear the sound of a massive approaching army, leading them to flee in haste. The lepers initially loot the camp for themselves but soon realize they must share the good news with the city. After the king's scouts confirm the retreat, the starving citizens of Samaria rush out to plunder the camp. In the rush for food, the skeptical officer is trampled to death at the city gate, fulfilling Elisha’s second prophecy that the man would see the abundance but not eat of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The text states that the Lord caused the Syrians to hear the sound of a great army of chariots and horses, leading them to believe the king of Israel had hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack them.
As Elisha prophesied, the officer saw the abundance of food but did not eat it because he was trampled to death by the crowds at the city gate during the rush to plunder the camp.
Four men with leprosy discovered the empty camp while looking for food and eventually reported the news to the city gatekeepers, who then informed the king's household.
Study Note
The 'seah' mentioned in verse 1 was a standard dry measure roughly equivalent to 7 liters, illustrating the specific detail of Elisha's economic prophecy.
Related Chapters
2 Kings 6
This chapter provides the immediate context of the famine and the Syrian siege of Samaria.
2 Kings 5
This chapter explores Elisha's previous interaction with a Syrian commander and the theme of leprosy.
Luke 17
This New Testament chapter features a story of ten lepers, reflecting the social isolation seen in 2 Kings 7.
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