Lexical Summary kerah: Pit, excavation Original Word: כֵּרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance provision From karah; a purchase -- provision. see HEBREW karah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom karah Definition a feast NASB Translation feast (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כֵּרָה noun feminine a feast, 2 Kings 6:23 (si vera lectio; see foregoing). Topical Lexicon Principal Occurrence2 Kings 6:23 records the single use of כֵּרָה: “So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.” Historical Background The event took place during the ministry of Elisha when Syria (Aram) was frequently raiding Israel. Elisha’s prophetic intervention blinded the Aramean troops, led them into Samaria, and then asked the king not to kill but to feed them. The “great feast” punctuated a miraculous deliverance that transformed sworn enemies into guests at the royal table. Cultural Setting: Hospitality and Covenant In the Ancient Near East, hospitality conveyed honor, safety, and often finalized treaties. By providing a lavish meal rather than retribution, the king underscored an unspoken covenant of peace. Such a gesture was costly—feasts involved the slaughter of prized livestock and the use of significant stores of grain and wine (compare Genesis 18:6–8; 1 Samuel 25:18, 36). The text implies abundance and generosity, fitting the larger biblical pattern that views a shared meal as a bond-forming act (Exodus 24:9–11). Theological Themes 1. Mercy Triumphs over Judgment The feast embodies Proverbs 25:21–22 and prefigures Christ’s teaching in Matthew 5:44. Compassion on enemies demonstrates God’s character, turning potential bloodshed into reconciliation. 2. Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency God sovereignly blinds the Arameans, yet the king’s obedient generosity becomes the means of peace. The narrative aligns with passages such as Proverbs 16:7, showing that God can make enemies live at peace with His people. 3. Shalom through Provision The abundance of the table anticipates eschatological peace (Isaiah 25:6). The Aramean bands “did not come again,” signaling tangible, measurable shalom resulting from covenantal grace. Christological and Eschatological Foreshadowing The royal feast in Samaria anticipates the Messianic banquet. Jesus’ ministry mirrors and magnifies this moment: feeding enemies with bread and fish (Mark 8:1–9), eating with sinners (Luke 15:2), and instituting the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:14–20). Revelation 19:9 culminates the motif with the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” where former rebels become honored guests. Ministry Implications • Enemy Love: Churches are called to pursue active reconciliation, often expressed through hospitality (Romans 12:20). Practical Application Believers can imitate this pattern by opening their homes and tables, especially to outsiders, critics, or those with whom there is tension. Such tangible mercy challenges worldly instincts for retaliation and showcases the gospel’s power to create unexpected peace. Related Biblical Motifs Psalm 23:5 — God prepares a table in the presence of enemies. Isaiah 55:1–2 — The gracious invitation to a free, abundant feast. Luke 14:12–14 — Banqueting with those who cannot repay. Romans 5:10 — While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Summary כֵּרָה highlights a decisive moment when a royal feast, offered to once-hostile soldiers, illustrates God’s desire to convert conflict into peace through lavish, covenantal hospitality. The passage stands as an Old Testament precursor to the gospel ethic of loving one’s enemies and points forward to the ultimate feast prepared by the King of kings for all who, once estranged, are brought near through grace. Forms and Transliterations כֵּרָ֣ה כרה kê·rāh keRah kêrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 6:23 HEB: וַיִּכְרֶ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם כֵּרָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֗ה וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ NAS: a great feast for them; and when they had eaten KJV: great provision for them: and when they had eaten INT: prepared like feast A great had eaten |
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