1Then Elisha said, “Hear this word of the LORD: ‘Tomorrow about this time, a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, within the gate of Samaria.’” 2Then an officer on whose arm the king was leaning answered Elisha, “Look, even if the LORD would open the floodgates of heaven, could this happen?” And Elisha said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat any of it.”

3And there were four leprous men outside the city gate; and they said to each other, “Why should we sit here until we die? 4If we enter the city, then we shall die from the famine in the city; and if we sit here, we will also die. So let us go surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they spare us, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” 5And so they got up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they reached the edge of the camp of Syria, there was no one there. 6For the LORD had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and horses - the sound of a great army; and they had said to each other, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites, and the Egyptians, to attack us.” 7And so they got up and fled in the dusk, leaving their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything in the camp as it was, and ran for their lives. 8And when the lepers came to the edge of the camp, they ventured into one tent, and ate and drank, and took silver, gold, and clothing from it, went and hid it; and then entered another tent, and took from there, and hid it.

9Then they said to each other, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we hold our peace. If we stay here till morning light, some mischief will befall us; let us go and tell the king's household.” 10So they went to the gatekeepers of the city; and told them, “We went to the camp of the Syrians, and there was no one there, but their horses and donkeys were tied, and their tents just as they were.” 11And the gatekeepers informed the king's household within. 12And King Jehoram arose in the night, and told his servants, “I will tell you what the Syrians are up to: They know that we are starving; so they have left their camp to hide in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and gain access to the city.’” 13And one of his officers said, “Let some take five of the horses that remain and go as scouts and see. If something happens to them, they will be no worse off than those of us who remain here: doomed.” 14And so they chose two chariots with their horses; and the king sent them to go after the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.” 15And they followed the Syrians as far as the Jordan; and there were garments and equipment strewn all along the road, discarded by the Syrians in their hasty flight. And then they returned, and reported to the king. 16And then the people went out, and looted the tents of the Syrians. So, indeed, a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

17And the king had sent that officer, whose arm he had leaned on, to guard the gate; and the people trampled him to death in the gateway, as Elisha had foretold, when Jehoram had come to him. 18As the man of God had told the king, “Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria.” 19And the officer who had answered Elisha, “Even if the LORD should open the floodgates of heaven, could such a thing happen?” And Elisha had replied, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” (v.7:2) 20And that is what happened; because the people trampled him to death in the gate.