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 whom the king leaned 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 say, ‘We will 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 got to 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 one to another, “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 the king 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 get access to the city.’” 13And one of his officers said, “Let someone take five of the horses that remain in the city, (their plight is like all of us that remain here – they, as all of us Israelites, are doomed); so let us send and see.” 14And so they chose two chariot horses; and the king sent them to go after the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.” 15And they followed them as far as the Jordan; and there were garments and equipment strewn all along the road, that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers 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 assigned that officer on whom he leaned to guard the gate; and the people trampled him to death in the gate, as Elisha had foretold, when the king had come to him. 18And as the man of God had spoken to the king, when he said, “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 that man who had answered Elisha, and said, “Now even if the LORD should open the floodgates of heaven, might such a thing happen?” And Elisha had said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but shall not eat of it.” (v.7:2) 20And so it happened to him; because the people trampled him to death in the gate.