Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: 'About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.'" Then Elisha said,Elisha stood as the LORD’s prophet in Samaria during the Aramean siege and the devastating famine it produced. Though the king had blamed Elisha for Israel’s suffering and sent men to seize him, the prophet answered the crisis with God’s certain word. 2Ki 3:16-17 and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley… “Hear the word of the LORD! The starving city needed more than human strategy or political rescue. The LORD called Israel to hear the message that revealed His power to reverse conditions no human resource could change. 2Ki 20:16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: This is what the LORD says: Elisha spoke as God’s appointed messenger, declaring a promise that rested on the faithfulness of the LORD rather than on visible circumstances. The coming deliverance would prove that the God of Israel remained present with His covenant people even amid judgment and distress. 2Ki 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill.… ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, The LORD set a precise time and a public location for the fulfillment of His promise. Samaria’s gate served as the center of commerce and civic life, where the whole city would witness the sudden change from desperate scarcity to abundance. 1Ki 20:6 But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants… a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, Fine flour, inaccessible during the famine, would become affordable within a single day. The announced price showed that the LORD would not merely provide enough food for survival but would overturn the economic effects of the siege. 2Ki 6:25 So there was a great famine in Samaria… and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.’” Even barley would be plentiful at a remarkably low price. The LORD fulfilled Elisha’s word through the flight of the Aramean army and the discovery of its abandoned provisions, demonstrating that no siege, enemy, or famine can prevent Him from providing for His people. Deu 28:53 Then you will eat the fruit of your womb,… Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and delivering God's messages to the people of Israel. 2. Samaria The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was under siege by the Arameans at this time, leading to a severe famine. 3. The Siege of Samaria A critical event where the city was surrounded by the Aramean army, causing extreme scarcity and desperation among the inhabitants. 4. The Word of the LORD The divine message delivered by Elisha, promising a miraculous end to the famine and a return to normalcy in the economy. 5. The Gate of Samaria A significant location in the city where trade and legal matters were conducted, symbolizing the center of public life. Teaching Points Trust in God's PromisesElisha's prophecy reminds us that God's promises are sure, even when circumstances seem impossible. We are called to trust in His word and timing. God's Provision in Desperation Just as God provided for Samaria, He is able to meet our needs in times of crisis. We should look to Him as our ultimate provider. The Power of God's Word The fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy demonstrates the power and reliability of God's word. We should hold fast to Scripture as our guide and source of truth. Faith in the Face of Doubt The people of Samaria were in a dire situation, yet Elisha's message required faith. We are encouraged to maintain faith even when others doubt. God's Timing and Methods God's ways are not our ways, and His timing is perfect. We should be patient and open to the unexpected ways He may choose to work in our lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Elisha's prophecy challenge us to trust in God's promises, even when our circumstances seem dire?2. In what ways can we see God's provision in our own lives, similar to how He provided for Samaria? 3. How does the power of God's word, as demonstrated in this passage, encourage us to rely on Scripture in our daily lives? 4. What are some areas in our lives where we need to exercise faith in the face of doubt or skepticism from others? 5. How can we learn to be patient and trust in God's timing and methods, especially when they differ from our expectations? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 6:24-33Provides context for the dire situation in Samaria, describing the severe famine and the desperation of the people. Genesis 18:14 Relates to the theme of God's ability to do the impossible, as seen in the promise to Abraham and Sarah about the birth of Isaac. Matthew 19:26 Jesus speaks about the possibility of all things with God, echoing the miraculous provision promised through Elisha. Isaiah 55:11 Highlights the power and certainty of God's word, which accomplishes what He desires, as seen in the fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy. John 6:35 Jesus as the Bread of Life, connecting the physical provision of food in Samaria to the spiritual provision found in Christ.
People Aram, Egyptians, Elisha, Hittites, Israelites, SyriansPlaces Egypt, Jordan River, SamariaTopics Barley, Ear, Elisha, Eli'sha, Fine, Flour, Gate, Listen, Market-place, Meal, Measure, Measures, Morrow, Offered, Price, Samaria, Sama'ria, Says, Seah, Seahs, Sell, Shekel, Sold, Thus, Tomorrow, To-morrowDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 7:1 1431 prophecy, OT methods Library Silent Christians'Then they said one to another, We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us; now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.'--2 KINGS vii. 9. The city of Samaria was closely besieged, and suffering all the horrors of famine. Women were boiling and eating their children, and the most revolting garbage was worth its weight in silver. Four starving lepers, sitting by the gate, plucked … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'Impossible, --Only I Saw It' The Sin of Unbelief The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful An Address to a Soul So Overwhelmed with a Sense of the Greatness of Its Sins, that it Dares not Apply Itself to Christ with Any The Section Chap. I. -iii. Kings Links 2 Kings 7:1 NIV2 Kings 7:1 NLT 2 Kings 7:1 ESV 2 Kings 7:1 NASB 2 Kings 7:1 KJV 2 Kings 7:1 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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