Elisha, the prophet and successor of Elijah, is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, known for his miracles and prophetic insights. Among his significant prophecies is the foretelling of a seven-year famine in the land of Canaan, a period of severe hardship that tested the faith and resilience of the people.

Context and Background

The prophecy of the seven-year famine is found in 2 Kings 8:1-6. Elisha's ministry occurred during a tumultuous time in the history of Israel, marked by idolatry, political instability, and frequent conflicts with neighboring nations. As a prophet, Elisha served as a conduit of God's will, providing guidance, performing miracles, and delivering messages of both judgment and hope.

The Prophecy

The account of the seven-year famine begins with Elisha's warning to the Shunammite woman, whose son he had previously raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37). Elisha instructed her to leave her home and sojourn wherever she could, as the LORD had decreed a famine upon the land. The Berean Standard Bible records Elisha's words: "Arise and go with your household and stay wherever you can, for the LORD has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years" (2 Kings 8:1).

The Shunammite Woman's Obedience

In obedience to Elisha's prophetic warning, the Shunammite woman and her household departed to the land of the Philistines, where they remained for the duration of the famine. Her faith and trust in the word of the prophet exemplify the proper response to divine revelation, highlighting the importance of heeding God's warnings through His appointed messengers.

Return and Restoration

At the end of the seven years, the Shunammite woman returned to her homeland, only to find her property occupied. She appealed to the king for the restoration of her house and land. Providentially, at that very moment, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, was recounting to the king the miracles performed by the prophet, including the resurrection of the Shunammite's son. The king, moved by the testimony and recognizing the divine favor upon her, commanded that all her property be restored, along with the produce of the fields from the time she left until her return (2 Kings 8:3-6).

Theological Significance

Elisha's prophecy of the seven-year famine serves as a testament to God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His word. It underscores the role of the prophet as a mouthpiece of divine revelation, entrusted with delivering messages that often carried both immediate and long-term implications. The narrative also illustrates God's provision and care for those who trust and obey Him, as seen in the preservation and eventual restoration of the Shunammite woman and her household.

The account of the seven-year famine is a reminder of the cyclical nature of divine judgment and mercy, a theme prevalent throughout the biblical narrative. It calls believers to remain steadfast in faith, attentive to God's word, and responsive to His guidance, even amidst trials and uncertainties.2 Kings 8:1-3
Then spoke Elisha to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn: for the LORD has called for a famine; and it shall also come on the land seven years.
Nave's Topical Index

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Fifty-Seven Years. ... What Wonders Were Done
By The Prophet Elisha. ... Daniel In Media; And What Prophecies He Delivered ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... the siege of Samaria, and the prophecies of Isaiah ... Not long before this, we find
Elisha secretly conspiring ... as an earthquake which occurred two years after the ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... up there, and there I dwelt with them many years. ... the young child, and return into
the land of Israel ... stumble"they did not understand the prophecies that went ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

Who was Elisha in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the story of Elisha and Naaman? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus