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2 Kings 7
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
2 Kings 7
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
7 Elisha replied, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord says: “About this time tomorrow at Samaria’s gate, seven litres[a] of fine flour will sell for ten grams of silver[b] and fourteen litres[c] of barley will sell for ten grams of silver.” ’(A)
2 Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man,[d](B) responded to the man of God,(C) ‘Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen? ’(D)
Elisha announced, ‘You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.’(E)
3 Now four men with a skin disease(F) were at the entrance to the city gate. They said to each other, ‘Why just sit here until we die? 4 If we say, “Let’s go into the city,” we will die there because the famine is in the city, but if we sit here, we will also die. So now, come on. Let’s surrender to the Arameans’ camp.(G) If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.’
5 So the diseased men got up at twilight to go to the Arameans’ camp. When they came to the camp’s edge, they discovered that no one was there, 6 for the Lord[e] had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army.(H) The Arameans had said to each other, ‘The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites(I) and the kings of Egypt(J) to attack us.’ 7 So they had got up and fled(K) at twilight, abandoning their tents, horses, and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had fled for their lives.
8 When these diseased men came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they picked up the silver, gold, and clothing and went off and hid them. They came back and entered another tent, picked things up, and hid them.(L) 9 Then they said to each other, ‘We’re not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news.(M) If we are silent and wait until morning light, our punishment will catch up with us. So let’s go and tell the king’s household.’
10 The diseased men came and called to the city’s gatekeepers and told them, ‘We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there – no human sounds. There was nothing but tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.’ 11 The gatekeepers called out, and the news was reported to the king’s household.
12 So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, ‘Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving,(N) so they have left the camp to hide in the open country, thinking, “When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.” ’(O)
13 But one of his servants responded, ‘Please, let messengers take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their fate is like the entire Israelite community who will die,[f] so let’s send them and see.’
14 The messengers took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, ‘Go and see.’ 15 So they followed them as far as the Jordan. They saw that the whole way was littered with clothes and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king.
16 Then the people went out and plundered the Aramean camp.(P) It was then that seven litres of fine flour sold for ten grams of silver and fourteen litres of barley sold for ten grams of silver, according to the word of the Lord.(Q) 17 The king had appointed the captain, his right-hand man,(R) to be in charge of the city gate, but the people trampled him in the gate. He died, just as the man of God had predicted when the king had come to him. 18 When the man of God had said to the king, ‘About this time tomorrow fourteen litres of barley will sell for ten grams of silver and seven litres of fine flour will sell for ten grams of silver at Samaria’s gate,’ 19 this captain had answered the man of God, ‘Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen? ’ Elisha had said, ‘You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.’(S) 20 This is what happened to him: the people trampled him in the city gate, and he died.
Footnotes
- 7:1 Lit a seah, also in vv. 16,18
- 7:1 Lit for a shekel, also in vv. 16,18
- 7:1 Lit two seahs, also in vv. 16,18
- 7:2 Lit captain, upon whose hand the king leaned, also in v. 17
- 7:6 Some Hb mss read Lord
- 7:13 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read left in it. Indeed, they are like the whole multitude of Israel that are left in it; indeed, they are like the whole multitude of Israel who will die.
Melachim Bais 7
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Melachim Bais 7
Orthodox Jewish Bible
7 Then Elishah said, Hear ye the Devar Hashem; Thus saith Hashem, Machar (tomorrow) about this time shall a se’ah of solet (fine flour) be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of se’orim for a shekel, at the Sha’ar Shomron.
2 Then an officer on whose arm HaMelech leaned answered the Ish HaElohim, and said, Hinei, even if Hashem would make windows in Shomayim, could this thing happen? And he said, Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
3 And there were arba’ah anashim that were metzora’im at the petach haSha’ar (city gate); and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
4 If we say, We will enter into the Ir, then the ra’av (famine) is in the Ir, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us throw ourselves unto the Machaneh Aram (Syrian Camp); if they spare us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall die.
5 And they rose up at neshef (twilight, dusk) to go unto the Machaneh Aram; and when they were come to the edge of the Machaneh Aram, hinei, there was no ish there.
6 For Adonoi had made the Machaneh Aram to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of susim, even the noise of a chayil gadol (a great army); and they said one to another, Hinei, the Melech Yisroel hath hired against us the Melachim of the Chittim, and the Melachim of the Mitzrayim, to come upon us.
7 Therefore they arose and fled in the neshef (twilight), and left their ohalim, and their susim, and their chamorim, even the Machaneh just as it was, and fled for their nefesh.
8 And when these metzora’im came to the edge of the Machaneh, they went into one ohel, and did eat and drink, and carried from there kesef, and zahav, and begadim, and went off and hid it; and came back, and entered into another ohel, and carried from there also, and went and hid it.
9 Then they said one to another, We do not right; this day is a Yom Besorah, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till ohr haboker, some avon (punishment for being sinful) will overtake us; now therefore come, that we may go and tell the Bais HaMelech.
10 So they came and called unto the Sho’er HaIr (Gatekeeper of the City); and they told them, saying, We came to the Machaneh Aram, and, hinei, there was no ish there, neither voice of adam, but susim tied, and chamor tied, and the ohalim just as they were.
11 And he called the sho’arim (gatekeepers); and they told it to the Bais HaMelech within.
12 And HaMelech arose in the lailah, and said unto his avadim, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are starved by famine; therefore are they gone out of the Machaneh to hide themselves in the sadeh, saying, When they come out of the Ir, we shall catch them chayyim (alive), and get into the Ir.
13 And one of his avadim answered and said, Let some of the men take, now, five of the remaining susim left; behold, they will be like kol hamon Yisroel (the whole multitude of Yisroel) that still survives; they are like the kol hamon Yisroel that has perished already. Let us send and find out.
14 They took therefore two chariots of susim; and HaMelech sent after the Machaneh Aram, saying, Go and find out.
15 And they went after them as far as Yarden; and, hinei, all the derech was full of begadim and kelim, which the Syrians had cast off in their haste. And the malachim returned, and told the Melech.
16 And the people went out, and plundered the Machaneh Aram. So a se’ah of solet (fine flour) was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of se’orim for a shekel, according to the Devar Hashem.
17 And HaMelech appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to have the charge of the Sha’ar; and the people trampled upon him in the Sha’ar, and he died, just as the Ish HaElohim had said, who spoke when HaMelech came down to him.
18 And it came to pass as the Ish HaElohim had spoken to HaMelech, saying, Two seahs of se’orim for a shekel, and a seah of solet for a shekel, shall be about this time machar (tomorrow) in the Sha’ar Shomron;
19 And that officer answered the Ish HaElohim, and said, Now, hinei, even if Hashem would make windows in Shomayim, could such a thing happen? And he said, Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
20 And so it happened unto him; for the people trampled upon him in the Sha’ar, and he died. T.N. The Scriptures say “Woe to me if I preach not the Besuras HaGeulah” as it says here in the Yom Besorah (7:9) for this is our day and we are the unclean saved by grace.
2 Kings 7
New International Version
2 Kings 7
New International Version
7 Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah[a] of the finest flour will sell for a shekel[b] and two seahs[c] of barley for a shekel(A) at the gate of Samaria.”
2 The officer on whose arm the king was leaning(B) said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates(C) of the heavens, could this happen?”
“You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat(D) any of it!”
The Siege Lifted
3 Now there were four men with leprosy[d](E) at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.”
5 At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, 6 for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound(F) of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired(G) the Hittite(H) and Egyptian kings to attack us!” 7 So they got up and fled(I) in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.
8 The men who had leprosy(J) reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.
9 Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”
10 So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” 11 The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace.
12 The king got up in the night and said to his officers, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide(K) in the countryside, thinking, ‘They will surely come out, and then we will take them alive and get into the city.’”
13 One of his officers answered, “Have some men take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their plight will be like that of all the Israelites left here—yes, they will only be like all these Israelites who are doomed. So let us send them to find out what happened.”
14 So they selected two chariots with their horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army. He commanded the drivers, “Go and find out what has happened.” 15 They followed them as far as the Jordan, and they found the whole road strewn with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown away in their headlong flight.(L) So the messengers returned and reported to the king. 16 Then the people went out and plundered(M) the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of the finest flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel,(N) as the Lord had said.
17 Now the king had put the officer on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died,(O) just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to his house. 18 It happened as the man of God had said to the king: “About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.”
19 The officer had said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates(P) of the heavens, could this happen?” The man of God had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!” 20 And that is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 7:1 That is, probably about 12 pounds or about 5.5 kilograms of flour; also in verses 16 and 18
- 2 Kings 7:1 That is, about 2/5 ounce or about 12 grams; also in verses 16 and 18
- 2 Kings 7:1 That is, probably about 20 pounds or about 9 kilograms of barley; also in verses 16 and 18
- 2 Kings 7:3 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verse 8.
2 Kings 7
King James Version
2 Kings 7
King James Version
7 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
9 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.
10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
11 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
12 And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
14 They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
15 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So 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.
17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
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