Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 7
The army of Aram (also called Syria) had surrounded Samaria, the capital city of northern and central Israel. After some time, there was hardly any food in the city. The price of food became so expensive that even rich people had to spend all their money on food. Even then, the small amount of food that they could buy, was awful (6:25).
King Joram blamed God for these troubles, so he wanted to kill Elisha. He went with the leader of the army to Elisha’s house. The elders, or leaders of the city, were already there. The king asked Elisha why he should wait for any longer for God to save the city and its people (1 Kings 6:33).
In reply, Elisha declared a strange and extraordinary message from God. By that same time tomorrow, everyone in the city would know whether it was true. By God’s law, the punishment if he spoke a false message from God, was death (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
The message was so strange because it sounded like a trader’s words at the market. Elisha did not say what would happen to the city. He only declared the prices of flour and the grain called barley at the city’s market. That market happened by the gate which was the only entrance into the city.
Elisha said this at a time when no flour or grain was available to buy at any price whatever. The prices that he announced were extremely cheap. Traders only offer such cheap prices when everyone has already bought more than enough food for their own use.
So, in the circumstances, it seemed impossible that Elisha’s words could be true.
Next part: Evidence that God would rescue Samaria's inhabitants (2 Kings 7:2)
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