2 Kings 7 16

2 Kings 7:16 kjv

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.

2 Kings 7:16 nkjv

Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 7:16 niv

Then the people went out and plundered 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, as the LORD had said.

2 Kings 7:16 esv

Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 7:16 nlt

Then the people of Samaria rushed out and plundered the Aramean camp. So it was true that six quarts of choice flour were sold that day for one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain were sold for one piece of silver, just as the LORD had promised.

2 Kings 7 verses

2 Kings 7 16 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and profound reversal of fortune in Samaria following the sudden departure of the Aramean army. The suffering Israelite populace went out to the deserted Syrian camp and plundered vast quantities of provisions and goods left behind. Consequently, the famine that had ravaged the city for so long ended, and the prices of essential food items—fine flour and barley—plummeted to their pre-siege, normal, or even abundant levels, precisely as Elisha the prophet had declared on the previous day. It demonstrates God's instantaneous provision and the absolute reliability of His prophetic word.

2 Kings 7 16 Context

2 Kings chapter 7 opens with the city of Samaria under a brutal siege by the Aramean (Syrian) army, leading to extreme famine conditions where desperate measures like cannibalism were being taken (2 Kings 6:24-30). King Joram, distressed and holding Elisha responsible, had even ordered Elisha's execution (2 Kings 6:31). In this context of utter despair, Elisha boldly prophesied that within twenty-four hours, the famine would end, and food prices would plummet dramatically (2 Kings 7:1). A scoffing royal officer expressed disbelief, to whom Elisha declared he would see it but not partake of it. The discovery of the abandoned Syrian camp by four desperate lepers, the king's initial skepticism, and the subsequent verification by scouts led to the dramatic event described in verse 16. The sudden deliverance and provision were a direct fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy, contrasting sharply with the city's previous dire state and serving as a testament to God's omnipotence and faithfulness.

2 Kings 7 16 Word Analysis

• And the people went out: Refers to the common citizens of Samaria, who had been confined by the siege and suffering from extreme starvation. Their "going out" signifies a radical shift from fear and confinement to freedom and provision, demonstrating the end of their ordeal.
• and plundered: The Hebrew word is basas (בזז), meaning "to plunder," "spoil," or "take as prey." This was not stealing, but taking spoils of war, which was an accepted practice following victory. It highlights the reversal of fortune, as the besieged were now enriched by their former besiegers.
• the camp of the Arameans: This refers to the vast amount of equipment, food, animals, and goods that the Syrian army abandoned in their panicked, divinely-induced flight. The sheer volume was enough to satisfy an entire city and bring down market prices instantly.
• So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel:
  • seah (סאה, se'ah): A common ancient dry measure, approximately 7.3 liters or 1/3 of an ephah. It indicates a substantial quantity for a single measure.
  • fine flour (סלת, solet): This refers to choice, high-quality flour, usually more expensive. Its drastically reduced price indicates overwhelming abundance.
  • barley (שעורים, se'orim): A common, less expensive staple grain compared to wheat. Its availability at such low prices confirms the complete reversal of scarcity.
  • shekel (שקל, sheqel): A unit of weight for silver, also serving as currency. The mentioned prices (one shekel) indicate an extraordinary return to normality or even overabundance, especially considering the pre-famine price for a donkey's head was eighty shekels of silver and a quarter kab of dove's dung was five shekels. This stark contrast highlights the miraculous intervention.
• according to the word of the LORD: This phrase is the theological pivot of the verse and indeed the entire narrative. It directly attributes the events to divine command and prophecy, given through Elisha in 2 Kings 7:1. It emphasizes God's sovereign control over circumstances, His absolute faithfulness to His declared word, and implicitly, His supremacy over false gods or human power. This serves as a powerful polemic against any notion that chance or human agency brought about the relief; it was God alone who fulfilled His promise.

2 Kings 7 16 Bonus Section

The rapid reversal from such extreme famine (cannibalism described in 2 Kings 6) to abundant provision serves as a profound demonstration of God's unmatched power. This is a recurring pattern in biblical narratives: moments of human despair are often precisely when God chooses to reveal His mightiest interventions, defying logical human solutions. The abundance was so great that it not only satisfied the current hunger but drove prices down significantly, demonstrating super-abundant grace rather than mere sufficiency. The immediate and perfect fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy serves as a key theological point, validating the authority and truth of God's messengers and His promises, and warning against skepticism and unbelief. The fate of the scoffing officer in the following verses (2 Kings 7:17-20), who saw the abundance but could not partake due to his death, further underscores the severe consequences of disbelieving God's word.

2 Kings 7 16 Commentary

2 Kings 7:16 narrates the immediate aftermath of divine intervention, showcasing the swift and total reversal of Samaria's fortunes. It's a stark portrayal of how God transforms desperate scarcity into overflowing abundance in a single day. The people's act of plundering the Aramean camp was not an act of aggression but a simple act of collection, permitted by the circumstances God had orchestrated. The subsequent collapse of food prices stands as a visible, quantifiable sign of God's immediate and comprehensive provision. This event profoundly illustrates the unwavering truth and power of God's word, as spoken through His prophet Elisha, affirming that when God speaks, His words come to pass precisely as declared, regardless of the impossibility in human eyes. It is a powerful lesson in God's faithfulness, demonstrating His ability to deliver His people even when they are undeserving and their faith is weak, using unexpected means to bring about salvation. It teaches that even the direst circumstances can be utterly transformed by divine decree.