2 Kings 7 18

2 Kings 7:18 kjv

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:

2 Kings 7:18 nkjv

So it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be sold tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria."

2 Kings 7:18 niv

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."

2 Kings 7:18 esv

For when the man of God had said to the king, "Two seahs of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,"

2 Kings 7:18 nlt

The man of God had said to the king, "By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver."

2 Kings 7 verses

2 Kings 7 18 Meaning

This verse marks the precise fulfillment of the prophecy delivered by Elisha, the man of God, to King Jehoram. It recounts how, exactly as predicted the day before, the severe famine gripping Samaria was supernaturally broken. The price of essential grains dramatically plummeted, with two measures of barley and one measure of fine flour each becoming available for only one shekel. This economic reversal occurred publically "in the gate of Samaria," the city's market and administrative center, demonstrating God's swift, powerful, and publicly verifiable intervention to relieve His people.

2 Kings 7 18 Context

The immediate context of 2 Kings 7:18 is a narrative of extreme suffering and a dramatic divine intervention. Samaria, the capital of Israel, was under a suffocating siege by the Aramean army. The resultant famine was so severe that mothers were resorting to cannibalism to survive (2 Kgs 6:24-29). In this dire situation, King Jehoram, feeling hopeless, sought to harm the prophet Elisha, implicitly blaming him or God for the suffering. It was in response to this despair and the king's impending punitive action that Elisha, empowered by God, delivered the seemingly impossible prophecy: by the next day, there would be an abundance of cheap food in Samaria (2 Kgs 7:1). A skeptical royal attendant questioned Elisha's word, and Elisha prophesied that he would see it but not partake (2 Kgs 7:2).

The turning point occurred unexpectedly through four lepers sitting outside the city gate, who, desperate from starvation, decided to surrender to the Arameans. Upon reaching the camp, they found it miraculously deserted; God had caused the Arameans to hear a terrifying sound of chariots and horses, convincing them that powerful armies were attacking them, leading them to flee in panic, leaving all their provisions behind (2 Kgs 7:5-7). The lepers brought the news to the city, initially met with skepticism, then confirmed by a reconnaissance party (2 Kgs 7:8-15). The city dwellers then rushed out, plundering the abandoned camp, thus fulfilling Elisha's prophecy about the immediate end of the famine and the collapse of prices. Verse 18 is the explicit statement that Elisha's previous day's prophecy, scorned by the royal official, has now been exactly fulfilled, setting the stage for the attendant's subsequent death by trampling, confirming God's word regarding his unbelief (2 Kgs 7:19-20).

Culturally, the "gate of Samaria" was not just an entrance; it was the focal point of civic life. Commercial transactions, legal judgments, public announcements, and social gatherings all took place there. The immediate availability of such cheap goods at the gate made the fulfillment of the prophecy undeniably public and complete, underscoring God's absolute control over every aspect of life and circumstance.

2 Kings 7 18 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: (ויהי, Vayehi) A common Hebrew connective phrase in historical narratives, often introducing a significant event, a change of scene, or, as here, the fulfillment of a prophecy or promise. It signifies completion and divine orchestration.
• as the man of God: (איש האלהים, ish ha'Elohim) This title specifically refers to Elisha. It highlights his direct communication with God and divine authority. His words are not merely human opinions but the very declaration of God.
• had spoken to the king: (דִּבֶּר אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ, dibber el-hammelek) Emphasizes that the prophecy was given directly and clearly to the highest authority, leaving no room for misunderstanding the divine message.
• saying: (לֵאמֹר, le'mor) A particle often used to introduce direct speech or to explain what was said.
• Two measures of barley for a shekel: (סָאתַיִם שְׂעֹרִים בְּשֶׁקֶל, sa'tayim se'orim beshekel)
  • Measures: (סָאתַיִם, sa'tayim) Refers to two seahs. A seah (סאה) was a dry measure, roughly 7.3 liters (about 2 gallons). Two seahs represented a substantial quantity.
  • Barley: (שְׂעֹרִים, se'orim) A staple grain, but generally considered coarser and less valuable than wheat, often used for animal fodder or by the poor. Its abundance for such a low price signified the utter reversal of famine conditions.
  • Shekel: (שֶׁקֶל, shekel) A standard unit of weight and currency in ancient Israel, typically a small silver coin (approx. 11 grams). This was an extraordinarily low price for two measures of barley, reflecting immense surplus, especially compared to the starvation prices.
• and a measure of fine flour for a shekel: (וְסָאָה סֹלֶת בְּשֶׁקֶל, vesa'ah soleth beshekel)
  • Measure: (וְסָאָה, vesa'ah) One seah.
  • Fine flour: (סֹלֶת, soleth) This denotes the highest quality, most refined wheat flour. Its availability for a mere shekel further emphasizes the miraculous abundance and complete restoration from famine, making premium food accessible to all.
• shall be to morrow: (מָחָר, mahar) Emphasizes the immediate, next-day fulfillment, highlighting the miraculous speed of God's intervention.
• about this time: (כָּעֵת הַזֶּה, ka'eth hazzeh) Precisely timed; reinforcing the absolute accuracy of the prophecy, leaving no room for coincidence.
• in the gate of Samaria: (בְּשַׁעַר שֹׁמְרוֹן, besha'ar Shomron) The public, central, commercial, and administrative hub of the city. This precise location specified in the prophecy meant its fulfillment would be undeniably witnessed by all, making God's power visible to everyone, including the doubters.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king": This phrase functions as a strong declaration of prophetic fulfillment. It explicitly ties the observed reality back to Elisha's earlier, seemingly incredible, words, highlighting God's faithfulness and Elisha's true prophethood. It signifies divine sovereignty in historical events.
• "Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel": This clause represents the specific, measurable economic component of the prophecy. It showcases the dramatic reversal of market conditions (from desperate scarcity to unprecedented surplus) and God's power to intervene materially in human affairs, demonstrating grace through provision.
• "shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria": This portion provides the critical temporal and spatial elements of the prophecy. The precise timing ("to morrow about this time") underscores God's meticulous attention to detail and ability to perform swift, targeted miracles. The public location ("in the gate of Samaria") makes the fulfillment undeniably visible and verifiable to all citizens, serving as a powerful, public testimony to divine power and the prophet's veracity.

2 Kings 7 18 Bonus section

• The immediate and undeniable fulfillment of Elisha's word serves as a severe condemnation of the royal attendant's prior skepticism (2 Kgs 7:2), highlighting the danger of unbelief when confronted with a clear divine promise.
• This verse confirms the supernatural nature of the event; the flight of the Arameans was an unseen act of God, causing them to abandon vast provisions. The detailed fulfillment validates this hidden miracle by its observable result.
• The contrast between the preceding state (donkey's head for 80 shekels, pigeon droppings for 5 shekels – 2 Kgs 6:25) and the stated fulfillment in 2 Kgs 7:18 vividly illustrates the vastness of God's reversal.
• The entire narrative surrounding this verse is a compelling case study of God using unusual and seemingly insignificant means (four lepers) to achieve His grand purposes, providing an ultimate deliverance that humans could not conceive.

2 Kings 7 18 Commentary

2 Kings 7:18 is the culmination of a tense narrative of extreme human suffering met with astonishing divine intervention. It is more than a simple record of fulfilled prophecy; it is a vivid demonstration of God's power over seemingly insurmountable circumstances and a powerful testament to the infallibility of His word. Despite the dire famine and the human incredulity (most notably, that of the king's aide), God brought about an economic miracle, transforming scarcity into super-abundance overnight. The very precise nature of the prophecy—specific quantities, prices, exact timing ("tomorrow about this time"), and a public location ("in the gate of Samaria")—left no room for misinterpretation or attributing the outcome to chance. This divine precision serves to glorify God as sovereign, true, and able to do the impossible, delivering His people from the most desperate of straits. It serves as a profound biblical truth that when God speaks, His word holds absolute certainty and power to achieve its intended purpose, whether for blessing or for judgment.