2 Kings 7:1-2 KJV — 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. 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.
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Context and Explanation:
In 2 Kings 7:1-2, we find Elisha delivering a prophecy in the midst of a dire situation. The city of Samaria is under siege by the Arameans, and the resulting famine is so severe that people are resorting to desperate and horrifying measures to survive, including cannibalism (as seen in 2 Kings 6:28-29). The king of Israel is furious and ready to blame Elisha, even threatening his life.
Amidst this desperate situation, Elisha declares a prophecy that seems utterly impossible given the circumstances:
“Elisha said, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: 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 7:1, NIV)
In modern terms, Elisha is predicting that within 24 hours, there will be such an abundance of food in the city that prices will plummet to a ridiculously low level. To put this in context:
- A seah was about 7.3 liters or roughly 7.7 quarts.
- A shekel was a small amount of money, equivalent to about 11 grams of silver.
Given that the city was on the brink of starvation, this prophecy sounded absurd. The king’s officer, who heard Elisha, expressed disbelief, saying:
“‘Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?’” (2 Kings 7:2, NIV)
This reaction was one of sheer incredulity—he could not fathom how, within such a short period, there could be enough food to not only feed the starving populace but also to do so at bargain prices.
Modern-Day Equivalent:
Imagine a modern city under siege, say New York City. Supplies have been cut off for months, and the situation has become so dire that people are starving. The government is unable to intervene, and prices for basic commodities have skyrocketed:
- A loaf of bread costs $1,000.
- A gallon of milk goes for $2,500.
- A single egg costs $300.
People are fighting in the streets for scraps of food, and the city is on the verge of collapse.
Now, imagine a prophet walking into this situation and declaring:
“Listen to what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow, in the heart of Times Square, you will be able to buy a loaf of bread for 5 cents, a gallon of milk for 10 cents, and a dozen eggs for 25 cents.”
The incredulity of the city’s residents would mirror that of the king’s officer. The prophecy would sound utterly impossible, as if mocking the severity of the crisis. The city’s financial markets, infrastructure, and supply chains are in ruins—how could food prices possibly return to such absurdly low levels within 24 hours? It would require a miraculous intervention, defying every expectation and understanding of how the world works.
Why the Disbelief?
The disbelief expressed by the king’s officer is deeply human. It’s a response rooted in the natural understanding of cause and effect. When a situation seems utterly hopeless, and all evidence points to continued suffering, the idea of a sudden and miraculous reversal seems ludicrous.
In the case of Elisha’s prophecy, the Lord was setting up a situation where His power could be displayed in a way that defied human logic. The disbelief of the king’s officer was a reflection of the broader human tendency to rely on what seems possible or probable based on visible circumstances, rather than trusting in the possibility of divine intervention.
In the modern analogy, if someone were to predict a sudden economic windfall in the midst of a severe recession, where unemployment is at record highs, and the stock market has crashed, people would likely react with skepticism. The idea of prices plummeting overnight would seem more like a cruel joke than a realistic expectation.
But, as the story in 2 Kings 7 unfolds, the Lord does indeed provide—through a miraculous sequence of events involving the sudden retreat of the Aramean army, who abandon their camp and leave behind all their supplies. The prophecy comes true, and the abundance of food does indeed flood the city, fulfilling Elisha’s words exactly as predicted.
Conclusion:
The prophecy of Elisha was deliberately improbable to emphasize the power and sovereignty of God. It challenges the believer to trust in divine promises, even when they seem impossible by human standards. The officer’s skepticism serves as a foil to the faith required to believe in such a prophecy, and the fulfillment of the prophecy underscores the message that God’s power is not limited by human understanding or circumstances.