Session 9 2 Kings 7:1-15
2 KINGS 7:1-15
MEMORY VERSE: PROVERBS 22:9
People are drawn to stories of unlikely heroes: the least known player on the team scoring the winning run, a child saving her family from a fire, and the smallest rescuer being able to reach a trapped person. In 2 Kings 7, we find four men who were the unlikeliest of heroes. They were shunned, yet God chose them to deliver the news of His provision.
(In PSG, p. 82)
Elisha journeyed with several sons of the prophets to the Jordan River, where he miraculously made an ax head float (2 Kings 6:1-7). Meanwhile, the king of Aram (Syria) set out to capture Elisha, because he knew God was informing Elisha of the king of Aram’s plans (6:8-12). The Aramean army came to Dothan, where Elisha was staying, but God sent a heavenly army to protect His prophet (6:13-17). God delivered Elisha, and the Arameans did not come again to Israel (6:18-23).
On another occasion, Ben-hadad, king of Aram, besieged Samaria, and Israel’s king blamed Elisha for Samaria’s woes and sent soldiers to bring him to the king (6:24-33). Elisha announced that, by the next day, life in Samaria would return to normal (7:1-2). Meanwhile, four skin-diseased men decided to desert to the Aramean camp, where perhaps they would find life and food (7:3-4). However, they found no one in the camp, because the Lord had caused confusion among the Aramean army that caused them to flee for their lives (7:5-7). The four men ate, drank, and collected plunder, and then informed Israel’s king of their discovery (7:8-11). The king suspected the Arameans had laid a trap, but the men’s words proved true, and life was restored in Samaria (7:12-20).
The Shunammite woman whose son Elisha had raised from the dead had journeyed to Philistia during Israel’s seven years of famine, but Elisha arranged for her to receive her land back when she returned (8:1-6). Elisha then journeyed to Damascus, met Hazael, an official of Ben-hadad, and predicted the evil Hazael would inflict on Israel when he became king (8:7-15).
Meanwhile, Jehoram, who had married the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, became Judah’s king and lived an evil life (8:16-23). When he died, his son Ahaziah took his place but continued his father’s wickedness (8:24-29).
Elisha commissioned one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as Israel’s next king (9:1-10). Jehu gathered loyal men around him who accompanied him to Jezreel, where he killed Joram, king of Israel, Ahaziah, king of Judah, and Jezebel (9:11-37).
God used Jehu to bring judgment on Ahab’s house (10:1-17). Jehu also deceitfully gathered the land’s chief Baal worshipers and slaughtered them (10:18-28). Tragically, Jehu continued to practice many of the evils that Jeroboam, Israel’s first king, had done, and he did not walk in God’s ways (10:29-31). Toward the end of Jehu’s life, the Lord began to reduce Israel’s territory through foreign invasions (10:32-36).
EXPLORE THE TEXT
1 Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at Samaria’s gate, six quarts of fine flour will sell for a half ounce of silver and twelve quarts of barley will sell for a half ounce of silver.’” 2 Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man, responded to the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”
God’s prophet challenged God’s people to hear the word of the LORD! The word hear is in the plural; Elisha invited everyone present to hear what God had to say. The words this is what the LORD says reminded the people the message did not come from Elisha, but from God.
The Aramean siege of Samaria had brought dreadful hardship to the city (6:25). However, Elisha prophesied Samaria’s economic restoration about this time tomorrow at Samaria’s gate. They would not have to wait long to see God’s deliverance. Elisha announced that by that time, six quarts of fine flour will sell for a half ounce of silver and twelve quarts of barley will sell for a half ounce of silver. The word translated “six quarts” is literally “seah,” a unit of measure. The word translated “half ounce” is literally “shekel.” A shekel weighed about half an ounce. Elisha’s words indicated prices in Samaria would greatly improve by the next day and the economy that spun out of control due to the siege would stabilize. Elisha mentioned this would be especially evident at Samaria’s city gate, where much business occurred.
The king’s captain, who stood nearby, heard Elisha’s words and responded to the man of God. The captain is designated the king’s right-hand man, which literally reads “upon whose hand the king leaned.” Interpreters generally believe such an official rode in the chariot with the king and provided support and stability as the driver drove. He thus was someone who served the king in an important capacity.
The captain responded, Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen? He struggled to believe that within twenty-four hours, life in Samaria could return to normal.
The expression windows in heaven is similar in Hebrew to the expression that describes heaven opening to bring the waters of the great flood (Gen. 7:11). The prophet Malachi used similar language when he urged the people to bring their tithes to God and watch Him open the floodgates of heaven to bless them (Mal. 3:10). In reply, Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.” The captain had doubted God’s message through Elisha, so he would not enjoy the blessing when it came.
Doubting God can lead to missed opportunities. When we face difficult times, we may struggle to believe the truth of God’s promises, but they remain true nonetheless (2 Cor. 1:20). Doubting God’s promises undermines the stability that comes from a relationship with Him, and we may miss seeing God work in a great way (Jas. 1:6-8).
3 Now four men with a skin disease 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. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”
Four men with a skin disease now become the focus of the story. The word translated with a skin disease denotes various serious skin conditions; many translations suggest they had leprosy. These men were at the entrance to the city gate, where much business occurred (see v. 1). Their position also provided a vantage point to see where the Aramean army was stationed. The men asked themselves a question: Why just sit here until we die? They would consider their options in verse 4.
One course of action the men considered was to go into the city. Doing so might provide temporary security, but the men concluded they would die there because the famine is in the city. They would have shelter from Aram’s army but little if any food or water. The men also dismissed their second option with the words if we sit here, we will also die. With food and water so scarce, nothing remained for them at the gate.
One option remained. They concluded, let’s surrender to the Arameans’ camp. They did not know what treatment they would receive, but they knew the enemy camp had food, water, and other provisions. They reasoned, if they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die. Three of the four options they considered would result in their death, but if they encountered merciful soldiers, they might live, plus receive provision for their needs.
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 had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army. The Arameans had said to each other, “The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us.” 7 So they had gotten up and fled 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.
The diseased men got up at twilight to go to the Arameans’ camp. With a reasonable amount of light left, they proceeded from Samaria’s gate to the army of Aram’s encampment. Surprise greeted the four men when they came to the camp’s edge. They expected someone from the army to see them and take action, but instead, they found that no one was there.
Verse 6 provides the explanation for the Arameans’ absence: the Lord had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army. Military professionals would recognize such sounds from a distance. The Arameans had the capital city hemmed in, so they reasoned, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us.
In ancient times of war, nations sometimes joined forces with other nations. Israel and Judah had on different occasions joined together against Aram and Moab (1 Kings 22:3-4; 2 Kings 3:5-7). During Isaiah’s day, the kingdom of Judah considered joining Egypt against Assyria (Isa. 30:1-2; 31:1; 36:6). The Hittite empire lay in what is now the country of Turkey and represented a powerful force, particularly in earlier times. The Hittite army would have attacked Aram from the north. The Egyptians lay to the south of both Israel and Judah, and perhaps the Arameans assumed the kings of Israel were trying to hem them in on both northern and southern sides.
The Arameans interpreted the sounds they heard as indicating mighty armies were coming. Consequently, they had gotten up and fled at twilight—the very time the four men were making their way toward the Aramean camp. In effect, the four men were coming in the front door as the Arameans fled out the back door. The army’s flight included abandoning their tents, horses, and donkeys. Verse 8 also suggests they left behind silver and gold. The army of Aram left everything, so the camp was intact. The soldiers had fled for their lives, anticipating the worst.
These diseased men came to the edge of the camp, expecting to encounter Aramean soldiers. Instead, they went into a tent to eat and drink what the soldiers had left behind. Perhaps they found more to eat and drink in one tent than remained in the entire city of Samaria! The men also picked up the silver, gold, and clothing and went off and hid them. After the men had hidden their newly-found possessions, they came back and entered another tent, picked things up, and hid them.
God often provides in unexpected ways. When the four men went out to the Aramean camp, they did not know whether they would live or die. What they found must have staggered their comprehension. Likewise, when we place our faith in the Lord, we may have confidence in His provision of all we truly need.
(In PSG, p. 86)
9 Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our punishment will catch up with us. So let’s go 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.
The four men began to ponder their situation and affirmed, we’re not doing what is right. They should not hoard so much for themselves. They needed to share the goods with their fellow citizens in Samaria. Further, they reasoned, today is a day of good news. The people of Samaria and all Israel had experienced deliverance from the Aramean threat, and the four men needed to tell Samaria’s citizens.
The men were convinced, if we are silent and wait until morning light, our punishment will catch up with us. The word translated punishment also can be rendered “iniquity.” The men recognized it a sin to hoard it all for themselves and not share with others. Consequently, they suggested to one another, let’s go tell the king’s household. The king would be the one to issue the order for the people to go to the camp. Samaria’s royal court needed to know what the men had found.
The diseased men came and called to the city’s gatekeepers. Since they had a skin disease, they were unclean and unfit to venture into the city. Instead, they entrusted those who watched the gate to relay the information. They informed the gatekeepers, we went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—no human sounds. Even the sound of human life was gone! Further, they added, there was nothing but tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact. All human life had disappeared from the camp, but plenty of goods remained. The men reported that it was as if the soldiers had vanished without a trace.
The gatekeepers summoned messengers to relay the men’s report. Through these messengers, the news was reported to the king’s household.
Believers have a responsibility to share what they have received by God’s grace. Of primary importance is the responsibility to share with others the good news of salvation through Jesus. However, God also can provide for others through our sharing of financial resources. People may have other needs as well that we are able to meet. In such times, we must remember all we have comes from God (1 Cor. 4:7). As someone has said, “God wants us to be channels of His grace, not reservoirs of His grace.”
(In PSG, p. 88)
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, 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.’” 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, 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.
That the king got up in the night testifies to the urgency of the situation. The news was significant enough that the king needed to act quickly. However, since it was night, the situation could not be as easily assessed, which made the king suspicious. In fact, his words, let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us, imply he thought he had figured out their strategy.
He indicated that they know we are starving, since the Arameans had besieged Samaria and cut off the people’s food and water supplies. They knew times were becoming desperate for Samaria’s citizens. Consequently, the king reasoned, they have left the camp to hide in the open country. Mountains surround the city of Samaria on every side, and such terrain provided opportunity for the Arameans to hide beyond the ridge or between the mountains and not be visible to Samaria’s watchmen. The king thought the Arameans were trying to lure his citizens into coming out to plunder the Aramean camp. He suspected that they planned, when they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.
One of his servants responded with a suggestion. Indeed, the king might be right, and caution was in order. Nevertheless, if the Arameans truly had abandoned their goods, this would be great news for Samaria. He suggested to the king, let messengers take five of the horses that are left in the city. These messengers would enter the Aramean camp and inspect it thoroughly to determine whether the Arameans had fled or whether they were laying a trap. The messenger’s comment that their fate is like the entire Israelite community who will die was similar to the thoughts of the four men in verse 4. If in fact it was a trap, all would die anyway. But if the Arameans truly had fled, leaving all their goods, great blessing awaited. The servant proposed let’s send them and see.
The messengers took two chariots with horses. This might provide a fast escape if the Arameans attacked. The king sent them out to look for any sign of the Arameans. They were to investigate thoroughly, methodically working their way through the camp and checking many tents. They also were to survey the landscape for any sign of Aramean presence.
The delegation assessed the status of the Aramean soldiers and followed them as far as the Jordan. The Jordan River lay approximately twenty-five miles east of Samaria. From the eastern hill country, the messengers could have looked down toward the Jordan Valley and assessed whether any army remained. The messengers saw no signs of human life; rather, they saw that the whole way was littered with clothes and equipment. These things the Arameans had thrown off in their haste as they fled. The word translated “thrown off” describes a forceful flinging or casting away. No Aramean threat remained, and the messengers returned and told the king.
Second Kings 7:16-20 describes how the Israelites plundered the Aramean camp. Life returned to normal quickly in Samaria as God intervened on their behalf.
Sometimes people need the opportunity to investigate God’s grace. I had an uncle who for years believed he never could become a Christian because he was too great a sinner. Late in life he finally grasped the truth of the gospel and is now with the Lord in heaven. I know many people who came to Christ after a long process. Sometimes God uses our words to bring people to faith in Christ, while other times, He uses us to prepare their hearts, and other people bring them to the moment of decision. We can trust God in this process and should never be discouraged by skepticism.
Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. (See Deuter-onomy 8:18; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.)
Use a Bible atlas and Bible dictionary to locate and learn about places mentioned in Scripture.
Locate the city of Samaria in a Bible atlas. Notice the terrain around the city—a large plain surrounds it, with a rim of mountains in the distance. What role did the geography play in the king’s skepticism and cautiousness?