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2 Kings 7:18

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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:

And it came to pass as the man {H376} of God {H430} had spoken {H1696} to the king {H4428}, saying {H559}, Two measures {H5429} of barley {H8184} for a shekel {H8255}, and a measure {H5429} of fine flour {H5560} for a shekel {H8255}, shall be to morrow {H4279} about this time {H6256} in the gate {H8179} of Samaria {H8111}:

For the man of God had said to the king, "Tomorrow by this time six quarts of barley will sell for only a shekel and half a bushel of fine flour for a shekel [in the market] at the gate of Shomron";

It happened just as the man of God had told the king: “About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel.”

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;

Commentary

2 Kings 7:18 serves as a pivotal recap, reinforcing the miraculous fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy regarding the end of the severe famine in Samaria. This verse emphasizes the precise accuracy of the "man of God's" words, confirming God's faithfulness to His promises despite seemingly impossible circumstances.

Context

This verse is found at the climax of a dramatic narrative in 2 Kings chapter 7. The city of Samaria was under a brutal siege by the Aramean army, leading to an extreme famine where food was scarce and exorbitantly priced, even to the point of cannibalism among its inhabitants. In this desperate situation, the prophet Elisha, referred to as the "man of God," declared that within 24 hours, food would be plentiful and cheap at the city gate. This prophecy, detailed in 2 Kings 7:1-2, was met with skepticism by a royal officer, who doubted such a turnaround was possible. The verse 2 Kings 7:18 confirms that everything Elisha foretold came to pass exactly as he said, highlighting the divine intervention that lifted the siege and brought abundance.

Key Themes

  • Divine Fulfillment of Prophecy: The verse underscores God's absolute power and faithfulness to fulfill His spoken word, even when it seems humanly impossible. It reiterates the precision of prophetic declarations.
  • God's Sovereign Provision: Despite the dire famine and siege, God orchestrates a miraculous deliverance and provides abundantly for His people, demonstrating His capability to meet needs in extraordinary ways.
  • Consequences of Unbelief: Implicitly, this verse contrasts the fulfillment of the prophecy with the fate of the unbelieving lord who doubted Elisha's words, serving as a reminder of the importance of faith in God's promises (2 Kings 7:17, 2 Kings 7:20).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "man of God" (Hebrew: אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים, 'ish ha'Elohim) is a common title used in the Old Testament for prophets like Elisha, signifying that they are divinely appointed and speak on behalf of God. The terms "barley" and "fine flour" refer to staple grains, with barley being a cheaper, coarser grain and fine flour (likely wheat) being more expensive. The prophecy's mention of these specific prices for a "shekel" (a unit of weight and currency) highlights the dramatic and precise reversal of the famine's economic impact, where previously an ass's head sold for 80 shekels and dove's dung for 5 shekels (2 Kings 6:25).

Practical Application

This passage encourages believers to trust in God's promises, even when current circumstances seem bleak or impossible. Just as God miraculously provided for Samaria, He is able to intervene in our lives and situations. It serves as a powerful reminder that God's word is reliable and will always come to pass. When faced with overwhelming challenges, we are called to remember the sovereignty of God and His ability to do the impossible, rather than yielding to doubt or despair. Our faith should rest not on the visible circumstances, but on the unfailing character of God who speaks and brings it to pass.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 6:32 (2 votes)

    But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and [the king] sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: [is] not the sound of his master's feet behind him?

  • 2 Kings 7:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • 2 Kings 7:2 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Genesis 18:14 (1 votes)

    Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.