Chapter 7

1 Elisha prophesieth incredible plenty in Samaria. 3 Four lepers, venturing on the host of the Syrians, bring tidings of their flight. 12 The king, finding by spies the news to be true, spoileth the tents of the Syrians. 17 The lord, who would not believe the prophecy of plenty, having the charge of the gate, is trodden to death in the press.

1. The word of the Lord. The king of Israel had expressed his opinion, and now Elisha was to reveal the will of the Lord. It should be noted that the division between chapters six and seven at this point is artificial. A proper division would have been at ch. 6:24, where the present narrative begins. Elisha is now taking up the challenge of the king and is relating what the Lord is about to do. In full view of the people Joram had placed the blame for the present crisis upon God, and having turned against the Lord, he now proposed taking things into his own hands, in the hope of finding some means of relief. Elisha reveals that it is God and not the king who will provide relief.

Measure. Heb. seХah. Six cabs were equal to a seah, and three seahs were equal to an ephah. The seah was approximately 6.66 dry qts. (6.4 liters) (see Vol. I, p. 167). On one day “the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung” sold for “five pieces of silver” (ch. 6:25). But on the next day 24 times that amount of wheat would be sold for a fifth the price. Or in other words, the amount of money that during the famine would purchase a bit of the cheapest and lowliest product that could be used to sustain life, would on the following day purchase 120 times as much of the best wheat flour.

The gate of Samaria. In Oriental cities where access is had to cities by gates through the city walls, the gate becomes a busy and thriving market place. When food became available, one of the gates of Samaria would be the center of distribution.

2. A lord. Heb. hashshalish, literally, “the third [man],” or “the thirdling.” Originally, the word probably denoted the third man on a chariot, as among the Hittites. The Assyrians assigned only two men to each of their chariots. Later it became the title of an important functionary in Oriental courts. When Jehu slew Joram, it was his shalish, Bidkar, who was ordered to dispose of the body of the fallen king (ch. 9:24, 25). The fact that this officer is described as one “on whose hand the king leaned,” indicates that he must have been an individual of some importance, probably an official who was a personal attendant of the king and to whom at times important responsibilities were entrusted. It was this official who on the morrow was to be placed in charge of the gate of Samaria, where food would be offered for sale (ch. 7:16–18). The fact that this officer was present at this time at the home of Elisha suggests that the king was likewise present (see on ch. 6:33).

Answered. The officer sought to show how foolish and utterly impossible was the statement Elisha had just made. Thus he endeavored to defend the king in the position he had taken of placing no confidence in Jehovah.

Not eat thereof. The scoffer was to be a personal witness to the fulfillment of Elisha’s prophecy, but because of his unbelief he would not be permitted to participate in the blessings it would bring.

3. At the entering in. Being lepers, these men were not normally allowed within the city. The law of Moses required lepers to abide “without the camp” (Lev. 13:46; Num. 5:2, 3). They were thus without the city walls, but near the gate.

Why sit we here? In better times the people of the city probably supplied the lepers with food. But now, because of the famine, nobody brought these unfortunate sufferers food any longer, and they faced starvation.

5. In the twilight. They waited till nightfall, when in the darkness they could make their way to the enemy camp unobserved by their countrymen upon the walls, who might consider their scheme an act of desertion.

The uttermost part. That is, the edge of the Syrian camp nearest the city, not its most distant part.

6. To hear a noise. For similar examples, see on ch. 6:19.

Hath hired. The use of mercenary troops was common in antiquity. The children of Ammon hired the Syrians for resistance against David (2 Sam. 10:6 and 1 Chron. 19:6, 7). In the shifting political relationships of the ancient East, the force of any national group could at some time or other find itself arrayed against almost any other people.

The Hittites. See p. 30. Only remnants of the once powerful Hittite kingdom were now in existence. But the little Hittite states of northern Syria retained many of their original warlike characteristics, and their forces could provide a serious threat to the armies of Syria.

Kings of the Egyptians. This was the time of the Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt (see on 1 Kings 14:25) when the capital was at Bubastis in the eastern Delta and Egypt was ruled by a dynasty of Lybian kings. The “kings of the Egyptians” undoubtedly refers to certain minor and subsidiary kinglets rather than to the king of Egypt proper.

7. They arose and fled. The picture is one of wild and precipitous flight. Believing themselves surrounded by enemies on every side, the Syrians rushed from the camp, each man thinking only of his own safety. Everything was left behind.

8. Did eat. The lepers thought first of satisfying their gnawing hunger. Then they responded to the natural impulse of helping themselves to the treasure that was simply waiting to be carried away.

9. We do not well. They were not doing well, but they were a long time finding it out. Inside the city, men, women, and children were starving, but all this time the lepers were interested only in themselves. By allowing their countrymen to perish within reach of plenty, the lepers would bring the blood of the dying upon their grasping hands and greedy hearts. The lepers finally came to see that their good fortune had brought them a responsibility as well as an opportunity.

Some mischief. A guilty conscience recognizes the fact that the perpetrator of evil has a price to pay. No one may sin with impunity. Wickedness always finds its way back to the head of the guilty one.

11. The porters. The warders or keepers of the gate.

12. I will now shew you. Joram could not believe that what God’s prophet had foretold had actually come to pass. In his unbelief he could think only of evil at the hour of deliverance and blessing. The Syrians were gone, but he believed it not. Food was there for the taking, but he could not bring himself to accept that fact. God had been kind and good and had kept His word, but the king refused to acknowledge it. His evil and suspicious nature prevented him from realizing that the horrors of the siege were over and that undreamed of bounties were to be had for all who would believe and receive.

13. One of his servants. The servant displayed greater wisdom than the king. His answer was one of faith and practical good sense. There was the possibility that the report of the lepers might after all be true. Why not make an effort to find out, especially when that effort might be made at little cost. A few horses were still left in the city. Why not risk them in such a cause as this?

14. Two chariot horses. Literally, “two horse chariots.” According to the LXX the men went on horseback.

15. Unto Jordan. Every evidence was that the Syrians were headed for home. As far as possible they followed the road that would take them to the Jordan and on to Damascus. The shortest distance to the Jordan was at least 20 mi. (32 km.), a long way considering the circumstances, but the Hebrew messengers were determined to ascertain the facts. Everything indicated that the Syrians had fled in abject terror, discarding anything that might hinder their flight.

16. According to the word of the Lord. But not according to the ideas of the king. Under every circumstances it pays to ascertain the word of the Lord. That word is always true. What God says will surely come to pass. He who has faith in God may walk a path that is altogether sure. Unbelief is constantly being rebuked by fulfilled prophecy. If Joram had turned to the Lord, he might have given his people a message of hope. If he had accepted the words of Elisha, he might have rested in peace and set before his people an example of courage and trust. Man always loses when he refuses to believe the word of the Lord. Faith in God is the way of wisdom and life. It brings to man joy and peace in this world, and points the way to an eternity of peace in the world hereafter.

17. Charge of the gate. At such an hour this was an important responsibility. At the news of the Syrians’ flight there would be only one thought in the minds of all—to get out of the city gate and find food. The situation was not easy to control. In all probability the king at this vital hour also chose to take his position at the city gate, perhaps above it, on the city wall, where he would have a good view both of the city and the Syrian camp.

18. It came to pass. In this and the following verses the writer largely repeats what he has already said. With obvious satisfaction he states again the predictions of Elisha and the officer’s words of doubt, and shows again how completely the prophet’s predictions had been fulfilled.

It was by such experiences as these that the Lord was slowly drawing the children of Israel back again to faith and obedience, and to the religion of their fathers. For many years the people had been worshiping idols. Both priests and rulers were evil. Kings took a leading part in apostasy and iniquity. Injustice, immorality, intemperance, and cruelty were to be seen on every hand. Temples of worship became seats of iniquity. God’s chosen people had strayed far from righteousness and the ways of holiness and peace. They needed to learn anew concerning God, that He was kind and good, that He loved His people, and that He desired them to walk in the ways of mercy, justice, and truth. Under Israel’s present circumstances these lessons were exceedingly hard to learn. Ordinary measures did not suffice. Therefore such men as Elijah and Elisha were sent, proclaiming messages of rebuke and appeal and working singular miracles. The result was that many were brought back again to reason and righteousness and to faith and obedience to God. Holy men of God were living out before their fellows the life and love of God, and as a consequence a new spirit and hope were coming back into the hearts and lives of men. Once more the peace and righteousness of heaven were beginning to be seen among the children of earth. The work of Elisha was not in vain.

Ellen G. White comments

1–20PK 258, 259

1     PK 259

3–9, 16PK 258