Benhadad Siege of Samaria
An exciting Old Testament Children story of a king and a woman who took matters in their own hand instead of trusting on the LORD. If there is only one important lesson we can learn from Elisha with the siege of Samaria it is to have trust and faith in the LORD God. It is always better to trust in the LORD than to put trust and confidence in man.
2 Kings 6:24–7:2
Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. There was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they blockaded it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces (this is 80) of silver, and the fourth part of a cab (dry measurement about 1.5 liters) of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.
Just as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. The king replied if the LORD does not help you where shall he help her out of the barn floor or out of the wine press.
Then the king asked her what ailed her. She answered there was this woman who said for her to give her son, that they might eat him today, and then tomorrow they will eat her son. So they boiled her son, and did eat him; then said unto the woman the next day, give your son that they may eat him. She had hid her son.
When the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him. The king sent a man from before him: but the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See how this son of a murderer has sent to take away mine head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the voice of his master’s feet behind him?
While he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer? Then Elisha said, Hear you the word of the LORD; Thus said the LORD, Tomorrow 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, you shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
What Can This Story Teach Us?
Because of the siege of Samaria, the city was reduced to great suffering. The siege of Samaria by Benhadad king of Syria caused a terrible famine in the city. Food was so expensive and so scarce, people were eating garbage Women in starvation ate their own children during the blockade.
The king of Israel blamed all the tragedies on Elisha and promised to behead him. He sent his servant to get Elisha. When he came to his door, Elisha predicted that the next day there would be plenty of food in Samaria and at cheap prices. The servant protested that it was impossible. Elisha told him it would happen, but the doubting servant would not live to see it.
This story is of a king and a woman who took matters in their own hand instead of trusting on the LORD. Elisha, the man of God, told the king who wanted his head, that tomorrow there would be food that could be reasonable bought in the gate of Samaria. It would be in twenty four hours and there would be plenty of food to eat.
If there is one important life lesson we can learn from Elisha is to have trust and faith in the LORD God. It is always better to trust in the LORD than to put trust and confidence in man. (Psalms 118:8).
Once we learn we can trust in the LORD all the times especially when the times are hard. The LORD God is our refuge things are easier for us. It doesn’t mean everything is going to be happy and there will be no hardship. It means we can expect that the LORD is with us in our hardship He is our help and our shield.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Benhadad Siege of Samaria:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2266,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “Benhadad Siege of Samaria:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2266,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Benhadad Siege of Samaria:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2266, (accessed).
