2 Kings 7:1

“Then Elisha said, hear the word of the Lord, etc.] This he said to the king and those that were with him: thus saith the Lord, tomorrow, about this time; which very probably was the forenoon: shall a measure of fine flour [be sold] for a shekel; “a seah”, the measure here spoken of, or “saturn”, according to some f91, was a gallon and an half; but Bishop Cumberland f92 makes it two wine gallons and an half; and a shekel, according to his accurate computation, was two shillings and four pence farthing, and near the eighth part of one f93: and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria; where the market was kept; the same sort of measure and of money is here used as before;…”

“ELISHA PROPHESIES INCREDIBLE PLENTY IN SAMARIA. (2Ki. 7:1-16) Hear ye the word of the Lord--This prediction, though uttered first to the assembled elders, was intimated to the king's messengers, who reported it to Jehoram (Kg2 7:18). To-morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, &c.--This may be estimated at a peck of fine flour for 2s. 6d., and two pecks of barley at the same price. in the gate of Samaria--Vegetables, cattle, all sorts of country produce, are still sold every morning at the gates of towns in the East.”

“The division between the chapters is most awkward here. Elisha, in this verse, replies to the king’s challenge in 2 Kings 6:33 - that his God, Yahweh, will give deliverance in the space of a day. On the morrow, by the same time in the day, the famine will have ceased, and food will be even cheaper than usual. A measure of fine flour - literally, “a seah of fine flour;” about a peck and a half. For a shekel - About 2 shillings 8 12 d. Two measures of burley - Or, “two seahs of barley;” about three pecks. In the gate - The “gates,” or “gateways,” of Eastern towns are favorite places for the despatch of various kinds of business. It would seem that at Samaria one of the gates was used for the…”

“Measure - Heb. Seah, a measure containing six cabs, or about a peck and pottle of our measure. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 7:2”

“7:1 This is what the Lord says: Despite Joram’s pessimism and hostility, Elisha brought a message of hope. Tomorrow would bring a complete change in conditions, with good products again available. • twelve quarts . . . only one piece of silver: Cp. with the prices in 6:25.”

“Elisha said: See note on Kg2 6:33, and see note on Kg2 20:16. Kg1 22:19; Isa 1:10; Eze 37:4 To morrow: Kg2 7:18, Kg2 7:19; Exo 8:23, Exo 9:5, Exo 9:6, Exo 14:13, Exo 16:12; Jos 3:5; Sa1 11:9; Psa 46:5 a measure of fine flour: A seah of flour. the seah was about two gallons and a half; the shekel 2s. 4d. at the lowest computation. a wide difference between this and the price of the ass's head. Kg2 6:25; Rev 6:6 of barley: Kg2 4:42; Joh 6:9 in the gate of Samaria: From this it appears that the gates were not only used as courts of judicature, but as market-places. So Mr. Morier observes: "In our rides we usually went out of the town at the Derwazeh Shah Abdul Azeem, or the gate leading to the…”

“Elisha announced to him the word of the Lord: "At the (this) time to-morrow a seah of wheaten flour (סלת, see at Kg1 5:2) will be worth a shekel, and two seahs of barley a shekel in the gate, i.e., in the market, at Samaria." A seah, or a third of an ephah = a Dresden peck (Metze), for a shekel was still a high price; but in comparison with the prices given in Kg2 6:25 as those obtained for the most worthless kinds of food, it was incredibly cheap. The king's aide-de-camp (שׁלישׁ: see at Sa2 23:8; נשׁען למּלך אשׁר, an error in writing for נשׁ המּלך אשׁר, cf. Kg2 7:17, and for the explanation Kg2 5:18) therefore replied with mockery at this prophecy: "Behold (i.e., granted that) the Lord made…”