What does 2 Kings 7:16 mean?
"And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD." - 2 Kings 7:16
The verse 2 Kings 7:16 from the King James Version of the Bible reads, "And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord."
This verse is situated within a larger narrative that details the deliverance of the people of Israel from a dire situation. The city of Samaria was under siege by the Syrians, and the people within the city were starving and desperate. The situation was so dire that the people resorted to cannibalism, as described in earlier verses of this chapter. It is in this context that the Lord intervenes and brings about a miraculous deliverance.
The verse depicts the aftermath of the miracle that the Lord had promised through the prophet Elisha. Elisha had prophesied that the Lord would deliver the people by causing the Syrians to hear a great noise, which they would interpret as the approach of the armies of Israel and Judah. In their fear, the Syrians would flee, leaving behind their tents, their horses, their donkeys, and their camp, thus providing an abundance of food and resources for the people of Samaria.
The significance of this verse lies in its fulfillment of the word of the Lord through the prophet Elisha. It demonstrates the faithfulness and power of God to bring about deliverance for His people in the midst of impossible circumstances. The imagery of the people going out and spoiling the tents of the Syrians conveys the abundance and provision that the Lord provided for His people. It shows how God can turn a desperate and hopeless situation into one of abundance and blessing.
The symbolic significance of this verse can be understood in several ways. Firstly, it represents the faithfulness of God to His promises. Throughout the Bible, God consistently demonstrates His faithfulness to His people, fulfilling His promises and providing for their needs. The verse also highlights the importance of obedience to the word of the Lord. The people of Samaria experienced God's miraculous deliverance because they trusted and obeyed the word of the Lord spoken through Elisha.
Another significant theme in this verse is the theme of abundance and provision. The fact that fine flour and barley, which had previously been scarce and costly due to the famine, were now available in abundance at a low price, speaks to the abundant provision of God. It echoes the biblical theme of God as a provider and sustainer of His people, fulfilling their needs and meeting them in their times of desperation.
Furthermore, this verse serves as a testament to the sovereignty and power of God over all circumstances. Despite the overwhelming odds and the seemingly insurmountable situation, God was able to bring about a victorious outcome for His people. This theme of God's sovereignty and power is a recurring motif throughout the Bible, emphasizing that nothing is too difficult for God and that He is able to bring about deliverance and victory in the most unlikely of situations.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 7:16 is a verse that encapsulates themes of faithfulness, obedience, abundance, and God's sovereign power. It tells a powerful story of miraculous deliverance and provision, demonstrating the unwavering faithfulness of God to His people. This verse continues to inspire and encourage believers to trust in the Lord's promises, obey His word, and rely on His abundant provision in the midst of challenging circumstances.
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2 Kings 7:16 - "And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD."
"And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD." - 2 Kings 7:16
2 Kings 7:2
2 Kings 16:16 - "Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded."
2 Kings 3:16-19
2 Kings 16:19 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 16:7 - "So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me."
2 Kings 14:16 - "And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 6:16 - "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."
2 Kings 20:16 - "And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD."
2 Kings 12:16 - "The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'."
Isaiah 7:16 - "For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings."
2 Chronicles 28:16 - "¶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him."
2 Kings 7:11 - "And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within."
2 Kings 7:7 - "Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life."
1 Kings 7:16 - "And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:"
2 Kings 3:16 - "And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches."
2 Kings 16:1 - "In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign."
2 Kings 16:8 - "And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria."
"Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded." - 2 Kings 16:16
2 Kings 2:7 - "And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan."
2 Kings 16:12 - "And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon."
2 Kings 16:4 - "And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree."
2 Kings 16:18 - "And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria."
2 Chronicles 16:11 - "¶ And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel."
2 Kings 11:16 - "And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain."
2 Kings 9:16 - "So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram."
2 Corinthians 7:16 - "I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things."
2 Kings 16:3 - "But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel."
2 Kings 20:7 - "And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered."