Book of 2 Kings - Chapter 7 - Verse 16

During a time of great famine in Samaria, the prophet Elisha prophesied that the city would be delivered from their distress by the Lord. The people of Samaria were surrounded by the Syrian army, and at a time when food was scarce, the Lord miraculously caused the Syrians to flee, leaving behind their tents filled with provisions. As a result, the people of Samaria went out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians, finding an abundance of food supplies such as fine flour and barley at extremely low prices. This fulfilled the word of the Lord spoken through Elisha, where a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel. This miraculous provision not only saved the people of Samaria from starvation but also demonstrated the faithfulness and power of the Lord to provide for His people in times of need.

One theological interpretation of this verse from 2 Kings 7:16 emphasizes the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. The prophet Elisha had foretold that there would be an abundance of food in Samaria after a period of famine, and this verse depicts the fulfillment of his prophecy. The people went out and found that the tents of the Syrians were abandoned, leaving behind provisions of fine flour and barley at extremely low prices, just as the Lord had promised. This serves as a reminder that God is true to His word and can bring about miraculous provision in times of scarcity. The word study of "spoiled" in this context suggests that the people not only took goods left behind by the Syrians, but that they also plundered their enemies and reclaimed what was rightfully theirs. This reflects a theme of victory and restoration, showing that God's deliverance often involves reclaiming what the enemy has stolen. Overall, this verse demonstrates the trustworthiness of God's promises and His ability to provide abundantly beyond what we can imagine.