2Ki 6:24-31 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Kgs 6:24-25: 6:24-25 So severe was this famine that normally unclean things were not only eaten but sold for an exorbitant price. Donkey meat, for example, was forbidden by the laws regarding unclean foods (Lev 11:1-7 ). Dove’s dung may be a variety of wild vegetable, but the consumption of dung is known from other sources describing siege conditions (Isa 36:12 ). The dove’s dung might also have been used for fuel.

Summary for 2Kgs 6:24-25: 6:24-25 ^a So severe was this famine that normally unclean things were not only eaten but sold for an exorbitant price. Donkey meat, for example, was forbidden by the laws regarding unclean foods (Lev 11:1-7 ^b). Dove’s dung may be a variety of wild vegetable, but the consumption of dung is known from other sources describing siege conditions (Isa 36:12 ^c). The dove’s dung might also have been used for fuel.
Summary for 2Kgs 6:26-29: 6:26-29 ^d Cannibalism under severe conditions was part of God’s curse for unfaithfulness and disobedience (Deut 28:53 ^e, 57 ^f). It also occurred during the siege that brought about the fall of Jerusalem (Lam 4:9-10 ^g).
6:30 ^h When Joram learned of cannibalism in the city, he tore his clothes in despair.

• wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin: Doing this was an outward sign of mourning.
6:31 ⁱ separate Elisha’s head from his shoulders: Decapitation of one’s enemy was frequent (10:6-8 ^j; 1 Sam 17:51 ^k; 31:9 ^l; 2 Sam 4:7-8 ^m, 12 ⁿ; 20:22 ^o; Matt 14:11 ^p) in the ancient Near East. Joram reasoned that the situation stemmed from Elisha’s earlier sparing of Ben-hadad’s troops (2 Kgs 6:22-23 ^q). Moreover, Ben-hadad had been after Elisha (6:13 ^r), so the prophet’s presence had endangered the whole city.