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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Kings 6:25 So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove's dung sold for five shekels of silver.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/12_2Ki_06_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 6:25 - The Siege and Famine of Samaria" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So there was a great famine in Samaria. 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The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. <a href="/esv/2_kings/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. <a href="/bsb/2_kings/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. <a href="/kjv/2_kings/6.htm">King James Bible</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/6.htm">New King James Version</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So there was a severe famine in Samaria; and behold, they kept besieging it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. <a href="/nasb/2_kings/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey&#8217s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove&#8217s dung for five shekels of silver. <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And there was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. <a href="/lsb/2_kings/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Now there was a great famine in Samaria. And behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. <a href="/amp/2_kings/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Now there was a great famine in Samaria; and they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. <a href="/csb/2_kings/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> So there was a severe famine in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for thirty-four ounces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for two ounces of silver. <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> So there was a great famine in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey&#8217s head sold for 80 silver shekels, and a cup of dove&#8217s dung sold for five silver shekels. <a href="/asv/2_kings/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. <a href="/cev/2_kings/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> They kept up the attack until there was nothing to eat in the city. In fact, a donkey's head cost 80 pieces of silver, and a small bowl of pigeon droppings cost 5 pieces of silver. <a href="/erv/2_kings/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. <a href="/gwt/2_kings/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The shortages caused by the blockade of Samaria became so severe that a donkey's head sold for two pounds of silver and a half-pint of dove manure for two ounces of silver. <a href="/gnt/2_kings/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> As a result of the siege the food shortage in the city was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and half a pound of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver. <a href="/isv/2_kings/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> until there was a great famine throughout Samaria. The siege lasted until a donkey's head cost 80 silver coins and one quarter of a unit of dove's dung cost five silver coins. <a href="/msb/2_kings/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey?s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove?s dung sold for five shekels of silver. <a href="/net/2_kings/6.htm">NET Bible</a> Samaria's food supply ran out. They laid siege to it so long that a donkey's head was selling for eighty shekels of silver and a quarter of a kab of dove's droppings for five shekels of silver. <a href="/nheb/2_kings/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> There was a great famine in Samaria. Look, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. <a href="/wbt/2_kings/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria: and behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. <a href="/web/2_kings/6.htm">World English Bible</a> There was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and there is a great famine in Samaria, and behold, they are laying siege to it, until the head of a donkey is at eighty pieces of silver, and a forth of the cab of dove’s dung at five pieces of silver. <a href="/ylt/2_kings/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and there is a great famine in Samaria, and lo, they are laying siege to it, till the head of an ass is at eighty silverlings, and a forth of the cab of dovesdung at five silverlings. <a href="/slt/2_kings/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And a great famine will be in Shomeron: and behold them pressing upon it till the head of an ass was for eighty of silver, and the fourth of a cup of doves dung, for five of silver.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria: and so long did the siege continue, till the head of an ass was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cabe of pigeon's dung, for five pieces of silver. <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And a great famine occurred in Samaria. And it was blockaded for a long time, until the head of a donkey was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and one fourth part of a pint of pigeons’ dung sold for five silver coins. <a href="/nabre/2_kings/6.htm">New American Bible</a> Because of the siege the famine in Samaria was so severe that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a fourth of a kab of “dove droppings” for five pieces of silver. <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> As the siege continued, famine in Samaria became so great that a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria when those were encamping against it, until the head of a donkey was sold for eighty pieces of silver and a fourth of a qab of the dung of doves for five pieces of silver.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria; and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. <a href="/sep/2_kings/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was valued at fifty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung at five pieces of silver. <a href="/parallel/2_kings/6-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=2067" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/6.htm">The Siege and Famine of Samaria</a> 24Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria. 25<a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">So there was</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: gā·ḏō·wl (Adj-ms) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">a great</a> <a href="/hebrew/7458.htm" title="7458: rā·‘āḇ (N-ms) -- Famine, hunger. From ra'eb; hunger.">famine</a> <a href="/hebrew/8111.htm" title="8111: bə·šō·mə·rō·wn (Prep-b:: N-proper-fs) -- Capital of N. kingdom of Isr. From the active participle of shamar; watch-station; Shomeron, a place in Palestine.">in Samaria.</a> <a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: wə·hin·nêh (Conj-w:: Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!">Indeed,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6696.htm" title="6696: ṣā·rîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To confine, bind, besiege. A primitive root; to cramp, i.e. Confine.">they besieged</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·le·hā (Prep:: 3fs) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">the city</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">so long that</a> <a href="/hebrew/2543.htm" title="2543: ḥă·mō·wr (N-ms) -- A male ass. Or chamor; from chamar; a male ass.">a donkey’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: rōš- (N-msc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">head</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hĕ·yō·wṯ (V-Qal-Inf) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">sold</a> <a href="/hebrew/8084.htm" title="8084: biš·mō·nîm (Prep-b:: Number-cp) -- An eighty. Or shmowniym; mult. From shmoneh; eighty, also eightieth.">for eighty shekels</a> <a href="/hebrew/3701.htm" title="3701: ke·sep̄ (N-ms) -- Silver, money. From kacaph; silver; by implication, money.">of silver,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7255.htm" title="7255: wə·rō·ḇa‘ (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Fourth part. From raba'; a quarter.">and a quarter</a> <a href="/hebrew/6894.htm" title="6894: haq·qaḇ (Art:: N-ms) -- Kab (a measure of capacity). From qabab; a hollow, i.e. Vessel used as a measure.">cab</a> <a href="/hebrew/2716.htm" title="2716: ḥă·rē·yō·nīm (N-mp) -- Dung. From an unused root probably meaning to evacuate the bowels: excrement; -dung. Also chariy.">of dove’s dung</a> <a href="/hebrew/2568.htm" title="2568: ba·ḥă·miš·šāh- (Prep-b, Art:: Number-ms) -- Five. Masculine chamishshah; a primitive numeral; five.">sold for five shekels</a> <a href="/hebrew/3701.htm" title="3701: ḵā·sep̄ (N-ms) -- Silver, money. From kacaph; silver; by implication, money.">of silver.</a> 26As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/leviticus/26-29.htm">Leviticus 26:29</a> You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters. <a href="/deuteronomy/28-53.htm">Deuteronomy 28:53-57</a> Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. ... <a href="/lamentations/4-10.htm">Lamentations 4:10</a> The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. <a href="/ezekiel/5-10.htm">Ezekiel 5:10</a> As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’ <a href="/jeremiah/19-9.htm">Jeremiah 19:9</a> I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ <a href="/2_kings/7-4.htm">2 Kings 7:4</a> If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” <a href="/2_kings/25-3.htm">2 Kings 25:3</a> By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. <a href="/jeremiah/52-6.htm">Jeremiah 52:6</a> By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. <a href="/isaiah/3-1.htm">Isaiah 3:1</a> For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water, <a href="/lamentations/2-20.htm">Lamentations 2:20</a> Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord? <a href="/matthew/24-7.htm">Matthew 24:7</a> Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. <a href="/luke/21-11.htm">Luke 21:11</a> There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven. <a href="/revelation/6-5.htm">Revelation 6:5-6</a> And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.” <a href="/revelation/18-8.htm">Revelation 18:8</a> Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Mark 13:8</a> Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.a great famine<a href="/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28,29</a> And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow… <a href="/2_kings/7-4.htm">2 Kings 7:4</a> If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.<a href="/2_kings/25-3.htm">2 Kings 25:3</a> And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.<a href="/ezekiel/4-13.htm">Ezekiel 4:13-16</a> And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/15-16.htm">Ass's</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-24.htm">Besieged</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-20.htm">City</a> <a href="/judges/15-16.htm">Donkey's</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-10.htm">Dung</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-21.htm">Eighty</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-38.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-42.htm">Five</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-21.htm">Fourscore</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-41.htm">Fourth</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-23.htm">Great</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-5.htm">Head</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-1.htm">Lasted</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-12.htm">Part</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-5.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-24.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-24.htm">Sama'ria</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-29.htm">Shekels</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-1.htm">Siege</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-23.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/1_kings/21-25.htm">Sold</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/11-12.htm">Ass's</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-5.htm">Besieged</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-3.htm">City</a> <a href="/job/11-12.htm">Donkey's</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-37.htm">Dung</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-24.htm">Eighty</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-4.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-13.htm">Five</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-24.htm">Fourscore</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-30.htm">Fourth</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-6.htm">Great</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-31.htm">Head</a> <a href="/judges/14-17.htm">Lasted</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-5.htm">Part</a> <a href="/2_kings/8-12.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-1.htm">Sama'ria</a> <a href="/2_kings/15-20.htm">Shekels</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-5.htm">Siege</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-8.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm">Sold</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 6</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/6-1.htm">Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead</a> 8. <a href="/2_kings/6-8.htm">He discloses the king of Syria's counsel</a> 13. <a href="/2_kings/6-13.htm">The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is blinded</a> 19. <a href="/2_kings/6-19.htm">Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace</a> 24. <a href="/2_kings/6-24.htm">The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children</a> 30. <a href="/2_kings/6-30.htm">The king sends to slay Elisha</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/6.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/6.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>So there was a great famine in Samaria. The famine in Samaria was a result of the Aramean siege, a common military tactic in ancient times where a city was surrounded to cut off supplies and force surrender. Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was strategically significant and often targeted by enemies. Famines were seen as divine judgment in the biblical narrative, often linked to the people's disobedience to God (<a href="/deuteronomy/28-52.htm">Deuteronomy 28:52-53</a>). This famine underscores the severity of the siege and the desperation of the people.Indeed, they besieged the city so long The prolonged siege indicates the determination of the Arameans to conquer Samaria. Historically, sieges could last months or even years, leading to dire conditions within the city walls. The endurance of the siege reflects the political and military tensions between Israel and Aram (modern-day Syria), a recurring theme in the books of Kings.that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, The mention of a donkey's head, an unclean animal according to Levitical law (<a href="/leviticus/11-3.htm">Leviticus 11:3-8</a>), highlights the extreme scarcity of food. The exorbitant price of eighty shekels of silver, a significant sum, illustrates the desperation and inflation caused by the siege. This situation is reminiscent of other biblical accounts of famine, such as the one in <a href="/2_kings/7.htm">2 Kings 7:1-2</a>, where Elisha prophesies relief from famine.and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. Dove's dung, possibly a term for a type of seed or a literal reference to bird droppings, was sold at a high price, indicating the severe lack of food. The use of such items for sustenance reflects the dire conditions and the lengths to which people would go to survive. This phrase emphasizes the desperation and degradation experienced during the siege, serving as a backdrop for the miraculous deliverance that follows in the narrative.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/samaria.htm">Samaria</a> The capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was under siege by the Arameans, leading to a severe famine. 2. <a href="/topical/a/arameans.htm">Arameans</a> The enemy nation besieging Samaria, causing the famine and desperation within the city. 3. <a href="/topical/f/famine.htm">Famine</a> A severe lack of food resulting from the siege, leading to extreme measures for survival. 4. <a href="/topical/d/donkey's_head.htm">Donkey’s Head</a> Considered an unclean animal in Jewish law, yet sold at a high price due to the famine, indicating the desperation of the people. 5. <a href="/topical/d/dove's_dung.htm">Dove’s Dung</a> Possibly a term for a type of seed or a literal reference, sold at a high price, further illustrating the dire conditions.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> The famine in Samaria serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It is crucial to remain faithful and obedient to God's commands to avoid such dire circumstances. <a href="/topical/d/desperation_and_human_nature.htm">Desperation and Human Nature</a> The extreme measures taken by the people of Samaria during the famine reveal the depths of human desperation. In times of crisis, it is important to seek God and trust in His provision rather than resorting to unthinkable actions. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_deliverance.htm">God's Sovereignty and Deliverance</a> Despite the dire situation, God remains sovereign and capable of delivering His people. Trust in God's timing and provision, even when circumstances seem impossible. <a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_spiritual_nourishment.htm">The Value of Spiritual Nourishment</a> Just as physical famine leads to desperation, spiritual famine can lead to moral and ethical decay. Prioritize spiritual nourishment through prayer, scripture, and fellowship to maintain a strong faith foundation.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 6</a> <a href="/q/is_dove_droppings_worth_5_shekels.htm">Is Dove Droppings worth five shekels of silver?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_the_bible_turn_curses_to_blessings.htm">Is Dove Droppings worth five shekels of silver?</a> <a href="/q/is_there_non-biblical_proof_of_samaria's_recovery.htm">2 Kings 7:16 — Is there any credible record outside the Bible confirming that Samaria’s economy recovered so quickly? </a> <a href="/q/proof_of_samaria's_siege_and_cannibalism.htm">2 Kings 6:24-29: Is there any historical or archaeological proof of Samaria's siege and reported cannibalism?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) And there was.--There arose. In consequence of the siege.Besieged.--Were besieging.Fourscore pieces.--Eighty shekels--i.e., about 10. Ass's flesh would not ordinarily be eaten at all, and the head of any animal would be the cheapest part. Plutarch mentions that during a famine among the Cadusians an ass's head could hardly be got for sixty drachms (about 2. 10s.), though ordinarily the entire animal could be bought for about half that sum. And Pliny relates that when Hannibal was besieging Casalinum, a mouse was sold for 200 denarii (6 5s.).The fourth part of a cab of dove's dung.--The cab was the smallest Hebrew dry measure. It held, according to the Rabbis, one-sixth of a seah (<a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm" title="Then Elisha said, Hear you the word of the LORD; Thus said the LORD, To morrow 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.">2Kings 7:1</a>), or a little over a quart (??????.--Josephus, Antt. ix. 4, ? 4). The term dove's dung, in all probability, denotes some kind of common vegetable produce, perhaps a sort of pulse or pease, which was ordinarily very cheap. Such a designation is not unparalleled. The Arabs call the herb kali "sparrow's dung;" and Assaf?tida is in German "devil's dung." In some places in England a species of wild hyacinth is called "dead man's hands," from the livid markings on the flower. The shape and colour of the species of pulse mentioned in the text may similarly account for its name. It naturally occurs that so long as there were any "doves" left in the city it would not be necessary to eat their dung. When Josephus wrote that dung was eaten in the siege of Jerusalem, he probably had the present passage in his mind.Five pieces of silver.--Five (shekels in) silver; about 12s. 6d.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 25. - And there was a great famine in Samaria. It was Benhadad's design to capture the place, not by battering down its walls with military engines, but by blockading it, and cutting off all its supplies, as Josephus tells us (l.s.c.). And, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. The ass, being an unclean animal (<a href="/leviticus/11-4.htm">Leviticus 11:4</a>), would not be eaten at all except in the last extremity, and the head was the worst and so the cheapest part; yet it sold for "eighty pieces" (rather, shekels) of silver, or about £5 of our money; as in the Cadusian famine mentioned by Plutarch ('Wit. Artaxerx.,' § 24), where an ass's head was sold for sixty drachmas (about forty shillings). "Dove's dung" is thought by some to be the name of a plant; but it is better to understand the term literally. Both animal and human excrement have been eaten in sieges (Josephus, ' Bell. Jud.,' 5:13. § 7; Cels., 'Hierobot.,' 2. p. 233), when a city was in the last extremity. <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/6-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>So there was וַיְהִ֨י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be a great גָּדוֹל֙ (gā·ḏō·wl) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> Great, older, insolent famine רָעָ֤ב (rā·‘āḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7458.htm">Strong's 7458: </a> Famine, hunger in Samaria. בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן (bə·šō·mə·rō·wn) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8111.htm">Strong's 8111: </a> Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel Indeed, וְהִנֵּ֖ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2009.htm">Strong's 2009: </a> Lo! behold! they besieged צָרִ֣ים (ṣā·rîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6696.htm">Strong's 6696: </a> To confine, bind, besiege [the city] עָלֶ֑יהָ (‘ā·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against so long that עַ֣ד (‘aḏ) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while a donkey’s חֲמוֹר֙ (ḥă·mō·wr) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2543.htm">Strong's 2543: </a> A male ass head רֹאשׁ־ (rōš-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> The head sold הֱי֤וֹת (hĕ·yō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be for eighty [shekels] בִּשְׁמֹנִ֣ים (biš·mō·nîm) Preposition-b | Number - common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8084.htm">Strong's 8084: </a> Eighty, eightieth of silver, כֶּ֔סֶף (ke·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3701.htm">Strong's 3701: </a> Silver, money and a quarter וְרֹ֛בַע (wə·rō·ḇa‘) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7255.htm">Strong's 7255: </a> Fourth part cab הַקַּ֥ב (haq·qaḇ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6894.htm">Strong's 6894: </a> A hollow, vessel, a, measure of dove’s dung דִּבְיוֹנִ֖ים‪‬ (diḇ·yō·w·nîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2755.htm">Strong's 2755: </a> Excrements of doves, a vegetable sold for five [shekels] בַּחֲמִשָּׁה־ (ba·ḥă·miš·šāh-) Preposition-b, Article | Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2568.htm">Strong's 2568: </a> Five of silver. כָֽסֶף׃ (ḵā·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3701.htm">Strong's 3701: </a> Silver, money <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/6-25.htm">2 Kings 6:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-25.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 6:25 There was a great famine in Samaria: (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/6-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 6:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 6:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/6-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 6:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 6:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>