VII.
(1) Then Elisha said. — And Elisha said. The division of the Chapter s is unfortunate, there being no break in the story here. The prophet addresses the king and his attendants (2 Kings 7:18).
A measure. — Heb., a seah: the most usual corn measure. (Comp. 1 Kings 18:32; 2 Kings 6:25.) The prophet’s words are more abrupt in the original: “Thus hath Jehovah said, About this time to-morrow a seah (in) fine flour at a shekel, and two seahs (in) barley at a shekel, in the gate of Samaria!”
Fine flour. — Genesis 18:6.
Barley. — Not only as fodder for the horses (Thenius). but also for human consumption, in the shape of barley cakes, &c. (Judges 7:13).
The gate. — The corn market, therefore, was held in the open space just within the gate.