2 Kings 7: Group Study Handout

How to use: read 2 Kings 7 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Elisha prophesies abundance, stating that a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel (vv. 1-2). Four leprous men at the city gate decide to surrender to the Syrian army, reasoning that they will die if they stay (vv.

Key verse

“Elisha said, “Hear Yahweh’s word. Yahweh says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”
2 Kings 7:1 (WEB)

Outline

2 Kings 7:1–2 Elisha's Prophecy of Abundance
2 Kings 7:3–5 Lepers Decide to Surrender
2 Kings 7:6–8 The Abandoned Syrian Camp
2 Kings 7:9–10 Lepers Share Good News
2 Kings 7:11–15 The King's Investigation
2 Kings 7:16–17 Fulfillment of the Prophecy
2 Kings 7:18–20 Captain's Fate Realized

Discussion questions

In v2, what does the captain say about Yahweh's promise regarding 'windows in heaven'?
What do the leprous men decide to do in v4 when faced with famine?
In vv. 19-20, why does Elisha's warning to the captain about seeing but not eating matter?
In v6, how does Yahweh cause the Syrians to hear a 'great army'?
When have you faced a situation where trusting in God's provision felt like a leap of faith, like the lepers' decision in v4?

Go deeper

Passages that echo 2 Kings 7: Malachi 3, Proverbs 28, 2 Kings 5.

Before next time: read 2 Kings 8.