2 kings 6:24 - After this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.

Generated Verse: 2 kings 6:24

What does "2 kings 6:24" mean?


This verse from 2 Kings 6:24 describes a significant event in the ongoing conflict between Israel (specifically the Northern Kingdom of Israel, whose capital was Samaria) and Syria. Let's break it down:

"After this...": This phrase implies that the siege of Samaria followed some previous event or events. In the preceding verses, the prophet Elisha helped the king of Israel capture a Syrian army but then, at Elisha's direction, fed them and sent them back to Syria, hoping to end hostilities. However, this act of kindness did not bring lasting peace.

"Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army...": Ben-Hadad was the king of Syria, and he mobilized his entire military force. This suggests a large-scale and serious military undertaking. Gathering "all his army" indicates a major offensive aimed at subjugating Israel.

"...and went up and besieged Samaria.": A siege is a military tactic where an army surrounds a fortified city (in this case, Samaria) to cut off supplies, prevent entry and exit, and eventually force the city to surrender due to starvation, disease, or outright attack. "Went up" refers to the geographical fact that Samaria was located on a hill. Besieging Samaria was a direct act of aggression and a major threat to the survival of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

In essence, the verse paints a picture of a full-scale Syrian invasion of Israel, with the Syrian army laying siege to the capital city of Samaria. This was a dire situation for the Israelites, indicating a major military and political crisis. The verse sets the stage for the narrative that follows, which describes the extreme famine and hardship that the siege caused within the city of Samaria.