2 kings 6:30 - When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. Now he was passing by on the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body.
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What does "2 kings 6:30" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 6:30 describes a moment of intense emotional and political turmoil for the king of Israel. Let's break down what it means:
"When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes." The woman in question had been pleading with the king for justice regarding a horrific situation. She and another woman had agreed to eat their sons during a famine caused by the Aramean siege of Samaria. The woman who spoke to the king had honored her agreement and given up her son to be eaten, but the other woman had hidden hers. This story appears in 2 Kings 6:26-29. The king's act of tearing his clothes is a traditional expression of extreme distress, grief, repentance, or anger. He is deeply disturbed by the woman's story and the desperate conditions in the city.
"Now he was passing by on the wall..." The king is making a public appearance. Walking along the city wall would allow him to survey the situation, be visible to the people, and hopefully inspire them. This also implies that the situation within the city is dire enough that the king feels he needs to be seen and perhaps attempt to rally morale.
"...and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body." The people observe that underneath his royal garments, the king is wearing sackcloth. Sackcloth was a coarse, uncomfortable cloth worn as a sign of mourning, repentance, humility, or supplication to God. This reveals that the king's reaction to the famine and the cannibalism is not just outward display, but a genuine sense of remorse and a recognition of the severity of the situation. He's trying to show the people (and perhaps God) that he shares their suffering and is seeking divine intervention or forgiveness. He is demonstrating that he is humbled by the situation and likely recognizes, to some degree, his own responsibility (or the responsibility of the kingdom) for the circumstances.
In summary, the verse depicts a king deeply affected by the suffering of his people during a severe famine. By tearing his clothes and wearing sackcloth, he displays his distress, remorse, and potential repentance. His public appearance on the wall is an attempt to show solidarity with his people and perhaps to seek a solution to their plight. The revelation of the sackcloth is especially significant, indicating a level of genuine grief and humility beyond mere political posturing.
2 kings 6:30 - When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. Now he was passing by on the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body.
What does "2 kings 6:30" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 6:30 describes a moment of intense emotional and political turmoil for the king of Israel. Let's break down what it means:
"When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes." The woman in question had been pleading with the king for justice regarding a horrific situation. She and another woman had agreed to eat their sons during a famine caused by the Aramean siege of Samaria. The woman who spoke to the king had honored her agreement and given up her son to be eaten, but the other woman had hidden hers. This story appears in 2 Kings 6:26-29. The king's act of tearing his clothes is a traditional expression of extreme distress, grief, repentance, or anger. He is deeply disturbed by the woman's story and the desperate conditions in the city.
"Now he was passing by on the wall..." The king is making a public appearance. Walking along the city wall would allow him to survey the situation, be visible to the people, and hopefully inspire them. This also implies that the situation within the city is dire enough that the king feels he needs to be seen and perhaps attempt to rally morale.
"...and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body." The people observe that underneath his royal garments, the king is wearing sackcloth. Sackcloth was a coarse, uncomfortable cloth worn as a sign of mourning, repentance, humility, or supplication to God. This reveals that the king's reaction to the famine and the cannibalism is not just outward display, but a genuine sense of remorse and a recognition of the severity of the situation. He's trying to show the people (and perhaps God) that he shares their suffering and is seeking divine intervention or forgiveness. He is demonstrating that he is humbled by the situation and likely recognizes, to some degree, his own responsibility (or the responsibility of the kingdom) for the circumstances.
In summary, the verse depicts a king deeply affected by the suffering of his people during a severe famine. By tearing his clothes and wearing sackcloth, he displays his distress, remorse, and potential repentance. His public appearance on the wall is an attempt to show solidarity with his people and perhaps to seek a solution to their plight. The revelation of the sackcloth is especially significant, indicating a level of genuine grief and humility beyond mere political posturing.