25There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels6:25 That is, about 2 pounds or about 920 grams of silver, and a quarter of a cab6:25 That is, probably about 1/4 pound or about 100 grams of seed pods6:25 Or of doves’ dung for five shekels.6:25 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
25So 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 6:25 One kab equals about 2 qt. or 1.9 literskab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
25There 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 I.e. One kab equals approx 2 qtskab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
25Now there was a great famine in Samaria; and they 6:25 The purpose of a siege was to starve out or weaken the inhabitants of a fortified city, minimizing risk to the attacking army. The success of the siege depended on whether the city was sufficiently stocked with food and water. Here, with a famine, not only does the city fall well short of adequate provisions, but those inhabitants who have a surplus of anything edible or useful make the situation even worse by engaging in price-gouging.besieged it until a 6:25 Apparently the famine was so severe that the inhabitants were purchasing products that were barely edible as well as being ceremonially unclean.donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a 6:25 One kab is about two quarts.kab of 6:25 Normally dung was used as fertilizer or for fuel; however, in this verse “dove’s dung” may be a nickname for a wild pealike vegetable.dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
25So 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,6:25 80 shekels is approximately 2 pounds or 907.2 grams of silver. and a quarter cab of dove’s dung6:25 Or a quarter cab of seed pods; that is, approximately 0.28 dry quarts or 0.31 liters sold for five shekels of silver.6:25 5 shekels is approximately 2 ounces or 57 grams of silver.
25There wasn’t enough food anywhere in the city. It was surrounded for so long that people had to weigh out two pounds of silver for a donkey’s head. They had to weigh out two ounces of silver for half a pint of seed pods.