2 Kings 6:28
And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
The appeal to the king arose during the siege of Samaria, when the city was shut in by enemies and cut off from supply. The blockade had lasted until prolonged hunger became extreme, producing appalling deeds among the starving people and forcing the ruler toward frantic expedients. This moment of horror stands immediately before Elisha's announcement that relief would arrive on the next day.