Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
The threat was uttered by the king of Israel while Samaria was besieged by the Syrians and reduced to extreme distress by famine. The severity of the hunger and suffering in the city had driven him to desperate measures. In his oath he invoked judgment upon himself if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remained upon him that day, meaning that Elisha would be beheaded. This vow of execution stands in the account just before Elisha predicts coming deliverance for Samaria.
The threat was uttered by the king of Israel while Samaria was besieged by the Syrians and reduced to extreme distress by famine. The severity of the hunger and suffering in the city had driven him to desperate measures. In his oath he invoked judgment upon himself if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remained upon him that day, meaning that Elisha would be beheaded. This vow of execution stands in the account just before Elisha predicts coming deliverance for Samaria.