God's word sure despite unbelief

It is crisis time in Samaria as the Syrian army has laid siege to the city. It is so desperate that some have resorted to cannibalism in order to survive. Such events fulfil the covenant curses God declared to Moses, highlighting that the real crisis is the nation's rejection of God. Elisha speaks of deliverance within 24 hours, but no-one believes him. Four lepers proclaim the good news that the Syrians have fled, but the royal official who scorned God's promise dies, according to the word of the Lord.