25 As a result of the siege the food shortage in the city was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and 200 grammes of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver.
26 The king of Israel was walking by on the city wall when a woman cried out, “Help me, Your Majesty!”
27 He replied, “If the Lord won't help you, what help can I provide? Have I got any wheat or wine?
28 What's your trouble?”She answered, “The other day this woman here suggested that we eat my child, and then eat her child the next day.
29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I told her that we would eat her son, but she had hidden him!”
30 Hearing this, the king tore his clothes in dismay, and the people who were close to the wall could see that he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes.
31 He exclaimed, “May God strike me dead if Elisha is not beheaded before the day is over!”