Summary of The Haftorah:
Haftorah Tazria/Metzorah
II Kings 7:3-20
This week's Haftorah is from Kings II Capt. 7. It took place during the reign
of Yehoram who ruled over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Yehoram was a
sinful king whose actions resulted in Aram laying siege to the capitol city
Shomron causing a terrible famine. The famine was so severe that mothers were
eating their own children.
Yehoram confronted the prophet Elisha demanding that he bring an end to the
siege and the hunger. Elisha told Yehoram that G-d would perform a miracle
the next day and there would be so much food that the food market would
bottom out.
There were four lepers (the most obvious connection to our Parsha) who had
been banished too outside the walls of Shomron. Like the rest of the people,
they were starving from the famine and decided to chance approaching the
enemy camp in hope of begging some food or at the very worst, a quick death.
During the night Hashem had performed a miracle and the massive forces of
Aram had fled during the night leaving behind their tents, horses, and
supplies.
The Lepers returned to Shomron and informed Yehoram about the miraculous
events. Yehoram investigated the report and confirmed the miracle. The people
of Shomron were allowed out of the besieged city and plunder the vacated
enemy camp. The massive amount of food was so great that the price of food
immediately plummeted and bottomed out as Elisha had prophesied.
