17. The king of Israel had put his chief officer in charge of the gate, but he died when the people trampled him as they rushed out of the city.
18. Earlier, when the king was at Elisha's house, Elisha had told him that flour or barley would sell for almost nothing.
19. But the officer refused to believe that even the Lord could do that. So Elisha warned him that he would see it happen, but would not eat any of the food.
20. And that's exactly what happened—the officer was trampled to death.