Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 6:25

25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and behold, they besieged it, until an asses head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of doves dung for five pieces of silver.

Supposed to be Shekels; and the common Shekel being valued at fifteen pence of English Money, this amounts to five pounds. A vast price, especially for that which had on it so little Meat, and that unwholsome, and unclean by Law, Levit. 11. 13. though necessity might seem to excuse their violation of that Law.

A measure containing 24 Eggs.

Which they used not for Fire (for he is speaking here onely of the scarcity of Food) but for Food. Which if it seem incredible, it must be considered, First, That Famine hath constrained People to eat things as improper and unfit for nourishment as this, as dry Leather, and Mans Dung, as is implied, Isa. 36. 12. and affirmed by grave Historians. Secondly, That some Creatures do usually eat the Dung of others. 3dly, That Doves Dung, though it be hotter than ordinary, might in other respects be fitter for nourishment than other, as being made of the best and purest Grains, and having some moisture in it, &c. Fourthly, That this Hebrew word being of an obscure and doubtful signification, and no where else used, may be, and is by Learned Men otherwise rendred and understood: either, first, of the Corn which is found in the Crops of Doves: or, secondly, of the Guts and other inwards of Doves: or rather, thirdly, of a sort of cicer or pease, which in the Arabick Language (which is near a kin to the Hebrew, and from which many words are explained), is called Doves Dung: for this was a Food much in use amongst the poorer Israelites, and was by all esteemed a very course Food, and therefore fit to be joyned with an Asses head: and a kab was the usual Measure of all sorts of Grains and Fruits of that sort.