Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” New Living Translation So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. “We went out to the Aramean camp,” they said, “and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn’t a single person around!” English Standard Version So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” Berean Standard Bible So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city, saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a trace—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” King James Bible So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. New King James Version So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, “We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound—only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact.” New American Standard Bible So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor a human voice; only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were.” NASB 1995 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and they told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor the voice of man, only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were.” NASB 1977 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and they told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor the voice of man, only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were.” Legacy Standard Bible So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and they told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor the voice of man, only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were.” Amplified Bible So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, “We went to the camp of the Arameans (Syrians), and behold, there was no one there, nor the sound of man there—only the horses and donkeys tied up, and the tents [had been left] just as they were.” Christian Standard Bible The diseased men came and called to the city’s gatekeepers and told them, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—no human sounds. There was nothing but tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” Holman Christian Standard Bible The diseased men went and called to the city’s gatekeepers and told them, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—no human sounds. There was nothing but tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” American Standard Version So they came and called unto the porter of the city; and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the asses tied, and the tents as they were. Contemporary English Version They went back to Samaria and shouted up to the guards at the gate, "We've just come from the Syrian army camp, and all the soldiers are gone! The tents are empty, and the horses and donkeys are still tied up. We didn't see or hear anybody." English Revised Version So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the asses tied, and the tents as they were. GOD'S WORD® Translation So they called the city gatekeepers and told them, "We went into the Aramean camp, and we didn't see or hear anyone. The horses and donkeys were still tied up. Even the tents were left exactly as they were." Good News Translation So they left the Syrian camp, went back to Samaria, and called out to the guards at the gates: "We went to the Syrian camp and didn't see or hear anybody; the horses and donkeys have not been untied, and the tents are just as the Syrians left them." International Standard Version So they left, called out to the city gatekeepers, and reported to them: "We went out to the Aramean encampment, and there was nobody there! Not even the sound of men—only horses and donkeys tied up, and tents left just as they were!" NET Bible So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, "We entered the Syrian camp and there was no one there. We didn't even hear a man's voice. But the horses and donkeys are still tied up, and the tents remain up." New Heart English Bible So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city; and they told them, saying, "We came to the camp of the Arameans, and, look, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were." Webster's Bible Translation So they came and called to the porter of the city: and they told him, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city, saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a trace—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” World English Bible So they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they come in, and call to the gatekeeper of the city, and declare for themselves, saying, “We have come to the camp of Aram, and behold, there is no man or sound of man there, but the bound horse, and the bound donkey, and tents as they [are].” Young's Literal Translation And they come in, and call unto the gatekeeper of the city, and declare for themselves, saying, 'We have come in unto the camp of Aram, and lo, there is not there a man, or sound of man, but the bound horse, and the bound ass, and tents as they are.' Smith's Literal Translation And they will go and call to the gate of the city and announce to them, saying, We came to the camp of Aram, and behold, not a man there, and voice of man, but the horse made fast, and the ass made fast, and the tents as they are. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo they came to the gate of the city, and told them, saying: We went to the camp of the Syrians, and we found no man there, but horses, and asses tied, and the tents standing. Catholic Public Domain Version And when they had arrived at the gate of the city, they explained to them, saying: “We went into the camp of the Syrians, and we found no one in that place, except horses and donkeys tied, and the tents still standing.” New American Bible They came and summoned the city gatekeepers. They said, “We went to the camp of the Arameans, but no one was there—not a human voice, only the horses and donkeys tethered, and the tents just as they were left.” New Revised Standard Version So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, “We went to the Aramean camp, but there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied, the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo they came and called to the doorkeepers of the city; and they told them, saying, We went to the camp of Aram, and behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied and asses tied and tents as they were. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they came and they called the Gatekeepers of the city and they told them, and they said: “We went on to the encampment of Edom, and there is no man there nor the sound of a man, but horses are tied up and male donkeys are tied up, and the tents are as they were!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So they came and called unto the porters of the city; and they told them, saying. 'We came to the camp of the Arameans, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the asses tied, and the tents as they were.' Brenton Septuagint Translation So they went and cried toward the gate of the city, and reported to them, saying, We went into the camp of Syria, and, behold, there is not there a man, nor voice of man, only horses tied and asses, and their tents as they were. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Siege Lifted…9Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.” 10So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city, saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there— not a trace — only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” 11The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household.… Cross References 2 Kings 6:24-25 Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria. / So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. 2 Kings 6:33 While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” 2 Kings 4:42-44 Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. 2 Kings 5:1-14 Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” ... 2 Kings 3:16-20 and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ / This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. ... 2 Kings 2:19-22 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.” / “Bring me a new bowl,” he replied, “and put some salt in it.” So they brought it to him, / and Elisha went out to the spring, cast the salt into it, and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will it cause death or unfruitfulness.’” ... 1 Kings 17:8-16 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: / “Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” / So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” ... 1 Kings 18:41-45 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” / So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. / “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” ... Exodus 16:13-15 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. / When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. / When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. Numbers 11:31-32 Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground, for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp. / All that day and night, and all the next day, the people stayed up gathering the quail. No one gathered less than ten homers, and they spread them out all around the camp. Joshua 6:20-21 So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it. / With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys. Judges 7:19-22 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. / The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” / Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. ... Isaiah 55:1-2 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. Matthew 14:15-21 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” / “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.” / “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ... Matthew 15:32-38 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.” / The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?” / “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” ... Treasury of Scripture So they came and called to the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. the porter 2 Kings 7:11 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within. 2 Samuel 18:26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. Psalm 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. no man there 2 Kings 7:6,7 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us… Jump to Previous Arameans Asses Camp City Donkeys Heard Horses Porter Syrians Tents Tied VoiceJump to Next Arameans Asses Camp City Donkeys Heard Horses Porter Syrians Tents Tied Voice2 Kings 7 1. Elisha prophesies incredible plenty in Samaria3. four lepers, venturing on the host of the Syrians, bring tidings of their flight 12. The king, finding by spies the news to be true, spoils the tents of the Syrians. 17. The lord who would not believe the prophecy of plenty is trampled in the press So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city The lepers, who were outcasts due to their condition, took the initiative to share the good news of the deserted Aramean camp. This act of going to the gatekeepers highlights the importance of communication and the role of gatekeepers in ancient cities, who were responsible for the security and information flow. The gatekeepers' role is akin to spiritual leaders today, who are tasked with discerning and sharing truth. saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a trace— only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” Persons / Places / Events 1. The LepersThese were the four men suffering from leprosy who discovered the deserted Aramean camp. Their condition made them outcasts, yet they played a pivotal role in delivering the good news to the city. 2. The Gatekeepers These individuals were responsible for guarding the entrance to the city. They were the first to hear the lepers' report about the abandoned Aramean camp. 3. The Aramean Camp The military encampment of the Arameans (Syrians) who had besieged Samaria. God caused them to flee, leaving behind their supplies. 4. Samaria The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was under siege by the Arameans, leading to severe famine. 5. The Prophet Elisha Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Elisha's prophecy about the end of the famine and the abundance of food is fulfilled through these events. Teaching Points God Uses the UnlikelyGod often chooses the least likely individuals to accomplish His purposes, as seen with the lepers. This reminds us that no one is too insignificant to be used by God. The Importance of Sharing Good News The lepers did not keep the good news to themselves. As Christians, we are called to share the gospel and the hope we have in Christ with others. Trust in God's Provision Despite dire circumstances, God provided for Samaria in an unexpected way. We can trust God to provide for our needs, even when the situation seems hopeless. Faith in God's Promises Elisha's prophecy was fulfilled exactly as spoken. We can have confidence in the promises of God, knowing that He is faithful to His word. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 7How do we reconcile the discrepant figures between 2 Samuel 10:18 and 1 Chronicles 19:18 regarding the number of charioteers and horsemen defeated by David? 2 Kings 7:8-9 -- If the Arameans truly abandoned everything, why do we find no external historical or archaeological evidence of such an event? Does the swift eradication of Ahab's lineage in 2 Kings 10:7, 11 align with historical records outside the Bible? 2 Kings 7:16 -- Is there any credible record outside the Bible confirming that Samaria's economy recovered so quickly?(10) The porter.--The Oriental versions may be right in reading "porters," i.e., warders. The plural is implied by "they told them," which immediately follows, and actually occurs in 2Kings 7:11. But the reading of the LXX. and Vulg., "gate," implies the same consonants differently pointed, as those of the word "porter." This attests the antiquity of the reading. Probably, therefore, the word "porter" is here used collectively. No man . . . voice of man.--The first word ('ish) denotes an individual man, the second word ('?d?m) denotes the species, and so includes women and children. Horses.--The horses. Similarly, the asses. Both words are singular (collectives) in the Hebrew. Tied--i.e., tethered and feeding. The tents.--Omit the. Verse 10. - So they came and called unto the porter of the city; i.e. to the guard of the gate nearest them. The word שֹׂעַד, "porter," or "gate-man," is used collectively. And they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. The horses and asses within a camp were always "tied," or tethered, as we see from the monumental representations of Egyptian camps (Rawlinson, 'History of Ancient Egypt,' vol. 1. p. 476), and also learn from historians (Herod., 4:135). It is somewhat surprising that the horses were left behind, as they would have expedited the flight had they been saddled and mounted. But this was, perhaps, overlooked in the panic.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So they wentוַיָּבֹ֗אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go and called out וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֮ (way·yiq·rə·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the gatekeepers שֹׁעֵ֣ר (šō·‘êr) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7778: A gatekeeper of the city, הָעִיר֒ (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement saying, וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ (way·yag·gî·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous “We went בָּ֚אנוּ (bā·nū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the Aramean אֲרָ֔ם (’ă·rām) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 758: Aram -- Syria camp מַחֲנֵ֣ה (ma·ḥă·nêh) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army and no אֵֽין־ (’ên-) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle one [was] אִ֖ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person there— שָׁ֛ם (šām) Adverb Strong's 8033: There, then, thither not a trace— וְק֣וֹל (wə·qō·wl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6963: A voice, sound only אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not tethered אָסוּר֙ (’ā·sūr) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle horses הַסּ֤וּס (has·sūs) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird) and donkeys, וְהַחֲמ֣וֹר (wə·ha·ḥă·mō·wr) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2543: A male ass and the tents וְאֹהָלִ֖ים (wə·’ō·hā·lîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 168: A tent were intact.” הֵֽמָּה׃ (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They Links 2 Kings 7:10 NIV2 Kings 7:10 NLT 2 Kings 7:10 ESV 2 Kings 7:10 NASB 2 Kings 7:10 KJV 2 Kings 7:10 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 7:10 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 7:10 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 7:10 French Bible 2 Kings 7:10 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 7:10 So they came and called to (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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