2 Kings 7:10

10 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."

2 Kings 7:10 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 7:10

So they came and called to the porter of the city
The chief of those that had the care of the gate of it; for there were more than one, as follows:

and they told them;
the porter, and the watchmen with him:

we came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man
there, neither voice of man;
not one to be seen or heard:

but horses tied, and asses tied;
to their mangers; the latter, as well as the former, were used for war, not only to carry burdens, but to fight upon, as Aelianus ^F1 relates of some people; and especially when there was a want of horses, as Strabo ^F2; and both observe that this creature was sacrificed to Mars:

and the tents as they were;
none of them struck, nor anything taken out of them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 De Animal. l. 12. c. 34.
F2 Geograph. l. 15. p. 500.

2 Kings 7:10 In-Context

8 When these men came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they picked up the silver, gold, and clothing and went off and hid them. They came back and entered another tent, picked [things] up, and hid them.

9 Then they said to each other, "We're not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, we will be punished. Let's go tell the king's household."

10 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."

11 The gatekeepers called out, and [the news] was reported to the king's household.

12 So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, "Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the open country, thinking, 'When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.' "