2 Kings 7:4

4 sive ingredi voluerimus civitatem fame moriemur sive manserimus hic moriendum nobis est venite igitur et transfugiamus ad castra Syriae si pepercerint nobis vivemus si autem occidere voluerint nihilominus moriemur

2 Kings 7:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 7:4

If we say we will enter into the city
Contrary to the law which forbid them:

then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there;
not being able to obtain food to preserve life:

and if we sit here, we die also;
having nothing to eat to support nature:

now therefore let us come, and fall unto the host of the Syrians;
put ourselves into their hands, and lie at their mercy:

if they save us alive, we shall live;
if they do not put us to death, but give us bread to eat, our lives will be preserved:

and if they kill us, we shall but die;
which we must inevitably do, whether we stay here, or go into the city.

2 Kings 7:4 In-Context

2 respondens unus de ducibus super cuius manum rex incumbebat homini Dei ait si Dominus fecerit etiam cataractas in caelo numquid poterit esse quod loqueris qui ait videbis oculis tuis et inde non comedes

3 quattuor ergo viri erant leprosi iuxta introitum portae qui dixerunt ad invicem quid hic esse volumus donec moriamur

4 sive ingredi voluerimus civitatem fame moriemur sive manserimus hic moriendum nobis est venite igitur et transfugiamus ad castra Syriae si pepercerint nobis vivemus si autem occidere voluerint nihilominus moriemur

5 surrexerunt igitur vesperi ut venirent ad castra Syriae cumque venissent ad principium castrorum Syriae nullum ibidem reppererunt

6 siquidem Dominus sonitum audiri fecerat in castris Syriae curruum et equorum et exercitus plurimi dixeruntque ad invicem ecce mercede conduxit adversum nos rex Israhel reges Hettheorum et Aegyptiorum et venerunt super nos