2 Kings 7:10

10 And when they had come to the gate of the city, they told to them, and said, We went to the castles of Syria (We went to the tents, or the camp, of the Syrians), and we found not any man there, but (all the) horses and asses tied (up), and [the] tents fastened (in place).

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

2 Kings 7:10 In-Context

8 Therefore when those leprous men had come to the beginning of the castles, or tents, they entered into one tabernacle, and ate, and drank; and they took from thence silver, and gold, and clothes; and went, and hid it; and again they turned again to another tabernacle, and in like manner they took away from thence, and hid. (And so when those lepers had come to the beginning of the tents, or of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate, and drank; and they took from there silver, and gold, and clothes; and went, and hid it; and then they turned to another tent, and in like manner they took away from there, and hid it all.)
9 And they said together, We do not rightfully, for this is a day of good message; if we hold it still, and do not tell till the morrowtide, we shall be reproved of trespassing (if we keep it quiet, and do not tell anyone until the morning, we shall be blamed for not reporting it); come ye, go we, and tell it in the king's hall.
10 And when they had come to the gate of the city, they told to them, and said, We went to the castles of Syria (We went to the tents, or the camp, of the Syrians), and we found not any man there, but (all the) horses and asses tied (up), and [the] tents fastened (in place).
11 And so the porters went (And so the guards went), and told these things in the palace of the king within.
12 And the king rose up by night, and said to his servants, I say to you, what the men of Syria have done to us; they know, that we travail with hunger, therefore they have gone out of the castles, and be hid in the fields, and say, When they shall go out of the city, we shall take them quick, and then we shall be able to enter into the city. (And the king rose up in the night, and said to his servants, I shall tell you, what the men of Syria have done to us; they know, that we be hungry, and so they have gone out of their tents, and be hid in the fields, and they say, When they shall go out of the city, we shall take them alive, and then we shall be able to enter into their city.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.