And the king arose in the night
Upon the report made to him:
and he said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians
have done to us;
taking it to be a stratagem of theirs to decoy them:
they know that we be hungry;
and would be glad to come out of the city to get some food:
therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the
field;
to make us believe that they have broke up the siege, and have deserted the camp, and are gone, when they only lie in ambush:
saying, when they come out of the city;
which they supposed they would do through hunger:
we shall catch them alive;
take them captive at once:
and get into the city;
being open to let them out, and receive them on their return.