2 Kings 7:3

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

2 Kings 7:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 7:3

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate,
&c.] Of the city of Samaria; lepers, according to the law, being obliged to be without the city and camp, ( Leviticus 13:46 ) these might have a dwelling assigned them near the gate; or they might get as near to it as they could, partly to obtain relief from the city, and partly for fear of the Syrians; these, the Jews say ^F24, were Gehazi and his three sons, see ( 2 Kings 5:27 )

and they said one to another, why sit we here until we die?
being ready to perish with hunger.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F24 T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 47. 1. & Sanhedrin, fol. 107. 2.

2 Kings 7:3 In-Context

1 dixit autem Heliseus audite verbum Domini haec dicit Dominus in tempore hoc cras modius similae uno statere erit et duo modii hordei statere uno in porta Samariae

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