2 Kings 7:9

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.

2 Kings 7:9 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 7:9

Then they said one to another, we do not well
This is not right, to take this booty to ourselves; it is not doing justice to our brethren, and it may not prove well to ourselves in the issue:

this day is a day of good tidings;
to be delivered from the enemy, and have such plenty of provisions thrown into their hands; it would be joyful tidings to the inhabitants of the city, did they know it:

and we hold our peace;
and do not publish this good tidings, that others may share the benefit of it:

if we tarry till the morning light;
when it will in course be discovered:

some mischief will come upon us;
either from the Syrians, who they might fear would return by that time, or some of them lurking about would fall upon them and destroy them; or the king of Israel, when he came to know it, would be so incensed as to inflict some punishment on them; or they might expect some evil from the immediate hand of God:

now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household;
acquaint some of his servants with what had happened.

2 Kings 7:9 In-Context

7 Therefore they rose up, and fled in darkness, and left their tents, and their horses, and mules, and asses, in the castles (with the tents); and they fled, coveting to save their lives only. (And so they rose up, and fled away in the darkness, and left their tents, and their horses, and mules, and donkeys, with the tents, or in the camp; and they fled, desiring only to save their own lives.)

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.