2 Kings 7:12

¶ And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we [be] hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

And the king {H4428} arose {H6965} in the night {H3915}, and said {H559} unto his servants {H5650}, I will now shew {H5046} you what the Syrians {H758} have done {H6213} to us. They know {H3045} that we be hungry {H7457}; therefore are they gone out {H3318} of the camp {H4264} to hide {H2247} themselves in the field {H7704}, saying {H559}, When they come out {H3318} of the city {H5892}, we shall catch {H8610} them alive {H2416}, and get {H935} into the city {H5892}.

Then the king got up in the night; he said to his servants, "I'll tell you what Aram has done to us. They know that we're hungry, so they've gone outside the camp and hidden in the countryside, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we'll take them alive and then get inside the city.'"

So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’”

And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.

Commentary

2 Kings 7:12 captures a pivotal moment of suspicion and uncertainty during a desperate siege. King Joram, facing the unimaginable horrors of a severe famine in Samaria, receives news that the besieging Aramean (Syrian) army has inexplicably abandoned its camp. Instead of rejoicing, his mind immediately jumps to a clever military ruse.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of a brutal siege of Samaria by the Aramean army, led by King Ben-hadad. The city was experiencing extreme famine, with food so scarce that people resorted to cannibalism. Earlier in the chapter, the prophet Elisha had miraculously declared that within 24 hours, food would be abundant and cheap in Samaria (2 Kings 7:1). Just prior to this verse, four lepers, desperate for food, stumbled upon the deserted Aramean camp and discovered a wealth of provisions, realizing that the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of a great army, prompting their panicked flight (2 Kings 7:6-8).

King Joram's Suspicion

King Joram's reaction in verse 12 is a stark portrayal of human reasoning under duress, clouded by fear and past experiences. Having endured such a long and brutal siege, he cannot fathom a genuine retreat by the enemy. He suspects a sophisticated military trap: the Syrians, knowing the Israelites are starving and would rush out for food, have merely hidden themselves in the surrounding fields. Their plan, as the king surmises, is to ambush the weakened Israelites, capture them alive, and then easily seize the city.

  • Logical but Flawed Reasoning: From a purely human, military perspective, the king's assessment is logical. A feigned retreat is a classic tactic to draw out an enemy. However, his logic fails to account for divine intervention.
  • Underestimating God's Hand: Joram's suspicion highlights a common human tendency to overlook God's miraculous provision when it appears in unexpected ways or contradicts conventional understanding.

Key Themes

  • Doubt vs. Divine Providence: The king's deep suspicion stands in stark contrast to the divine deliverance that has actually occurred. It underscores the human struggle to believe in God's provision when circumstances seem too dire or the solution too simple.
  • The Nature of Fear and Suspicion: This verse illustrates how fear and a history of suffering can breed suspicion, leading one to misinterpret even good news as a threat or a trick.
  • God's Unconventional Methods: The Lord's deliverance of Samaria through the flight of the Arameans, triggered by a sound only they perceived, was an unconventional act that defied human military logic.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. How often do we, like King Joram, allow our past hurts, present fears, or logical deductions to blind us to God's genuine blessings or miraculous interventions? When unexpected relief or good news comes our way, do we immediately suspect a trap, or do we have the faith to discern God's hand at work? The story encourages us to look beyond immediate appearances and trust in the Lord's ability to provide and deliver in ways that defy human expectation, just as He did for Samaria (2 Kings 7:16).

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Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 6:25 (2 votes)

    And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was [sold] for fourscore [pieces] of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five [pieces] of silver.

  • 2 Kings 6:29 (2 votes)

    So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.

  • Joshua 8:4 (2 votes)

    And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, [even] behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: