TRV
Translation
King James Version
They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
Complete Jewish Bible
So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of Aram, saying, "Go, and see."
Berean Standard Bible
Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”
American Standard Version
They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
World English Bible Messianic
They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the army of the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
So they tooke two charets of horses, and the King sent after the hoste of the Aramites, saying, Goe and see.
Young's Literal Translation
And they take two chariot-horses, and the king sendeth after the camp of Aram, saying, `Go, and see.'
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Commentary on 2 Kings 7 verses 12–20
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.
13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
14 They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
15 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
Here we have,
I. The king's jealousy of a stratagem in the Syrian's retreat, Kg2 7:12. He feared that they had withdrawn into an ambush, to draw out the besieged, that they might fall on them with more advantage. he knew he had no reason to expect that God should appear thus wonderfully for him, having forfeited his favour by his unbelief and impatience. He knew no reason the Syrians had to fly, for it does not appear that he or any of this attendants heard the noise of the chariots which the Syrians were frightened at. Let not those who, like him, are unstable in all their ways, think to receive any thing from God; nay, a guilty conscience fears the worst and makes men suspicious.
II. The course they took for their satisfaction, and to prevent their falling into a snare. They sent out spies to see what had become of the Syrians, and found they had all fled indeed, commanders as well a common soldiers. They could track them by the garments which they threw off, and left by the way, for their greater expedition, Kg2 7:15. He that gave this advice seems to have been very sensible of the deplorable condition the people were in (Kg2 7:13); for speaking of the horses, many of which were dead and the rest ready to perish for hunger, he says, and repeats it, "They are as all the multitude of Israel. Israel used to glory in their multitude, but now they are diminished and brought low." He advised to send five horsemen, but, it should seem, there were only two horses fit to be sent, and those chariot-horses, Kg2 7:14. Now the Lord repented himself concerning his servants, when he saw that their strength was gone, Deu 32:36.
III. The plenty that was in Samaria, from the plunder of the camp of the Syrians, Kg2 7:16. Had the Syrians been governed by the modern policies of war, when they could not take their baggage and their tents with them they would rather have burnt them (as it is common to do with the forage of a country) than let them fall into their enemies' hands; but God determined that the besieging of Samaria, which was intended for its ruin, should turn to its advantage, and that Israel should now be enriched with the spoil of the Syrians as of old with that of the Egyptians. here see, 1. The wealth of the sinner laid up for the just (Job 27:16, Job 27:17) and the spoilers spoiled, Isa 33:1. 2. The wants of Israel supplied in a way that they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. 3. The word of Elisha fulfilled to a tittle: A measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel; those that spoiled the camp had not only enough to supply themselves with, but an overplus to sell at an easy rate for the benefit of others, and so even those that tarried at home did divide the spoil, Psa 68:12; Isa 33:23. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground.
IV. The death of the unbelieving courtier, that questioned the truth of Elisha's word. Divine threatenings will as surely be accomplished as divine promises. He that believeth not shall be damned stands as firm as He that believeth shall be saved. This lord, 1. Was preferred by the king to the charge of the gate (Kg2 7:17), to keep the peace, and to see that there was no tumult or disorder in dividing and disposing of the spoil. So much trust did the king repose in him, in his prudence and gravity, and so much did he delight to honour him. He that will be great, let him serve the public. 2. Was trodden to death by the people in the gate, either by accident, the crowd being exceedingly great, and he in the thickest of it, or perhaps designedly, because he abused his power, and was imperious in restraining the people from satisfying their hunger. However it was, God's justice was glorified, and the word of Elisha was fulfilled. He saw the plenty, for the silencing and shaming of his unbelief, corn cheap without opening windows in heaven, and therein saw his own folly in prescribing to God; but he did not eat of the plenty he saw. When he was about to fill his belly God cast the fury of his wrath upon him (Job 20:23) and it came between the cup and the lip. Justly are those thus tantalized with the world's promises that think themselves tantalized with the promises of God. If believing shall not be seeing, seeing shall not be enjoying. This matter is repeated, and the event very particularly compared with the prediction (Kg2 7:18-20), that we might take special notice of it, and might learn, (1.) How deeply God resents out distrust of him, of his power, providence, and promise. When Israel said, Can God furnish a table? the Lord heard it and was wroth. Infinite wisdom will not be limited by our folly. God never promises the end without knowing where to provide the means. (2.) How uncertain life and the enjoyments of it are. Honour and power cannot secure men from sudden and inglorious deaths. He whom the king leaned upon the people trod upon; he who fancied himself the stay and support of the government was trampled under foot as the mire in the streets. Thus hath the pride of men's glory been often stained. (3.) How certain God's threatenings are, and how sure to alight on the guilty and obnoxious heads. Let all men fear before the great God, who treads upon princes as mortar and is terrible to the kings of the earth.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–20. Public domain.
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Ephrem the SyrianAD 373
ON THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS 7:3
Even though the four lepers are loathsome, if we symbolically recognize in them the fact that they announced goods for the inhabitants of their city, they do no wrong to the symbol but correctly represent the four holy Evangelists. Indeed, we must bear in mind that through their books the grace of our Savior and source of life Jesus Christ was known, and freedom was given to all people according to his divine plan. And so those whose flesh was leprous shone in their interior look with the splendor of their righteousness. In addition, they symbolically represent the first attitude of the apostles in the fact that leprosy had corrupted their skin. But they also represent them in the fact that their interior was adorned with righteous behavior because the old man has been transformed by the coming of the Holy Spirit and renewed. Therefore they have clothed themselves with the garment shining with the colors of heaven and have been sent to show the work of the hands of God.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Captures a pivotal moment during the severe Aramean (Syrian) siege of Samaria, where King Jehoram, despite reports of the enemy's miraculous flight, exercises cautious prudence by dispatching a reconnaissance team. This act of verification, born from initial skepticism and fear of a trap, serves as the critical bridge between the lepers' astonishing discovery of the deserted Syrian camp and the full realization of Elisha's prophecy of abundant provision, preparing the way for the city's deliverance from famine and despair through human action confirming divine intervention.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: The immediate literary context of 2 Kings 7:14 is the dramatic climax of the Syrian siege against Samaria, following a period of horrific famine detailed in 2 Kings 6:24-30. Amidst this dire situation, the prophet Elisha had boldly prophesied an unimaginable abundance of food within twenty-four hours (2 Kings 7:1). The miraculous turning point occurred when the Lord caused the Syrian army to hear phantom sounds of a vast approaching army, leading them to flee in a panic, abandoning their entire camp (2 Kings 7:6-7). Four starving lepers then stumbled upon this deserted camp, discovering the immense spoils and reporting it to the city gate (2 Kings 7:8-11). However, King Jehoram, plagued by skepticism and fear, suspected a trap, believing the Syrians had merely hidden themselves to lure out the starving Israelites (2 Kings 7:12). Verse 14 directly follows the king's decision in 2 Kings 7:13 to send scouts to verify the lepers' incredible report, marking the transition from doubt to confirmation and setting the stage for the city's deliverance.
Historical & Cultural Context: The historical backdrop is the ongoing conflict between the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and Aram (Syria), a recurring theme throughout the books of 1 and 2 Kings. Sieges were common military tactics in the ancient Near East, designed to starve a city into submission, and the conditions described in 2 Kings 6—extreme famine, exorbitant prices for basic food, and even cannibalism—were grim realities of prolonged sieges. "Chariot horses" were highly valued military assets, representing speed, power, and the ability to cover ground quickly for reconnaissance or combat, indicating the importance and urgency of the king's mission. The king's skepticism was culturally understandable; a sudden, unexplained retreat by a besieging army would typically be viewed with extreme suspicion, as feigned retreats were a known military stratagem to draw out a desperate enemy. The narrative thus reflects the brutal realities of ancient warfare and the strategic thinking of the time, even as it highlights a divine intervention that defies human logic.
Key Themes: This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within 2 Kings and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Deliverance and Providence, demonstrating God's sovereign ability to rescue His people from impossible situations through unexpected and miraculous means, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy in 2 Kings 7:1. Secondly, it highlights the theme of Human Prudence and Verification. Despite the miraculous nature of the lepers' report, the king's decision to "go and see" illustrates a necessary balance between faith in divine action and human responsibility to verify extraordinary claims, a concept echoed in Proverbs 14:15. Thirdly, the narrative explores the theme of Overcoming Skepticism and Doubt. The king's initial disbelief (2 Kings 7:12) necessitates this act of verification, which ultimately leads to the confirmation of God's work and the city's salvation, serving as a powerful testament to God's faithfulness even in the face of human apprehension.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The narrative of 2 Kings 7:14 skillfully employs several literary devices to deepen its meaning and impact. Irony is prominent, as the very king who initially doubted Elisha's prophecy and suspected a trap (2 Kings 7:2) is now compelled to take the practical steps that will ultimately confirm God's miraculous deliverance. His human prudence, born of skepticism, unwittingly becomes the instrument through which divine truth is revealed. There is also a strong element of Anticipation or Foreshadowing, as this verse sets the stage for the dramatic discovery of the abandoned Syrian camp and the subsequent fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy, building suspense and driving the narrative forward. The text also employs Contrast between the king's cautious, human-level verification and God's unseen, supernatural intervention that caused the mighty Syrian army to flee in terror. This highlights the vast disparity between limited human understanding and divine omnipotence. Finally, the verse serves as a crucial point of Narrative Progression, moving the story from the lepers' astonishing report and the king's doubt towards the inevitable confirmation of God's powerful and unexpected provision.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Kings 7:14 serves as a powerful illustration of the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. While God had already miraculously intervened to cause the Syrian army to flee (2 Kings 7:6-7), the king's decision to "go and see" demonstrates that human prudence, discernment, and verification are often necessary steps in realizing and benefiting from God's provision. It highlights that even in the face of the miraculous, God allows for and sometimes requires human action to confirm His work, bridging the gap between divine promise and human experience. This verse underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises, even when faced with human doubt and fear, and His ability to use ordinary means (scouts on horses) to confirm extraordinary divine acts. It also subtly emphasizes the importance of discerning truth and acting wisely, especially when reports seem too good to be true or defy conventional logic.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account in 2 Kings 7:14 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers, reminding us that while God's power is limitless and His interventions can be sudden and dramatic, He often calls us to exercise wisdom, discernment, and even cautious verification. The king's initial skepticism, while understandable given the dire circumstances, underscores a common human tendency to doubt divine provision when it seems too good to be true or defies logical explanation. Yet, his willingness to "go and see" ultimately led to the confirmation of God's miraculous deliverance and the city's salvation. In our own lives, this means balancing radical faith in God's promises with practical wisdom and responsible action. We are called to trust God implicitly, yet also to steward the resources and discernment He has given us. Sometimes, faith means stepping out boldly in obedience; other times, it means carefully examining the evidence, seeking counsel, and verifying information, especially when making decisions that impact ourselves or others. This narrative encourages us to seek confirmation of God's working in our lives, not out of unbelief, but out of a desire to fully grasp and respond to His incredible faithfulness, allowing us to move from doubt to confident action and grateful participation in His plan.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was King Jehoram so hesitant to believe the lepers' report, even after the desperate situation in Samaria?
Answer: King Jehoram's hesitation, as seen in 2 Kings 7:12, stemmed from a combination of factors rooted in the extreme desperation of the siege and the common military tactics of the time. Firstly, the famine was so severe that people were resorting to cannibalism (2 Kings 6:29), fostering deep distrust and paranoia. News of a sudden, complete retreat by a powerful besieging army would have seemed utterly unbelievable and counter-intuitive, defying all logical expectations. Secondly, feigned retreats were a known military stratagem in the ancient world, designed to lure a starving, desperate enemy out from their defenses into an ambush. The king, fearing such a trap, prudently (though skeptically) sought verification rather than risking the lives of his remaining people. His caution, while lacking the full faith in Elisha's prophecy (2 Kings 7:1), was a rational response to the perceived military threat and the dire circumstances.
What is the significance of "two chariot horses" being chosen for the scouting mission?
Answer: The selection of "two chariot horses" for the scouting mission, rather than ordinary beasts of burden or even a larger cavalry unit, is highly significant. "Chariot horses" were specifically bred and trained for speed, endurance, and military maneuverability. They were considered the fastest and most valuable horses available for rapid movement, indicating the urgency and critical importance of the mission. Sending only two suggests a need for swift, inconspicuous reconnaissance rather than a full military engagement, which would have been too risky given the king's suspicion of a trap. This choice underscores the king's desire for rapid verification of the situation at the Syrian camp, allowing the scouts to quickly cover the distance, observe the scene, and return with their report, confirming the miraculous fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy (2 Kings 7:1) and bringing hope to the besieged city.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The account in 2 Kings 7:14, with its emphasis on verification and the confirmation of divine deliverance, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Just as the scouts were sent to confirm the reality of God's unexpected salvation for Samaria, Jesus Christ is the ultimate "Go and see!" sent by God to confirm the reality of His greater salvation for humanity. The skepticism of King Jehoram, struggling to believe in a miraculous provision amidst dire circumstances, mirrors humanity's often-limited understanding and doubt concerning God's radical plan for redemption. Yet, in Christ, God provides undeniable proof of His power over sin, death, and the spiritual forces that besiege humanity. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate "empty camp" discovery, inviting all to "go and see" for themselves that the tomb is empty and that death has been conquered (Luke 24:1-12). He is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, providing spiritual sustenance and eternal life far greater than the physical food found in the Syrian camp. Through His life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus verifies every promise of God, inviting us not to doubt, but to believe (John 20:27). He is the faithful witness, the ultimate confirmation of God's covenant love and His unwavering commitment to deliver His people from their greatest enemy, ushering in an era of abundant grace and truth (John 1:17).