2 Kings 7:4

KJV

If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine [is] in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

KJV (with Strong's)

If we say {H559}, We will enter {H935} into the city {H5892}, then the famine {H7458} is in the city {H5892}, and we shall die {H4191} there: and if we sit still {H3427} here, we die {H4191} also. Now therefore come {H3212}, and let us fall {H5307} unto the host {H4264} of the Syrians {H758}: if they save us alive {H2421}, we shall live {H2421}; and if they kill {H4191} us, we shall but die {H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

If we say, 'We'll enter the city, then the city has been struck by the famine, so we'll die there. And if we sit still here, we'll also die. So let's go and surrender to the army of Aram; if they spare our lives, we will live; and if they kill us, we'll only die."

Berean Standard Bible

If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”

American Standard Version

If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 7:4 captures the desperate deliberation of four lepers during the severe Aramean siege of Samaria. Faced with certain death by famine whether they remain outside the city walls or attempt to enter the starving city, they pragmatically conclude that their only slim chance of survival lies in surrendering to the besieging Syrian army. Their stark reasoning—that they will die regardless, so taking a risk offers a potential, albeit uncertain, path to life—sets the stage for an extraordinary divine intervention that will deliver the entire city.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a pivotal moment in the narrative of the siege of Samaria by King Ben-Hadad of Aram (Syria), as detailed in [2 Kings 6:24-25](/2_kings/6-24 "2 Kings 6:24-25 - Siege of Samaria"). The preceding verses paint a grim picture of extreme famine within the city, leading to horrific acts of cannibalism, as vividly described in [2 Kings 6:26-29](/2_kings/6-26 "2 Kings 6:26-29 - The Horrific Famine"). King Joram of Israel holds Elisha responsible for the crisis, even threatening his life. Elisha, however, prophesies a miraculous end to the famine within twenty-four hours, a prophecy met with skepticism by a royal officer in [2 Kings 7:1-2](/2_kings/7-1 "2 Kings 7:1-2 - Elisha's Prophecy of Abundance"). It is against this backdrop of utter despair and a seemingly impossible divine promise that the four lepers, marginalized and outcast, find themselves in a unique position outside the city gates, their desperate decision in this verse directly leading to the fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy in [2 Kings 7:5-8](/2_kings/7-5 "2 Kings 7:5-8 - The Lepers' Discovery").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Divided Monarchy was marked by frequent conflicts between Israel and its neighbors, particularly Aram (Syria). Sieges were common warfare tactics, designed to starve out a city into submission, often leading to immense suffering and high mortality rates, as evidenced by the famine's severity. Culturally, leprosy rendered individuals ritually unclean and socially ostracized, forcing them to live apart from the community, typically outside city walls, as prescribed in [Leviticus 13:45-46](/leviticus/13-45 "Leviticus 13:45-46 - Laws Concerning Leprosy"). This societal exclusion meant the lepers had no access to the meager resources remaining within Samaria, placing them in an even more dire predicament than those inside. Their desperate gamble to approach the enemy camp was a radical departure from typical behavior, born of absolute necessity and the complete absence of any other viable option.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within 2 Kings and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **human desperation**, showcasing the extreme lengths to which individuals will go when faced with certain death. It underscores the concept of **divine sovereignty and unexpected deliverance**, as God chooses to use the most marginalized and unlikely individuals—four lepers—as instruments of salvation for an entire city, demonstrating that His power is not limited by human status or circumstances. The lepers' pragmatic decision, born not of explicit faith but of a logical assessment of a "no-win" situation, also introduces the theme of **action over passive resignation**, suggesting that even a desperate step can open the door for divine intervention. This narrative also sets up a stark **contrast between human despair and God's abundant provision**, revealing how God can turn seemingly hopeless situations into demonstrations of His miraculous power, echoing themes found in other narratives of miraculous provision like the manna in [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna in the Wilderness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **"sit still" (Hebrew, _yashab'_):** This verb, meaning "to sit, dwell, remain," carries a powerful connotation of passive inaction in this context. It describes a state of resignation, of waiting idly for an inevitable outcome. The lepers recognize that remaining "still" in their current location is tantamount to choosing death by starvation, emphasizing the futility of inaction when faced with a dire, unavoidable fate.
* **"fall unto" (Hebrew, _naphal'_):** This verb literally means "to fall," but in this construction, it conveys the idea of surrendering, casting oneself upon the mercy of another, or defecting. It signifies a decisive, albeit desperate, act of moving towards the enemy camp with the intention of submitting. It represents a proactive, risky choice that contrasts sharply with the passive "sitting still" and highlights their willingness to gamble on an unknown outcome rather than passively accept certain death.
* **"host" (Hebrew, _machaneh'_):** This term refers to a military encampment or army. The lepers are not merely approaching a few individuals but the entire organized military force of the Syrians. This underscores the immense risk they are taking, as approaching an enemy "host" during a siege would typically result in immediate execution. Their desperate calculation acknowledges the full danger of their chosen path.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine [is] in the city, and we shall die there:"** The lepers first assess the option of returning to Samaria. They immediately recognize that this path offers no salvation, as the city itself is in the throes of an extreme famine, leading to certain death for anyone, including themselves, who might seek refuge within its walls. This establishes the first "no-win" scenario.
* **"and if we sit still here, we die also."** Their second assessment considers their current situation outside the city. They acknowledge that remaining where they are, inactive and without sustenance, will also inevitably lead to death by starvation. This confirms their predicament as a true dilemma, with both immediate options leading to the same fatal outcome.
* **"Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians:"** Having eliminated the first two options as paths to certain death, the lepers propose a third, radical course of action: to surrender to the besieging Syrian army. The phrase "Now therefore come" indicates a decisive shift from deliberation to action, a pragmatic decision born of desperation rather than a pre-existing plan.
* **"if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die."** This final clause articulates their logical, albeit grim, risk-reward calculation. They understand that approaching the enemy carries the risk of immediate execution. However, they reason that even if killed, the outcome is no worse than the certain death they face by famine. Conversely, there is a slim possibility that the Syrians might spare them, offering a chance at life that no other option provides. This pragmatic assessment underscores their desperate hope for survival.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey the lepers' desperate situation and their momentous decision. **Dilemma** is central, as the lepers articulate a "no-win" scenario with two initial options (entering the city or sitting still) both leading to certain death. This stark presentation heightens the tension and underscores the severity of the famine. The lepers' subsequent decision to approach the Syrian army introduces a profound **irony**: those considered the lowest and most outcast in Israelite society become the unlikely instruments of the city's salvation. Their desperate, pragmatic act inadvertently **foreshadows** the miraculous deliverance that God is about to orchestrate, turning a seemingly hopeless gamble into the catalyst for widespread provision. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **contrast** by juxtaposing the passive acceptance of death ("sit still here") with the active, albeit risky, pursuit of a slim chance at life ("fall unto the host of the Syrians"), highlighting the human will to survive even in the direst circumstances.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the intersection of human desperation and divine intervention. The lepers' situation is a microcosm of humanity's predicament when faced with forces beyond its control—a "no-win" scenario where every human effort leads to death. Their pragmatic decision, born of necessity rather than explicit faith, becomes the unlikely trigger for God's miraculous provision, demonstrating His sovereignty and His ability to use the most marginalized individuals to accomplish His purposes. It highlights that God's deliverance often comes through unexpected channels and in response to seemingly desperate human choices, revealing His power to bring life out of death and abundance out of scarcity. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that even when all human options are exhausted, God's plan for deliverance can unfold through the most improbable means.

* [1 Samuel 14:6](/1_samuel/14-6 "1 Samuel 14:6 - Jonathan's Act of Faith")
* [Esther 4:16](/esther/4-16 "Esther 4:16 - Esther's Courageous Resolve")
* [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7:4 offers profound lessons for contemporary life. We often find ourselves in situations that feel like "no-win" scenarios, where every path seems to lead to undesirable outcomes—be it in personal crises, professional challenges, or spiritual struggles. This verse challenges us to consider whether passive resignation is truly the only option. Like the lepers, we may need to critically assess our circumstances and, even in desperation, choose a path of action, however risky, that offers a slim possibility of a different outcome. It reminds us that God often works through the unexpected, using the marginalized, the overlooked, or even our own desperate, pragmatic steps to bring about His miraculous purposes. This narrative encourages us to seek out the "third option" when the first two lead to certain despair, trusting that even a desperate step can be the catalyst for divine intervention, transforming seemingly impossible situations into opportunities for God to display His power and provision.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you faced a "no-win" situation in your life, where all apparent options seemed to lead to a negative outcome?**
* **What does the lepers' decision teach us about the difference between passive resignation and taking a desperate, yet calculated, risk?**
* **In what ways might God be calling you to take a "desperate step" of faith or action in a seemingly impossible situation today?**
* **How does this story encourage you to look for God's hand at work even through the most unlikely people or circumstances?**

### FAQ

**Why were the lepers outside the city gates and not allowed inside?**

Answer: According to Mosaic Law, individuals with leprosy were considered ritually unclean and were required to live outside the community, separated from healthy people. [Leviticus 13:45-46](/leviticus/13-45 "Leviticus 13:45-46 - Laws Concerning Leprosy") explicitly states that a leper "shall dwell alone; outside the camp shall be his dwelling." This was a measure to prevent the spread of disease and to maintain ceremonial purity within the Israelite camp or city. Thus, during the siege, while the city was starving, the lepers were not permitted to enter and share in the city's dwindling resources, leaving them in an even more precarious position.

**How severe was the famine in Samaria at this time?**

Answer: The famine was extraordinarily severe, reaching a point of horrific desperation. The preceding chapter, [2 Kings 6:29](/2_kings/6-29 "2 Kings 6:29 - The Horrific Famine"), records a shocking incident where two women resorted to cannibalism, agreeing to eat their own children due to the extreme hunger. This detail underscores the dire conditions within Samaria, where basic sustenance was non-existent and human life had lost its value in the face of starvation. The lepers' assessment that they would "die there" if they entered the city was an accurate reflection of this catastrophic situation.

**Did the lepers make their decision out of faith in God or simply desperation?**

Answer: The text presents the lepers' decision as a pragmatic, logical assessment born out of extreme desperation rather than an explicit act of faith in God. Their reasoning is based on a clear-eyed calculation of risk: "if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die." They faced certain death by staying put or entering the city, so taking a chance with the Syrians, even if it meant death, was no worse than their current fate and offered a slim hope of survival. However, it is precisely through this desperate, humanly logical decision that God chose to work His miraculous deliverance, demonstrating that His sovereignty can utilize even pragmatic human actions to fulfill His divine purposes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate plight of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7:4, facing certain death with no viable human option, powerfully foreshadows humanity's own spiritual predicament apart from Christ. Just as the lepers were trapped between the famine within the city and the famine outside, so too is humanity trapped by sin, with every path leading to spiritual death ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")). We are spiritually outcast, unable to enter God's presence on our own terms, much like the lepers were excluded from the city. Yet, in our utter helplessness, God provided a "third option," a seemingly desperate act that turned out to be the ultimate salvation: the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ's crucifixion was, in a sense, God's "falling unto the host" of humanity's sin and death, a radical act that appeared to be weakness but was in fact the power of God for salvation ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross")). Just as the lepers' risky venture led to the discovery of abundant provision for all Samaria ([2 Kings 7:5-8](/2_kings/7-5 "2 Kings 7:5-8 - The Lepers' Discovery")), Christ's death and resurrection opened the way to eternal life and spiritual abundance for all who believe ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")). The lepers, the marginalized and despised, became the unexpected instruments of deliverance, mirroring how God chose the "foolish things of the world to shame the wise" and the "weak things of the world to shame the strong" through Christ ([1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Weak")). In Christ, our "if they save us alive, we shall live" becomes a glorious certainty, for He has conquered death and offers true life to all who surrender to Him ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 14:18

If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.

Luke 15:17

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Luke 15:19

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

2 Samuel 14:14

For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect [any] person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

Esther 4:16

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Jonah 3:9

Who can tell [if] God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Jeremiah 8:14

Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.