2 Kings 7:5

And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, [there was] no man there.

And they rose up {H6965} in the twilight {H5399}, to go {H935} unto the camp {H4264} of the Syrians {H758}: and when they were come {H935} to the uttermost part {H7097} of the camp {H4264} of Syria {H758}, behold, there was no man {H376} there.

They got up during the twilight to go to the camp of Aram. But when they reached the outskirts of the camp of Aram, they saw no one!

So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found.

And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians; and when they were come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no man there.

Commentary

2 Kings 7:5 describes a pivotal moment during the severe siege of Samaria by the Aramean (Syrian) army, when four desperate lepers, facing certain death by starvation within the city, decide to take a risk and surrender to the enemy camp. This verse highlights their first step of faith and the astonishing discovery they make.

Context

The city of Samaria was enduring an horrific famine, so severe that people resorted to cannibalism (2 Kings 6:29). In this desperate situation, the prophet Elisha had boldly declared that by the next day, food would be plentiful and cheap (2 Kings 7:1). The four lepers, considered outcasts, were at the city gate, contemplating their inevitable demise. Their decision to go to the Syrian camp, rather than die of hunger in Samaria, was an act born of sheer desperation but also a glimmer of unexpected hope.

Key Themes

  • Desperation as a Catalyst for Action: The lepers' dire circumstances forced them to act, leading them directly to God's miraculous provision. Their hopelessness paradoxically became the pathway to discovery.
  • Divine Providence and Intervention: While the verse focuses on the lepers' action, the underlying truth revealed shortly after is God's powerful intervention. Unbeknownst to the lepers, the Lord had already caused the Syrian army to flee in panic, creating the scene they were about to encounter (2 Kings 7:6).
  • The Unseen Hand of God: This verse beautifully illustrates how God works in ways that are not immediately visible. The lepers found an empty camp, not knowing it was the result of a divine scare, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "rose up in the twilight" (Hebrew: ba'nesheph) indicates the time of dusk or early evening, a period when visibility is low, adding to the tension and uncertainty of their perilous journey. It's a time when movements might be less observed, yet also when dangers can be more hidden.

Practical Application

2 Kings 7:5 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Hope in Hopeless Situations: Even when circumstances seem utterly bleak, God can open unexpected doors. The lepers' desperate step led to salvation not just for themselves but for an entire city.
  • God Uses the Unlikeliest Instruments: God often works through those whom society overlooks or rejects, demonstrating that His power is not dependent on human strength, status, or ability.
  • Taking a Step of Faith: Sometimes, deliverance comes when we take a seemingly small, desperate step in faith, even when we cannot see the full outcome. The lepers simply went, and God had already prepared the way.

This verse sets the stage for a dramatic display of God's miraculous deliverance, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, divine provision can be just around the corner.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:7

    The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

  • Deuteronomy 32:30

    How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

  • Ezekiel 12:12

    And the prince that [is] among them shall bear upon [his] shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with [his] eyes.

  • Ezekiel 12:6

    In their sight shalt thou bear [it] upon [thy] shoulders, [and] carry [it] forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee [for] a sign unto the house of Israel.

  • Ezekiel 12:7

    And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought [it] forth in the twilight, [and] I bare [it] upon [my] shoulder in their sight.

  • 1 Samuel 30:17

    And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

  • Deuteronomy 32:25

    The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling [also] with the man of gray hairs.
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