2 Kings 7:8

KJV

And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid [it]; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence [also], and went and hid [it].

KJV (with Strong's)

And when these lepers {H6879} came {H935} to the uttermost part {H7097} of the camp {H4264}, they went {H935} into one {H259} tent {H168}, and did eat {H398} and drink {H8354}, and carried {H5375} thence silver {H3701}, and gold {H2091}, and raiment {H899}, and went {H3212} and hid {H2934} it; and came again {H7725}, and entered {H935} into another {H312} tent {H168}, and carried {H5375} thence also, and went {H3212} and hid {H2934} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

When these men with tzara'at reached the outskirts of the camp, they entered one of the tents, ate and drank; then took some silver, gold and clothing; and went and hid it. Next they returned and entered another tent, took stuff from there, and went and hid it.

Berean Standard Bible

When the lepers reached the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they carried off the silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. On returning, they entered another tent, carried off some items from there, and hid them.

American Standard Version

And when these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 7:8 vividly portrays the immediate, human reaction of four desperate lepers upon discovering the miraculously abandoned Aramean camp. Driven by extreme hunger and the threat of imminent death, they stumbled upon an overwhelming abundance of food, drink, and valuable treasures. Their initial response was one of immediate self-preservation and personal gain, as they ate, drank, and then repeatedly hid silver, gold, and raiment, setting the stage for a crucial moral turning point in the narrative of Samaria's deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the pivotal moment following God's miraculous intervention to end the severe siege of Samaria. The preceding verses detail the desperate famine within the city, leading to horrific acts like cannibalism ([2 Kings 6:29 "2 Kings 6:29 - The Severity of the Famine"]). Elisha had prophesied an incredible reversal of fortune, promising abundant food within 24 hours ([2 Kings 7:1 "2 Kings 7:1 - Elisha's Prophecy of Abundance"]), a prophecy met with skepticism by a royal officer. God then caused the Aramean army to hear a terrifying sound of chariots and horses, prompting them to flee in panic, leaving all their provisions behind ([2 Kings 7:6-7 "2 Kings 7:6-7 - God Causes the Arameans to Flee"]). Verse 8 describes the lepers' initial, cautious exploration of the deserted camp and their immediate, instinctual response to the sudden abundance, setting up the moral dilemma they face in the subsequent verse ([2 Kings 7:9 "2 Kings 7:9 - The Lepers' Realization"]).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The city of Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, and its siege by the Arameans (Syrians) under Ben-Hadad was a common military tactic of the ancient Near East, designed to starve a city into submission. The famine described was exceptionally severe, indicating a prolonged and brutal siege. Culturally, lepers were the most marginalized and ritually unclean members of society, forced to live outside the city gates and forbidden from communal life ([Leviticus 13:45-46 "Leviticus 13:45-46 - Laws Concerning Leprosy"]). Their desperate decision to surrender to the enemy, preferring potential death by sword over certain death by starvation, underscores their extreme plight. That God chose these outcasts to be the first to discover the deliverance is a profound statement about His sovereignty and unconventional methods.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of 2 Kings and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Providence and Abundance**, showcasing God's ability to provide overwhelmingly and unexpectedly, turning despair into overflowing provision, even fulfilling a seemingly impossible prophecy ([2 Kings 7:1 "2 Kings 7:1 - Elisha's Prophecy"]). Secondly, it underscores the theme that **God Uses the Unlikeliest Instruments**. The choice of four ritually unclean and socially despised lepers to be the first to discover and then announce Samaria's salvation demonstrates God's power working through the weak and marginalized, rather than through human might or status ([1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak and Foolish"]). Finally, the lepers' initial actions reveal the theme of **Human Nature in Crisis and Prosperity**. Their immediate impulse to eat, drink, and hoard the newfound treasures after extreme deprivation is a realistic portrayal of self-preservation and the temptation of personal gain, which then sets up a crucial moral test in the following verses.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **uttermost part (Hebrew, _qetseh_):** This word signifies the "edge," "extremity," or "border." Its use here implies that the lepers approached the camp cautiously, not immediately rushing into its center but exploring its periphery. This caution is understandable given their desperate situation and the potential danger of an enemy camp. It highlights the initial tentative steps into the unknown.
* **hid (Hebrew, _chaba'_):** This verb means "to hide," "to conceal," or "to store up." The repetition of "went and hid [it]" emphasizes the lepers' immediate instinct to secure and hoard the valuable items for themselves. This act of concealment speaks to their initial focus on personal gain and security, a natural human response to sudden wealth after extreme deprivation, but one that soon gives way to a broader moral consideration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp":** This phrase establishes the setting and the cautious approach of the four marginalized individuals. They were at the very edge of what had been a formidable enemy encampment, still wary of danger, yet driven by the dire need for survival. Their arrival at this specific location is divinely orchestrated.
* **"they went into one tent, and did eat and drink":** This describes their first, most immediate, and understandable action. After prolonged starvation, their priority was to satisfy their basic physiological needs. The abundance of food and drink in the deserted tent would have been an astonishing and overwhelming discovery, a direct answer to their desperate hunger and thirst.
* **"and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid [it]":** Having satisfied their hunger, their attention turned to the unexpected wealth. Silver, gold, and raiment (clothing) were highly valuable commodities in the ancient world. Their act of carrying these items away and hiding them reveals a shift from immediate sustenance to securing personal wealth, driven by a natural instinct for self-preservation and accumulation after experiencing extreme lack.
* **"and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence [also], and went and hid [it].":** The repetition of this action underscores their continued focus on personal acquisition. They didn't just take from one tent but systematically explored others, accumulating more treasures and hiding them. This highlights their initial preoccupation with their own newfound fortune, a natural, yet morally challenging, human response to overwhelming and unexpected blessing.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as the most ritually unclean and socially outcast individuals are chosen by God to discover the deliverance for the entire city, subverting human expectations of who God uses. The **Repetition** of "went and hid [it]" serves to emphasize the lepers' initial, self-centered response to the abundance, highlighting their preoccupation with personal gain before their conscience prompts them to consider the suffering city. There is a powerful **Contrast** between the dire famine and cannibalism within Samaria and the overflowing abundance found in the deserted Aramean camp, underscoring the magnitude of God's miraculous provision. This initial act of hoarding also serves as **Foreshadowing**, setting up the moral dilemma and subsequent realization that compels the lepers to share the good news with the starving city in the following verse.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates God's sovereign and often unexpected methods of deliverance. It underscores that God's provision is not limited by human logic or social status; He can use the most marginalized to bring about His purposes. The lepers' initial, instinctual response to hoard the blessings they discovered reflects a universal human tendency towards self-preservation and accumulation in the face of sudden prosperity, especially after experiencing extreme lack. However, this immediate reaction sets up a crucial theological tension: what is our responsibility when God blesses us abundantly, particularly when others are in desperate need? This narrative implicitly challenges believers to move beyond mere self-interest and consider the broader community, recognizing that divine blessings often come with a call to share and serve.

* [Psalm 107:9](/psalms/107-9 "Psalm 107:9 - Satisfying the Hungry"): "For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."
* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak"): "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty... That no flesh should glory in his presence."
* [Proverbs 11:25](/proverbs/11-25 "Proverbs 11:25 - The Generous Soul"): "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The story of the lepers in 2 Kings 7:8 serves as a powerful mirror for our own lives, particularly in how we respond to God's unexpected blessings and provisions. When we experience a sudden breakthrough, a new opportunity, or a significant blessing, our initial, very human inclination might be to secure it for ourselves, to "eat and drink" and "hide" the newfound treasures. This verse acknowledges that natural impulse, born often from past deprivation or a sense of scarcity. However, it also subtly but powerfully challenges us to move beyond this initial self-interest. The lepers' subsequent realization (in 2 Kings 7:9) that their silence would be a sin highlights a profound spiritual principle: when God provides good news or abundance, especially in a world marked by suffering and need, we have a moral and spiritual obligation to share it. Our blessings are not solely for our own consumption but are often given to us so that we might become channels of blessing to others, demonstrating God's generosity and alleviating the distress of those around us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when God provides unexpectedly or blesses me abundantly? Is my first instinct to secure it for myself, or to consider how it might benefit others?**
* **What "good news" or resources has God entrusted to me—whether material, spiritual, or relational—that I might be tempted to keep to myself rather than sharing?**
* **In what ways can I intentionally move beyond self-preservation to become a conduit of God's blessing and news to those who are "starving" in various ways around me?**

### FAQ
**Why were the lepers the first to discover the abandoned camp?**
Answer: The lepers were the first to discover the abandoned camp due to a combination of their desperate circumstances and God's sovereign design. As outcasts, they were forced to live outside the city gates, putting them in the direct path of the fleeing Aramean army. Their extreme hunger and impending death drove them to make the desperate decision to surrender to the enemy, leading them directly to the deserted camp. Theologically, God often chooses the weak, the marginalized, and the unexpected to accomplish His greatest works, demonstrating that salvation and deliverance are entirely by His power, not human strength or status ([1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak"]).

**What does "uttermost part of the camp" mean?**
Answer: "Uttermost part of the camp" refers to the very edge or outskirts of the Aramean encampment. This detail suggests that the lepers approached cautiously, not immediately rushing into the heart of what they presumed was an active enemy camp. It highlights their initial fear and the vastness of the abandoned provisions, as they discovered the abundance even before fully entering the main area of the camp.

**Why did they hide the treasures instead of immediately bringing them back to Samaria?**
Answer: Their initial act of hiding the silver, gold, and raiment was a natural, albeit self-centered, human response to sudden and overwhelming fortune after prolonged and severe deprivation. Having faced starvation and death, their immediate instinct was self-preservation and securing personal wealth. They were likely still in shock, fearful, and focused on their own survival and potential future security. This initial hoarding sets up the moral tension that leads to their realization in [2 Kings 7:9 "2 Kings 7:9 - The Lepers' Moral Realization"] that it was wrong to keep such good news and abundance to themselves while their city suffered.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the lepers discovering the abandoned camp and the subsequent salvation of Samaria finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Just as the four lepers, the most despised and outcast of society, were chosen by God to be the first bearers of good news and the instruments of deliverance for a starving city, so too did Christ identify with the marginalized and outcast, bringing the ultimate good news. Jesus, the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became "unclean" for us, bearing our sins and diseases, that we might be made clean. He came to a world starving for truth, righteousness, and life, offering an abundance far greater than any physical provision—the [bread of life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") and [living water](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus, the Living Water"). The hidden treasures discovered by the lepers foreshadow the immeasurable riches found in Christ, who offers spiritual silver, gold, and raiment (righteousness) to all who believe ([Ephesians 1:7-8 "Ephesians 1:7-8 - Riches of God's Grace"]). Furthermore, the lepers' eventual decision to share the good news with Samaria prefigures the Great Commission. Believers, once spiritually "starving" and "outcast" by sin, have found the abundant life in Christ ([John 10:10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life in Christ"]) and are now called to not hoard this ultimate good news but to proclaim it to a world still perishing in its spiritual famine ([Matthew 28:19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission"]; [Acts 1:8 "Acts 1:8 - Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth"]).

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

Matthew 13:44

¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Joshua 7:21

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

2 Kings 5:24

And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from their hand, and bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

Matthew 25:18

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

Jeremiah 41:8

But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.