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2 Kings 7:3

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¶ And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

And there were four {H702} leprous {H6879} men {H582} at the entering in {H6607} of the gate {H8179}: and they said {H559} one {H376} to another {H7453}, Why sit {H3427} we here until we die {H4191}?

Now there were four men with tzara'at at the entrance to the city gate, and they said to each other, "Why should we sit here till we die?

Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die?

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

Commentary

2 Kings 7:3 introduces four individuals in a profoundly desperate situation, setting the stage for one of the Bible's most remarkable stories of unexpected deliverance. These men, afflicted with leprosy, found themselves in an unenviable position outside the gate of Samaria during a severe siege.

Context of 2 Kings 7:3

At this time, the city of Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, was under a brutal siege by the Syrian army, led by King Ben-hadad. The siege had led to a catastrophic famine, with prices for food soaring to unimaginable levels, and even acts of cannibalism occurring within the city walls (2 Kings 6:25). The four leprous men were already outcasts, forced to live outside the city due to the laws concerning ceremonial uncleanness (Leviticus 13:45-46). They were caught between a starving city and a hostile army, facing certain death whether they stayed put or tried to enter Samaria.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Desperation as a Catalyst: The verse vividly portrays extreme desperation. The men's question, "Why sit we here until we die?", encapsulates their realization that their current passive state guarantees death. This hopelessness becomes the catalyst for action.
  • The Choice for Action Over Passivity: Despite their physical infirmity and social isolation, these men choose to take a terrifying risk rather than succumb to their fate. Their decision highlights the human spirit's capacity to seek survival even when odds are stacked against it.
  • God's Use of the Unlikely: This verse foreshadows God's incredible plan to use these marginalized individuals to bring about a miraculous deliverance for an entire nation. Their desperate act of self-preservation unwittingly aligns with God's sovereign will to break the siege and end the famine.

Linguistic Insights

The term "leprous men" refers to individuals suffering from tsara'ath (צָרַעַת), a broad Hebrew term for various severe skin conditions, not exclusively modern Hansen's disease. These conditions rendered individuals ritually unclean and required them to live apart from the community, emphasizing their profound isolation and vulnerability in this crisis.

Practical Application

The story of the four lepers offers a powerful lesson for believers today. When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges or moments of despair, this verse prompts us to consider if passive waiting is truly the only option. It encourages us to:

  • Question Inaction: Like the lepers, we should critically evaluate situations where inaction leads to certain negative outcomes.
  • Embrace Calculated Risk: Sometimes, a bold step, even if it carries risk, is necessary to move beyond a stagnant or hopeless situation. This is not recklessness, but a decision to act when all other avenues seem closed.
  • Trust in Divine Providence: The lepers' desperate move ultimately became the means through which God brought about salvation for Samaria. This reminds us that God can use the most unlikely people and circumstances to accomplish His purposes, often turning our desperate ventures into divine opportunities. Their story is a powerful testament to how God's plans for hope and a future can unfold in unexpected ways.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Leviticus 13:45 (7 votes)

    And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

  • Leviticus 13:46 (7 votes)

    All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be].

  • Numbers 5:2 (5 votes)

    Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:

  • Numbers 5:4 (5 votes)

    And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 7:4 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Numbers 12:14 (3 votes)

    And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in [again].

  • Jeremiah 27:13 (2 votes)

    Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?