Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The king got up in the night and said to his officers, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide in the countryside, thinking, ‘They will surely come out, and then we will take them alive and get into the city.’” New Living Translation The king got out of bed in the middle of the night and told his officers, “I know what has happened. The Arameans know we are starving, so they have left their camp and have hidden in the fields. They are expecting us to leave the city, and then they will take us alive and capture the city.” English Standard Version And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’” Berean Standard Bible So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’” King James Bible 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. New King James Version So the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “Let me now tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have 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.’ ” New American Standard Bible Then the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and get into the city.’” NASB 1995 Then the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone from the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and get into the city.’” NASB 1977 Then the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone from the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall capture them alive and get into the city.’” Legacy Standard Bible Then the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone from the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and get into the city.’” Amplified Bible Then the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’” Christian Standard Bible So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.’ ” Holman Christian Standard Bible So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.’” American Standard Version And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are 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 take them alive, and get into the city. Contemporary English Version The king got out of bed and said to his officers, "I know what those Syrians are doing. They know we're starving, so they're hiding in the fields, hoping we will go out to look for food. When we do, they can capture us and take over our city." English Revised Version 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 take them alive, and get into the city. GOD'S WORD® Translation So the king got up at night and told his officers what the Arameans had planned for them. He said, "They know we're starving, so they've left the camp to hide in the countryside. They're thinking, 'When they've left the city, we'll capture them alive and get into the city.'" Good News Translation It was still night, but the king got out of bed and said to his officials, "I'll tell you what the Syrians are planning! They know about the famine here, so they have left their camp to go and hide in the countryside. They think that we will leave the city to find food, and then they will take us alive and capture the city." International Standard Version so the king got up in the middle of the night and ordered his servants: "Let me explain what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we're hungry, so they've left their encampment to conceal themselves in the surrounding fields. They're telling themselves, 'When they come out of the city, we'll capture them alive and enter the city!'" Majority Standard Bible So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, ?Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ?When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.?? NET Bible The king got up in the night and said to his advisers, "I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know we are starving, so they left the camp and hid in the field, thinking, 'When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and enter the city.'" New Heart English Bible The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, "I will now show you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are 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 take them alive, and get into the city.'" Webster's Bible Translation And the king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone out of the camp, to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city. World English Bible The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the king rises by night and says to his servants, “Now let me declare to you that which the Arameans have done to us; they have known that we are famished, and they go out from the camp to be hidden in the field, saying, When they come out from the city, then we catch them alive, and we enter into the city.” Young's Literal Translation And the king riseth by night, and saith unto his servants, 'Let me declare, I pray you, to you that which the Aramaeans have done to us; they have known that we are famished, and they are gone out from the camp to be hidden in the field, saying, When they come out from the city, then we catch them alive, and unto the city we enter.' Smith's Literal Translation And the king will rise by night and say to his servants, I will now announce to you what Aram did to us. They knew that we are hungry, and they went forth from the camp to hide in the field, saying, When they shall come forth from the city and we will seize them living, and we will go info the city. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he arose in the night and said to his servants: I tell you what the Syrians have done to us: They know that we suffer great famine, and therefore they are gone out of the camp, and lie hid in the fields, saying: When they come out of the city we shall take them alive, and then we may get into the city. Catholic Public Domain Version And he rose up in the night, and he said to his servants: “I tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are suffering from famine, and therefore they have gone out from the camp, and they lie hidden in the fields, saying: ‘When they will have gone out from the city, we will capture them alive, and then we will be able to enter the city.’ ” New American Bible Though it was night, the king got up; he said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. Knowing that we are starving, they have left their camp to hide in the field. They are thinking, ‘The Israelites will leave the city and we will take them alive and enter it.’ ” New Revised Standard Version The king got up in the night, and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Arameans have prepared against us. They know that we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the king arose in the night and said to his servants, I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall capture them alive and then get into the city. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the King arose in the night and said to his Servants: “I shall show you what the Edomites have done to us: they have known that we are hungry and they went out from the camp to hide in the wilderness, and they said, ‘When they have gone from the city, we will capture them alive and we will enter the city!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants: 'I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are 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 take them alive, and get into the city.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the king rose up by night, and said to his servants, I will now tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They knew that we are hungry; and they have gone forth from the camp and hidden themselves in the field, saying, They will come out of the city, and we shall catch them alive, and go into the city. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Siege Lifted…11The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household. 12So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’” 13But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.”… Cross References 2 Kings 6:25-29 So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. / As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!” / He answered, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?” ... 2 Kings 5:7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!” 2 Kings 6:14-15 the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city. / When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” 2 Kings 6:32-33 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” / While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” 2 Kings 4:42-44 Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. 2 Kings 3:9-10 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals. / “Alas,” said the king of Israel, “for the LORD has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab!” 2 Kings 1:9-15 Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’” / Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. / So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’” ... 1 Kings 20:12-13 Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city. / Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’” 1 Kings 22:6-8 So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” / But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?” / The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied. 1 Samuel 23:7-8 When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” / Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men. 1 Samuel 26:5-7 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him. / And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai. / That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him. 2 Chronicles 20:20-22 Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.” / Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.” / The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. Isaiah 7:2 When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind. Jeremiah 37:9-10 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, ‘The Chaldeans will go away for good,’ for they will not! / Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans that is fighting against you, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.” Matthew 14:26-27 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. / But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Treasury of Scripture And the king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now show 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. Jump to Previous Alive Arameans Camp Catch City Field Hide Hungry Night Servants Show Syrians ThemselvesJump to Next Alive Arameans Camp Catch City Field Hide Hungry Night Servants Show Syrians Themselves2 Kings 7 1. Elisha prophesies incredible plenty in Samaria3. four lepers, venturing on the host of the Syrians, bring tidings of their flight 12. The king, finding by spies the news to be true, spoils the tents of the Syrians. 17. The lord who would not believe the prophecy of plenty is trampled in the press So the king got up in the night and said to his servants The king of Israel at this time is likely Jehoram, son of Ahab. His rising at night indicates urgency and concern, reflecting the dire situation in Samaria due to the Aramean siege. Nighttime meetings suggest secrecy and the need for immediate action. In biblical narratives, night often symbolizes a time of uncertainty or danger, as seen in other instances like Nicodemus visiting Jesus at night (John 3:2). Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us They know we are starving so they have left the camp to hide in the field thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’” Persons / Places / Events 1. The King of IsraelLikely King Jehoram, who was ruling during the time of the Aramean siege of Samaria. He is depicted as cautious and somewhat skeptical of the sudden disappearance of the Aramean army. 2. The Arameans A neighboring nation that had besieged Samaria, causing a severe famine in the city. Their sudden departure from the camp is central to the account. 3. Samaria The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was under siege by the Arameans, leading to extreme famine conditions. 4. The Servants of the King Advisors and attendants to the king, who are involved in the decision-making process regarding the situation with the Arameans. 5. The Open Country The area surrounding Samaria where the Arameans were thought to be hiding, according to the king's suspicion. Teaching Points Skepticism vs. FaithThe king's reaction highlights a natural human tendency to doubt even in the face of potential deliverance. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's provision and timing. Divine Intervention The sudden departure of the Arameans serves as a reminder of God's ability to intervene in seemingly hopeless situations, encouraging believers to remain hopeful. The Danger of Assumptions The king's assumption about the Arameans' strategy warns against making decisions based solely on human reasoning without seeking divine guidance. The Role of Prophecy Elisha's prophecy about the end of the famine underscores the importance of heeding God's word and promises, even when circumstances seem dire. Community and Counsel The king's consultation with his servants illustrates the value of seeking wise counsel and the importance of community in decision-making processes.(12) I will now shew you.--"Suspicax est miseria" (Grotius). Such stratagems as Jehoram suspected are, however, common enough in warfare. To hide themselves in the field.--Both expressions in the Hebrew follow the later modes of inflection. Such forms may be due to transcribers rather than to the original writer. Verse 12. - And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show 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. Jehoram, knowing of no reason for the flight of the Syrians, suspected a not uncommon stratagem. He supposed that the enemy had merely gone a little way from their camp, and placed themselves in ambush, ready to take ad- vantage of any rash movement which the Israelites might make. So Cyrus is said to have entrapped and slaughtered Spargapises, the son of Tomyris, together with a large detachment, in his last war against the Massagetae (Herod., 1:211). His supposition was not unreasonable. Saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city. A double advantage might be expected to follow - those who quitted the town to plunder the camp would be surrounded and made prisoners, while the town itself, left without defenders, would be captured. Compare the capture of Ai by Joshua (Joshua 8:3-19), when the chief part of the garrison had been enticed out of it.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king got up וַיָּ֨קָם (way·yā·qām) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand in the night לַ֗יְלָה (lay·lāh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity and said וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to his servants, עֲבָדָ֔יו (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant “Let me tell אַגִּֽידָה־ (’ag·gî·ḏāh-) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous you לָכֶ֔ם (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew what אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the Arameans אֲרָ֑ם (’ă·rām) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 758: Aram -- Syria have done to us. עָ֥שׂוּ (‘ā·śū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make They know יָדְע֞וּ (yā·ḏə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3045: To know we אֲנַ֗חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū) Pronoun - first person common plural Strong's 587: We are starving, רְעֵבִ֣ים (rə·‘ê·ḇîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 7457: Hungry so they have left וַיֵּצְא֤וּ (way·yê·ṣə·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim the camp הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ (ham·ma·ḥă·neh) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army to hide לְהֵחָבֵ֤ה (lə·hê·ḥā·ḇêh) Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct Strong's 2247: To withdraw, hide in the field, בַשָּׂדֶה֙ (ḇaś·śā·ḏeh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7704: Field, land thinking, לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘When כִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they come out יֵצְא֤וּ (yê·ṣə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim of מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of the city, הָעִיר֙ (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement we will take them וְנִתְפְּשֵׂ֣ם (wə·niṯ·pə·śêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common plural | third person masculine plural Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably alive חַיִּ֔ים (ḥay·yîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life and enter נָבֹֽא׃ (nā·ḇō) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go the city.?? הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement Links 2 Kings 7:12 NIV2 Kings 7:12 NLT 2 Kings 7:12 ESV 2 Kings 7:12 NASB 2 Kings 7:12 KJV 2 Kings 7:12 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 7:12 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 7:12 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 7:12 French Bible 2 Kings 7:12 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 7:12 The king arose in the night (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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