2 Kings 7 11

2 Kings 7:11 kjv

And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.

2 Kings 7:11 nkjv

And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king's household inside.

2 Kings 7:11 niv

The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace.

2 Kings 7:11 esv

Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's household.

2 Kings 7:11 nlt

Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace.

2 Kings 7 verses

2 Kings 7 11 Meaning

2 Kings 7:11 describes the pivotal moment when the news of God's miraculous deliverance reached the highest authority in Samaria. Following the discovery by the four lepers outside the city gate, the gatekeepers immediately acted, bringing this crucial message of the Arameans' flight and abandoned supplies directly to the king's household. This verse signifies the critical bridge between the divine intervention happening outside and the human despair experienced within the besieged city, initiating the end of the devastating famine.

2 Kings 7 11 Context

2 Kings chapter 7 opens with the city of Samaria under a brutal siege by the Aramean army, leading to extreme famine where people resort to cannibalism (2 Kgs 6:24-29). Amidst this desperation, the prophet Elisha boldly proclaims that within twenty-four hours, food would be plentiful and cheap at the city gate (2 Kgs 7:1). A high-ranking officer scoffs at Elisha's prophecy, doubting how such a miracle could occur (2 Kgs 7:2). The scene then shifts to four lepers outside the city gate, excluded from the community due to their condition. Faced with starvation, they decide to surrender to the Arameans, hoping for survival (2 Kgs 7:3-4). However, upon reaching the enemy camp, they find it deserted; the Lord had miraculously caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses, prompting them to flee in terror, leaving all their provisions behind (2 Kgs 7:5-7). The lepers, after plundering the camp, realize their responsibility to share the good news with the starving city (2 Kgs 7:8-9). Verse 10 depicts the lepers reporting their discovery to the gatekeepers. Verse 11, then, shows the immediate, crucial action taken by these gatekeepers to convey this astonishing news to the king's royal household, thereby setting in motion the city's deliverance.

Word Analysis

• Then: This word signifies immediate consequence and temporal succession. It underscores the swiftness of the gatekeepers' action, indicating they did not delay upon hearing the astounding news from the lepers.
• the gatekeepers: The Hebrew word is sho'arim (שֹׁעֲרִים). These were official guards stationed at the city gates, a place of significant activity where people entered and exited, where commerce took place, and where elders and judges often sat (e.g., Ruth 4:1). They were generally lower-ranking officials but were strategically placed as the first line of defense and communication. Their role here highlights that crucial information, even life-saving news, often enters a community through unexpected or humble channels.
• went: Denotes purposeful movement. The gatekeepers took the initiative to personally deliver the news rather than simply shouting it from their posts or waiting for someone else to act. This conveys a sense of urgency and responsibility.
• and called: The Hebrew term is vayyiqre'u (וַיִּקְרְאוּ), which implies calling out or shouting, suggesting they proclaimed the news with volume and urgency, ensuring it would be heard within the royal residence. This contrasts with a casual relay of information, indicating the gravity and magnitude of their discovery.
• to the king’s household: The Hebrew phrase is leveit hammelekh (לְבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ). This refers to the royal palace or the administrative center where the king and his closest advisors resided. It indicates that the critical information was conveyed directly to the seat of authority and power. This immediate notification of the king underscores the extreme nature of the siege and famine, as such news had to be verified and acted upon by the highest command. It's the bringing of outer reality (divine intervention, enemy flight) to the inner seat of human government and despair.
• within: This simple word emphasizes the physical barrier between the external reality (the deserted Aramean camp with abundant provisions) and the internal reality of the starving city. The gatekeepers, being inside the gates, are reporting from within the besieged confines, directing their urgent message further into the core of the city where the king resided. This highlights the process of information permeating the desperate, walled-off community.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "the gatekeepers went and called": This phrase encapsulates the decisive action of those responsible for public safety and order at the city's threshold. They recognized the extraordinary nature of the lepers' report and acted immediately to escalate it to the proper authorities. Their promptness is key to the subsequent rapid turnaround for Samaria.
  • "to the king’s household within": This phrase pinpoints the specific target audience for the news. It’s not just a general announcement to the public but a direct communication to the governmental core. The mention of "within" visually represents the confined, suffering state of the city and the critical need for this life-changing news to breach its internal barriers. It also subtly introduces the idea that even the king, shielded "within" his palace, was directly affected by the external events and the widespread despair.

2 Kings 7 11 Bonus section

• Significance of the City Gate: In ancient Israel, city gates were more than just defensive structures. They were administrative centers where judicial rulings were made, commercial transactions occurred, and public announcements were made. This reinforces why the gatekeepers were the appropriate and first point of contact for such news from outside, and why they immediately understood its implications for the "household" that administered the city.
• Chain of Revelation: The entire narrative of 2 Kings 7 illustrates a remarkable chain of revelation and action: God’s promise through Elisha (v.1) -> God’s providential terror on the Arameans (v.6) -> the lepers’ discovery (v.8) -> the lepers’ conviction to share (v.9) -> their report to the gatekeepers (v.10) -> the gatekeepers' action to inform the king's household (v.11). Each step was necessary for the full fulfillment of the prophecy.
• Contrast of Power and Poverty: The account emphasizes the contrast between the absolute power and despair of King Joram's court within the city and the lowly status of the lepers and gatekeepers outside. Yet, it is through these humble, even marginalized, individuals that the city's salvation is set in motion. This resonates with the recurring biblical theme of God choosing the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the wise and mighty (1 Cor 1:27-29).

2 Kings 7 11 Commentary

2 Kings 7:11 functions as the critical link in the unfolding of God's miraculous deliverance. After the unexpected discovery by the four outcast lepers, the news reached the gatekeepers—individuals whose low status contrasted sharply with the profound importance of the information they now held. Their swift and direct action in "calling to the king's household" signifies the commencement of relief for the starving city. This verse underlines divine providence using human instruments, no matter how humble or initially peripheral to the city's official structures. It's a reminder that God’s plan of salvation often starts at the margins and requires communication and response to fully impact the heart of the crisis. The news moved from the outcasts (lepers), to the border keepers (gatekeepers), to the highest authority (king), demonstrating God's meticulous and effective orchestrating of events to fulfill His word and bring unexpected abundance.