2 Kings 7:14 kjv
They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
2 Kings 7:14 nkjv
Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them in the direction of the Syrian army, saying, "Go and see."
2 Kings 7:14 niv
So they selected two chariots with their horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army. He commanded the drivers, "Go and find out what has happened."
2 Kings 7:14 esv
So they took two horsemen, and the king sent them after the army of the Syrians, saying, "Go and see."
2 Kings 7:14 nlt
So two chariots with horses were prepared, and the king sent scouts to see what had happened to the Aramean army.
2 Kings 7 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 7:1 | Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the LORD: Tomorrow... a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel..." | Prophetic word confirmed |
| 2 Ki 7:5 | ...when they came to the edge of the camp of Aram, behold, there was no one there. | Discovery of the empty camp |
| 2 Ki 7:6 | For the Lord had made the host of the Arameans hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses... | Divine intervention in battle |
| 2 Ki 7:16 | So the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans... | Fulfillment of the promise |
| Num 13:17-20 | Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them... 'See what the land is, and whether the people...' | Sending out scouts for intelligence |
| Josh 2:1 | Joshua... sent two men from Shittim as spies, saying, 'Go, view the land...' | Reconnaissance mission |
| Judg 18:2 | The Danites sent five mighty men... from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it... | Exploratory mission |
| 1 Sam 14:48 | Saul fought against all his enemies on every side... and he saved Israel from the hand of those who plundered them. | God delivers Israel through battle |
| Deut 2:25 | This day I will begin to put dread and fear of you on the peoples... | God causing fear among enemies |
| Josh 2:9 | "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen on us..." | Acknowledgment of divine dread |
| 1 Sam 14:15 | ...a panic from God fell on the camp and on the field... | God inducing panic in an army |
| Ps 14:5 | There they are, in great dread, for God is with the generation of the righteous. | Divine presence causes dread |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. | Importance of wise counsel |
| Prov 15:22 | Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. | Wise counsel for successful plans |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God... | Imperative to verify claims |
| Prov 18:13 | If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. | Importance of full understanding before action |
| Heb 11:1 | Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | Faith versus king's initial doubt |
| 2 Cor 5:7 | For we walk by faith, not by sight. | Contrast to king's need for physical sight |
| Jn 20:29 | Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." | Need for physical verification vs. belief |
| Rom 4:18-21 | In hope he believed against hope... no unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God... | Abraham's unwavering faith |
| Isa 55:10-11 | "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth..." | God's word unfailingly accomplishes |
| Matt 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | Reliability of God's prophetic word |
2 Kings 7 verses
2 Kings 7 14 Meaning
King Joram of Israel, convinced by a discerning servant, deploys a small, elite contingent of two chariot-mounted horses to cautiously investigate the extraordinary claim that the Aramean army, besieging Samaria, has unexpectedly fled. This verse details the king’s prudent step to verify the incredible news before announcing general relief to his starving city.
2 Kings 7 14 Context
Chapter 7 of 2 Kings opens with Samaria suffering a devastating siege by the Aramean army, leading to extreme famine where people resort to cannibalism. Prophet Elisha foretells miraculous deliverance and abundance by the next day. The king's servant, skeptical of Elisha's prophecy, will ironically die before witnessing it. Four lepers, desperate from starvation, decide to surrender to the Arameans, only to find the entire enemy camp abandoned, caused by the Lord creating the sound of chariots and horses that terrified the Arameans into fleeing. The lepers then bring this astonishing news to the city, but the king, Joram, remains deeply skeptical, suspecting an Aramean trap to lure his starving people out. It is in this atmosphere of profound disbelief and extreme caution that a servant proposes a pragmatic course of action: to send scouts on two fast horses to verify the lepers’ account, setting the stage for verse 14's command. This moment reflects the tension between prophetic promise and human prudence, and the king’s gradual shift from despair to cautious investigation.
2 Kings 7 14 Word analysis
- They took therefore: Refers to the king and his court, specifically acting upon the advice given in 2 Ki 7:13. "Therefore" (וַיִּקְחוּ֙, wayyiqḥū) indicates a logical consequence or a decisive action following a suggestion, marking a shift from paralysis to a cautious, reasoned response by the king.
- two: This number is significant, as two witnesses often validate an account (Deut 19:15; Matt 18:16). It provides enough confirmation without risking too many vital resources in a potentially dangerous situation. It also indicates a prudent, not reckless, deployment.
- chariot horses: The Hebrew words are סוּסִים רֶכֶב (sûsîm reḵev), meaning literally "horses of chariots" or "chariot-suitable horses." These were not ordinary horses but strong, swift, and highly valued animals, specifically used for pulling military chariots. Their use highlights the urgency and the king’s need for fast and reliable reconnaissance to cover ground quickly and safely. It implies a critical resource dedicated to this vital task.
- and the king sent: "The king" is Joram of Israel. The verb "sent" (וַיִּשְׁלַח, wayyišlaḥ) is a command from a position of authority, reflecting his decision to move beyond sheer skepticism to investigative action, however cautious. This signifies a return to active leadership from his previous despair.
- after the host: "Host" (מַחֲנֵה, maḥăneh) refers to the military camp or the entire army of the Arameans (Syrians). "After" (אַחַר, ’aḥar) indicates that the scouts were sent in pursuit, following the path the fleeing army would have taken to confirm their retreat.
- of the Arameans: (הָאֲרַמִּֽים, hā’ărāmîm). This specifies the enemy nation, Aram or Syria, who had besieged Samaria, emphasizing the profound and long-standing rivalry and the dramatic reversal of circumstances.
- saying, ‘Go and see.’: A terse, direct command (lēḵû ûre’û - "go and see"). This succinctly states the scouts’ precise mission: to physically ascertain the truth of the lepers' report. "See" (רְאוּ, re’ū) implies a thorough observation and verification of the situation. This immediate instruction emphasizes the urgency and criticality of the reconnaissance.
- "They took therefore two chariot horses": This phrase highlights a carefully calculated deployment of precious, high-value military assets. In a city plagued by famine, these horses represent vital resources, indicating the king's serious, albeit cautious, commitment to verifying the extraordinary report rather than dismissing it outright.
- "and the king sent after the host of the Arameans": This signifies the king’s shift from passive despair and suspicion (as seen in 2 Ki 7:12) to proactive leadership, albeit tempered with prudence. He does not send his entire army, which would be suicidal if it were a trap, but a minimal force for intelligence gathering.
- "saying, 'Go and see.'": This succinct directive encapsulates the entire purpose of the mission. It emphasizes verification and physical evidence as the basis for a monumental decision, reflecting human need for empirical confirmation even when confronted with a prophet's word and seemingly miraculous circumstances. It's a pragmatic approach to an unbelievable situation.
2 Kings 7 14 Bonus section
This verse subtly showcases the wisdom of seeking counsel, as the king finally listens to the unidentified servant (2 Ki 7:13). It also highlights the principle of strategic caution in leadership; even when God acts powerfully, human leaders still bear the responsibility of prudent investigation and action. The reliance on swift "chariot horses" underlines that speed and effectiveness were paramount in determining the truth of the Aramean flight, signifying that the success of the reconnaissance mission depended on utilizing the best available resources for rapid intelligence gathering. This episode beautifully illustrates the interplay of God’s sovereign work (the flight of the Arameans) and human responsibility (the king’s verification).
2 Kings 7 14 Commentary
2 Kings 7:14 serves as a pivotal point, transitioning from desperate speculation to concrete action driven by human prudence in response to an astounding claim. Despite Elisha’s prior prophecy of imminent deliverance and the lepers’ eyewitness account, the king's extreme skepticism and fear of a tactical trap illustrate the human difficulty in fully embracing God's word when circumstances appear contradictory. The king's command to send two swift chariot horses, crucial assets in a time of famine, highlights the gravity of the mission. This wasn't a desperate gamble but a tactical, measured reconnaissance, ensuring confirmation before jeopardizing his people further. It underscores a wise leader’s responsibility to verify information, especially during a crisis. While God had already supernaturally cleared the way, the human act of sending scouts fulfilled the need for confirmation, allowing the king and his people to safely appropriate the divine provision that followed. This verse subtly contrasts divine omnipotence with human wisdom and the practical steps taken even after miraculous events unfold.