2 Kings 7 15

2 Kings 7:15 kjv

And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.

2 Kings 7:15 nkjv

And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the road was full of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king.

2 Kings 7:15 niv

They followed them as far as the Jordan, and they found the whole road strewn with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown away in their headlong flight. So the messengers returned and reported to the king.

2 Kings 7:15 esv

So they went after them as far as the Jordan, and behold, all the way was littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.

2 Kings 7:15 nlt

They went all the way to the Jordan River, following a trail of clothing and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away in their mad rush to escape. The scouts returned and told the king about it.

2 Kings 7 verses

2 Kings 7 15 Meaning

2 Kings 7:15 describes the factual confirmation of the Aramean army's panicked flight. King Jehoram's messengers, sent to verify the initial report, pursued the retreating forces as far as the Jordan River. Along this entire route, they found a trail of abandoned garments, military equipment, and supplies, which the Syrians had discarded in their terror and haste. This visible evidence unequivocally proved that the siege of Samaria was indeed miraculously lifted, and the Arameans had fled in disarray. The messengers then returned to the king, delivering their decisive report.

2 Kings 7 15 Context

This verse is pivotal within 2 Kings chapter 7. The chapter begins with a severe famine in Samaria, leading to extreme desperation, even cannibalism. The prophet Elisha miraculously prophesies an end to the famine and abundance within a day. A royal officer, filled with doubt, scoffs at the prophecy, to which Elisha declares he will see it but not partake. Four desperate lepers, having nothing to lose, venture to the Aramean camp and find it completely abandoned. The Lord had caused the Syrians to hear sounds of a great army, making them believe Israel had hired formidable foreign forces. They fled in terror, abandoning their supplies. The lepers report this unbelievable news to the city, which is initially met with suspicion of a trap. King Jehoram, acting cautiously, dispatches a scout party (as detailed in verses 13-14) to confirm the lepers' story. Verse 15 recounts this scout party's journey and their discovery of undeniable evidence of the Aramean rout. This direct physical proof authenticates the lepers' testimony and, by extension, Elisha's prophecy, leading to the city's deliverance and the fulfillment of the famine's end.

2 Kings 7 15 Word analysis

• And they went (וַיֵּלְכוּ - vayyelkhu): Hebrew imperfect consecutive form, signifying sequential action. The immediate implication is that the scouts promptly followed the king's instruction.
• after them (אַחֲרֵיהֶם - 'akhareyhem): Implies a pursuit or following the tracks of those who fled. It underscores the path of the fleeing army.
• unto Jordan (עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּן - 'ad-hayyarden): Designates the furthest extent of their search. The Jordan River was a significant geographical boundary, suggesting the Syrians fled far and intended to cross into their own territory or beyond Samaria's direct reach, confirming a complete withdrawal.
• and, lo (וְהִנֵּה - w'hinneh): A particle often translated "behold." It signals surprise, importance, or highlights something remarkable and visible discovered by the scouts. It emphasizes the undeniable physical proof.
• all the way was full (כָל־הַדֶּרֶךְ מְלֵאָה - khol-hadderekh mele'ah): Indicates a continuous and widespread dispersal of abandoned items along the entire route, not just isolated spots. This quantity underscores the panic.
• of garments (בְּגָדִים - b'gadim): Clothes or general coverings. Abandoning these signifies extreme haste, as clothes were valuable and practical items.
• and vessels (וְכֵלִים - v'khelim): Broad term encompassing equipment, tools, utensils, or military gear. This signifies that the Arameans abandoned anything that would hinder their rapid escape, prioritizing speed over possessions.
• which the Syrians (אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁלִיכוּ אֲרַם - asher hishliku 'aram): Clearly identifies the retreating army. "Hishliku" (from שָׁלַךְ - shalach) is a hiphil verb, meaning "they threw away" or "cast off." It denotes intentional, desperate abandonment.
• had cast away (הִשְׁלִיכוּ - hishliku): Highlights the deliberate action born of desperation. This was not merely dropping but actively ridding themselves of encumbrances.
• in their haste (בְחׇפְזָם - b'chofzam): Derived from "chapaz," meaning "to make haste," "to flee in terror," or "to be in a fright." This crucial phrase explains why valuable items were abandoned – sheer panic and a desperate need to escape quickly. It directly attributes the scene to supernatural terror inflicted by God.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "went after them unto Jordan": Describes a deliberate, investigative pursuit over a significant distance, indicating the thoroughness of the royal scouts' mission to confirm the extraordinary claims. The Jordan marks the extent of their complete withdrawal.
• "all the way was full of garments and vessels": This phrase paints a vivid picture of the scale of the Aramean retreat. It conveys complete disarray, emphasizing the overwhelming amount of material evidence left behind, confirming the swift and panicked nature of their flight.
• "which the Syrians had cast away in their haste": This group clarifies the motivation and the agent of the chaos. The Syrians (Aram) discarded their possessions not strategically, but out of pure terror and a desperate race to flee, making their rout undeniably linked to supernatural intervention. This visual proof contrasts starkly with any notion of a calculated retreat.
• "The messengers returned, and told the king": Highlights the completion of their vital mission, signifying the full verification of the lepers' story. The returning report brings authoritative confirmation, moving the narrative from uncertainty to undeniable fact, paving the way for Israel's next steps.

2 Kings 7 15 Bonus section

• Visual Proof's Importance: This verse underscores the necessity of empirical verification, even for miraculous events, to persuade skeptics. While God's power doesn't need human confirmation, the narrative includes it to highlight His undeniable presence and dispel doubt, making the subsequent rejoicing and re-entry into the camp fully justified.
• Divine vs. Human Agency: The detailed trail of abandonment vividly contrasts human powerlessness (Aram's flight) with divine power (God's audible confusion). The Arameans were a dominant military force, yet their retreat was total, proving that no earthly army can withstand God's decree.
• Fulfillment of Prophecy's Details: Elisha's prophecy (2 Kgs 7:1) stated not just deliverance, but "abundance." The discovery of abandoned goods (especially food and supplies in the full camp later plundered) directly fulfills this, indicating a supply far beyond mere survival for Samaria.
• The Scout Party as an Act of Faith: Though cautious, sending the scout party was an act that acknowledged the possibility of the miracle, opening the door for its full acceptance. Had the king not sought to verify, the people might have remained in their city to starve.

2 Kings 7 15 Commentary

2 Kings 7:15 is the lynchpin for Samaria's deliverance, shifting the narrative from prophecy and incredible reports to verifiable fact. The detailed account of abandoned goods extending all the way to the Jordan River served as irrefutable proof to King Jehoram and his advisors. The king, initially cautious and prone to suspicion, demanded tangible evidence (2 Kgs 7:13). The sight of abandoned garments, military equipment, and general "vessels" spoke volumes: no army simply walks away from such possessions unless driven by profound, uncontrollable fear. The specific mention of their "haste" (חׇפְזָם) highlights the complete disorganization and terror that compelled them to discard anything slowing their flight. This confirms the divine cause of their flight—God had caused them to hear a noise, producing such an overwhelming sense of dread that they perceived an overwhelming force attacking them (2 Kgs 7:6-7). This entire scene is a powerful demonstration of YHWH's sovereign control over nations and His capacity to deliver His people, even when they are at their weakest and most faithless. It utterly humiliated Aram, showing that even a formidable enemy's power dissolves before God's invisible hand, securing Samaria's unexpected salvation and a dramatic reversal of fortunes.