2 Kings 7 5

2 Kings 7:5 kjv

And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

2 Kings 7:5 nkjv

And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there.

2 Kings 7:5 niv

At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there,

2 Kings 7:5 esv

So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there.

2 Kings 7:5 nlt

So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there!

2 Kings 7 verses

2 Kings 7 5 Meaning

2 Kings 7:5 describes the decisive action taken by four lepers who, at the critical moment of twilight, rose to go to the camp of the Arameans. Their desperation led them to seek sustenance from the enemy. Upon reaching the very edge of the enemy encampment, they discovered it was completely deserted, revealing God's miraculous intervention on behalf of besieged Samaria.

2 Kings 7 5 Context

The verse occurs during the severe siege of Samaria by the Aramean army under Ben-hadad, king of Aram (Syria), described in 2 Kings 6:24 onwards. The famine inside the city was so dire that people resorted to cannibalism (2 Kgs 6:26-29). Amidst this despair, the prophet Elisha had miraculously declared that within 24 hours, food would be plentiful and cheap at the gate of Samaria (2 Kgs 7:1). Just outside the city gates, four men with leprosy, desperate and condemned to starvation or death if they stayed, decided to take a desperate risk by going to the Aramean camp. This verse marks the crucial moment they embark on that venture, an act born out of extreme necessity that God would use to fulfill Elisha's prophecy and deliver the city. Historically, prolonged sieges were common tactics in ancient warfare, aimed at starving out the inhabitants, and the suffering described here accurately reflects the horrors of such events.

2 Kings 7 5 Word analysis

• So they arose: Hebrew wayyaqûmû (וַיָּקֻמוּ) - from the root qum (קוּם), meaning "to rise," "to stand up," "to arise." This indicates a deliberate act, a decision to move from their stagnant, hopeless state. It's a verb of initiative and action.
• at twilight: Hebrew ba-nesheph (בַּנֶּשֶׁף) - referring to the dusk or evening twilight, the transition between day and night, specifically when it is beginning to get dark. This timing is strategic: it offers a measure of concealment for the lepers (who might otherwise be spotted and killed by either side) and foreshadows God's activity which often unfolds in moments of human helplessness or transition, or unexpected timing (Isa 17:14). It represents a liminal space—not completely dark, not yet full light.
• to go to the camp of the Arameans: The objective, clear and dire. Facing the enemy, the source of their suffering, becomes their only hope for survival. This is a journey of extreme desperation and risk, a surrender to an enemy as a potential deliverer.
• But when they came to the edge: Hebrew vayyavō'û 'ad-qetsēh (וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד-קְצֵה) - qetsēh means "extremity," "end," "edge." This implies they reached the very periphery or boundary of the camp. They didn't even have to enter deep into the camp before their discovery. It highlights the immediate and obvious nature of what they found.
• of the camp of the Arameans: Again, specific identification of the place.
• there was no one there: Hebrew 'ên-'îsh shām (אֵין־אִישׁ שָׁם) - a stark, absolute declaration of emptiness. The immediate discovery upon arrival underscores the divine nature of the event. It was not a partial or scattered retreat, but a complete absence of anyone. This points directly to the supernatural fear (2 Kgs 7:6) God put on the Aramean army.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "So they arose at twilight": This phrase encapsulates a moment of profound courage born out of extreme desperation. It's an act of breaking free from inaction and embracing a high-stakes decision, at a time of day that offers both protection and potential peril. It symbolizes taking a step forward when all options seem exhausted, often leading to divine intervention.
• "to go to the camp of the Arameans": This signifies facing their greatest threat directly in search of their greatest need. It is a decision that, on human terms, was fraught with extreme danger and offered slim hope, yet became the path to deliverance for the entire city.
• "But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Arameans, there was no one there": This climactic phrase presents a complete reversal of expectations. Instead of confrontation, capture, or death, they find emptiness and abundance. It is the immediate, astonishing fulfillment of God's intervention, making plain that a supernatural power, not human strategy, had cleared the way.

2 Kings 7 5 Bonus section

The account of the four lepers serves as a powerful allegory. They represent those cast out or without hope, yet they become the unlikely bearers of good news for an entire city facing death. This prefigures how God often uses the "foolish" or "despised" of the world (1 Cor 1:27-29) to confound the wise and mighty. The act of going to the Aramean camp, fearing death either way (starvation in Samaria or execution by Arameans), shows a critical theological point: sometimes, to find God's provision or deliverance, one must step out into what appears to be the most dangerous place. Their choice reflected a "nothing to lose" attitude that surprisingly led to everything gained, not just for themselves but for all Samaria. This story highlights the immediate and pervasive impact of God's terror (mentioned in the subsequent verse, 2 Kgs 7:6) upon the Arameans, causing their instantaneous and disorderly flight without human conflict.

2 Kings 7 5 Commentary

2 Kings 7:5 captures the pivotal moment where the desperate action of four marginalized lepers unleashes God's incredible deliverance. Starvation drove them to undertake a risky venture: seeking food from the enemy. Their choice, born not of faith but utter despair, inadvertently positioned them to be the first witnesses of God's powerful intervention. The mention of "twilight" suggests a moment of transition and obscurity, often when God acts in unseen ways (Isa 45:7). The startling discovery of an empty camp underscores the immediate and total nature of God's miraculous work. This verse illustrates how God can use the most unlikely and despised individuals (the lepers, outcasts under Mosaic Law, Lev 13) and the most desperate of circumstances to fulfill His word and bring about a powerful, overwhelming salvation that astounds human comprehension. It's a testament to divine reversal, turning imminent death into abundant provision.