2 Kings 7 7

2 Kings 7:7 kjv

Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

2 Kings 7:7 nkjv

Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact?their tents, their horses, and their donkeys?and they fled for their lives.

2 Kings 7:7 niv

So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.

2 Kings 7:7 esv

So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives.

2 Kings 7:7 nlt

So they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives.

2 Kings 7 verses

2 Kings 7 7 Meaning

The verse describes the sudden, panic-driven flight of the Aramean army, occurring at dusk. Terrified by the divinely orchestrated sound of a great approaching army, they abandoned all their possessions—their tents, their warhorses, their transport donkeys, and their entire camp—in their desperate haste to save their lives.

2 Kings 7 7 Context

This verse is pivotal in the narrative of 2 Kings Chapter 7, following an extreme famine in Samaria due to a prolonged siege by the Aramean army. The city's desperation was so severe that mothers resorted to cannibalism. In this dire situation, the prophet Elisha boldly declared that by the next day, food would be plentiful and cheap at Samaria's gate, a prophecy met with scoffing by a royal officer. The Lord, however, intervened miraculously. He caused the Aramean army to perceive the sound of approaching chariots and horses, the distinct sounds of a massive mercenary force hired by Israel (which they incorrectly attributed to the kings of the Hittites and Egypt). Overwhelmed by this sudden and terrifying auditory illusion, the enemy army's morale collapsed, leading to the frantic flight described in this verse. Their precipitate abandonment of the camp paved the way for Samaria's deliverance and the miraculous fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy.

2 Kings 7 7 Word analysis

• "So they arose" (וַיָּקוּמוּ, vayyāqûmū): Indicates immediate, sudden action. It suggests rising quickly from a position of rest or being stationary, implying the abruptness of their decision to flee due to sudden panic. This wasn't a planned retreat but a spontaneous reaction to perceived threat.
• "and fled" (וַיָּנוּסוּ, vayyānūsū): From the verb נוּס (nūs), meaning "to flee," "to escape," "to take refuge." The verb is used here to emphasize the headlong, urgent, fear-driven nature of their departure. This is not an orderly withdrawal.
• "at twilight" (בַּנֶּשֶׁף, bannep̄eš): Refers to the dim light either just after sunset or just before dawn. Given the context of a sudden panic induced by perceived sounds, dusk (early evening) is the more probable time. This low light would exacerbate their fear by obscuring vision, making unseen threats seem more formidable, and offering a shroud for desperate escape.
• "and left" (וַיַּעַזְבוּ, vayyaʿazvû): From the verb עָזַב (ʿāzav), meaning "to leave," "to forsake," "to abandon." This verb highlights the totality of what they forsook, emphasizing their extreme urgency. They abandoned their entire operational base without a thought of retrieving anything.
• "their tents" (אָהֳלֵיהֶם, ʾāhălêhem): Their personal dwellings and part of their military encampment infrastructure. This signifies abandoning their living quarters and all associated belongings, which speaks to the immediate and comprehensive nature of their flight.
• "and their horses and their donkeys" (סוּסֵיהֶם וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶם, sûsêhem waḥămōrêhem): Represents the entirety of their military and logistical transport. Horses were vital for cavalry and swift movement, donkeys for baggage. Leaving these behind shows unparalleled terror; they didn't even attempt to ride them or pack essential supplies, abandoning their most crucial military assets.
• "and their camp" (מַחֲנֵיהֶם, maḥănehhem): The complete military encampment, encompassing all provisions, weaponry, and equipment. This phrase serves as a summary, underscoring that absolutely nothing was taken with them.
• "just as it was" (כְּמוֹ־הִיא, kemo-hîʾ): Literally "as it was," or "as it [she] was." This adverbial phrase intensifies the preceding "left." It means they left everything in its original state, untouched and undisturbed. This emphasizes the extreme suddenness and terror of their departure, precluding any preparation, gathering of supplies, or even tidying up.
• "and fled for their lives" (וַיָּנוּסוּ עַל־נַפְשָׁם, vayyānūsū ʿal-nap̄šām): A powerful reiteration of their flight. ʿal-nap̄šām literally means "upon their soul/self," meaning "for the sake of their lives" or "at the risk of their lives." This idiom strongly highlights that self-preservation was their sole driving motivation; everything else became utterly irrelevant in comparison. It portrays the apex of their fear and panic.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "So they arose and fled": Depicts the immediate, instinctive reaction to terror. There was no hesitation or discussion, only abrupt, physical flight.
• "at twilight and left their tents... just as it was": This sequence reveals the suddenness and complete abandonment. The low light of twilight facilitated their hasty escape while simultaneously amplifying their fear of an unseen enemy, leading them to leave everything undisturbed—a clear sign of utterly frantic panic rather than an organized retreat.
• "their horses and their donkeys and their camp just as it was": Details the scale of abandonment, from individual possessions (tents implied) to the entire infrastructure of their army. Leaving horses and donkeys, vital for speed and transport in ancient warfare, powerfully conveys the depth of their terror and their complete disregard for military logic in their scramble for survival.
• "and fled for their lives": This phrase functions as a forceful summary and ultimate motivation. It repeats the initial action "fled" to underscore the desperation and emphasizes that their very existence was perceived to be on the line. It captures the psychological climax of the enemy's rout.

2 Kings 7 7 Bonus section

This episode demonstrates that God's power is not confined to conventional warfare but extends to psychological manipulation of the enemy, making them fear shadows and flee without a pursuer. The "great army" sounds likely mimicked a composite force, designed to exploit contemporary fears about mercenary coalitions like Hittite and Egyptian forces. The abundance left behind underscores divine provision, contrasting sharply with the severe famine within Samaria. This highlights God's reversal of fortunes, taking from the rich (Arameans) to give to the poor (Samaritans). It's a vivid illustration of a passive victory for Israel achieved solely by God's action, ensuring that all glory redounds to Him, rather than to human strength or strategy. The divine initiative also prepared the ground for the immediate fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy, demonstrating the immediacy and faithfulness of God's promises.

2 Kings 7 7 Commentary

2 Kings 7:7 encapsulates the profound impact of God's unseen, psychological warfare. Without a single weapon raised by Israel, the Almighty caused a powerful invading army to self-destruct through an illusion of sound, instilling such pervasive terror that they instantly abandoned all military discipline and materiel. The detail "just as it was" is key, emphasizing the completeness and spontaneity of their rout; it was a sheer flight for survival, driven by divine dread. This miraculous act highlights God's sovereignty over armies and His ability to deliver His people even from impossible situations, often using extraordinary and unexpected means. The suddenness and totality of their flight demonstrate that when God acts, human plans and power are rendered futile. This sets the stage for the miraculous end of Samaria's siege and the fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy of abundant food, validating God's Word over human skepticism.