This verse is part of the story in 2 Kings 7 where the Aramean army (Syrians) besieging Samaria suddenly abandoned their camp. Let's break down the meaning of the verse:
"So they came and called to the city gatekeepers": The "they" here refers to the four lepers who initially discovered the abandoned camp. They were outcasts due to their leprosy, and were initially planning to go to the Syrian camp to beg for food or become slaves, but found it empty. They then went back to Samaria to alert the people. The gatekeepers were responsible for security and controlling access to the city.
"and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians...": The lepers are giving their report to the gatekeepers. They are describing what they saw.
"...and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice...": This is the core of the message. The camp was completely deserted. There was no sign of any people at all.
"...but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.": This detail highlights the sudden and unexplained nature of the abandonment. The animals were still tethered, and the tents were left standing, indicating that the Arameans didn't leave in an orderly or planned fashion. They seemed to have fled in a panic, leaving everything behind.
Overall Meaning:
The verse signifies the initial confirmation of the miraculous deliverance from the Aramean siege. The lepers' report to the gatekeepers is the first official word that the enemy army has vanished, leaving behind all their supplies. It sets the stage for the subsequent investigation and the eventual realization that God had intervened to save Samaria. The details provided paint a vivid picture of an army that fled in haste, seemingly terrified, for a reason that will be revealed in the following verses (God caused them to hear the sound of a vast approaching army). This verse marks the turning point in the story from desperate famine to miraculous abundance.
This verse is part of the story in 2 Kings 7 where the Aramean army (Syrians) besieging Samaria suddenly abandoned their camp. Let's break down the meaning of the verse:
"So they came and called to the city gatekeepers": The "they" here refers to the four lepers who initially discovered the abandoned camp. They were outcasts due to their leprosy, and were initially planning to go to the Syrian camp to beg for food or become slaves, but found it empty. They then went back to Samaria to alert the people. The gatekeepers were responsible for security and controlling access to the city.
"and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians...": The lepers are giving their report to the gatekeepers. They are describing what they saw.
"...and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice...": This is the core of the message. The camp was completely deserted. There was no sign of any people at all.
"...but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.": This detail highlights the sudden and unexplained nature of the abandonment. The animals were still tethered, and the tents were left standing, indicating that the Arameans didn't leave in an orderly or planned fashion. They seemed to have fled in a panic, leaving everything behind.
Overall Meaning:
The verse signifies the initial confirmation of the miraculous deliverance from the Aramean siege. The lepers' report to the gatekeepers is the first official word that the enemy army has vanished, leaving behind all their supplies. It sets the stage for the subsequent investigation and the eventual realization that God had intervened to save Samaria. The details provided paint a vivid picture of an army that fled in haste, seemingly terrified, for a reason that will be revealed in the following verses (God caused them to hear the sound of a vast approaching army). This verse marks the turning point in the story from desperate famine to miraculous abundance.