2 kings 7:13 - One of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let us send and see.”
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What does "2 kings 7:13" mean?
This verse is a critical point in the story of 2 Kings 7, where the city of Samaria is under siege and facing severe famine. Let's break down the meaning:
Context: Samaria is surrounded by the Aramean army, and the food supply is completely cut off. People are starving, and there's a desperate sense of hopelessness.
"One of his servants answered..." The "his" refers to the king of Israel. The servant is offering a suggestion or expressing a concern to the king.
"Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city..." This is a practical suggestion. Even the horses are starving, but the servant believes there are still a few left.
"...Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it..." This is the key to understanding the verse. The servant points out that the remaining horses are in the same desperate situation as the people of Samaria. They are weakened and depleted.
"...Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed." This is the most poignant part. The servant is saying that those remaining in the city are either already dead (consumed) or are in the process of dying of starvation, just like all the other starving people who have already perished. The horses are in the same boat – a living example of the city's desperate state.
"Let us send and see." The servant's proposal is to send the remaining horses with a small group of people on a reconnaissance mission to the Aramean camp. The hope is to find out if the Arameans have abandoned the siege, even though it seems unlikely. Given the severity of the famine, even a slim chance is worth taking.
In essence, the verse means:
The king's servant recognizes the desperation of the situation. He suggests a risky reconnaissance mission using the few remaining horses, acknowledging that the horses (and the people who might go with them) are as good as dead anyway, given the famine ravaging the city. It's a gamble born of desperation, a last-ditch effort to find any hope of deliverance. The horses are symbolic of the remaining strength and hope of the city, which is rapidly dwindling.
The servant is suggesting a last-ditch effort to see if the Arameans have given up, because even if the people sent to check don't survive, it's better than passively waiting to starve to death. He is saying that the remaining horses represent the remaining people in the city, who are all facing certain death. This sets the stage for the miraculous discovery that the Aramean army has indeed fled, abandoning their supplies and bringing deliverance to Samaria.
2 kings 7:13 - One of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let us send and see.”
What does "2 kings 7:13" mean?
This verse is a critical point in the story of 2 Kings 7, where the city of Samaria is under siege and facing severe famine. Let's break down the meaning:
Context: Samaria is surrounded by the Aramean army, and the food supply is completely cut off. People are starving, and there's a desperate sense of hopelessness.
"One of his servants answered..." The "his" refers to the king of Israel. The servant is offering a suggestion or expressing a concern to the king.
"Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city..." This is a practical suggestion. Even the horses are starving, but the servant believes there are still a few left.
"...Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it..." This is the key to understanding the verse. The servant points out that the remaining horses are in the same desperate situation as the people of Samaria. They are weakened and depleted.
"...Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed." This is the most poignant part. The servant is saying that those remaining in the city are either already dead (consumed) or are in the process of dying of starvation, just like all the other starving people who have already perished. The horses are in the same boat – a living example of the city's desperate state.
"Let us send and see." The servant's proposal is to send the remaining horses with a small group of people on a reconnaissance mission to the Aramean camp. The hope is to find out if the Arameans have abandoned the siege, even though it seems unlikely. Given the severity of the famine, even a slim chance is worth taking.
In essence, the verse means:
The king's servant recognizes the desperation of the situation. He suggests a risky reconnaissance mission using the few remaining horses, acknowledging that the horses (and the people who might go with them) are as good as dead anyway, given the famine ravaging the city. It's a gamble born of desperation, a last-ditch effort to find any hope of deliverance. The horses are symbolic of the remaining strength and hope of the city, which is rapidly dwindling.
The servant is suggesting a last-ditch effort to see if the Arameans have given up, because even if the people sent to check don't survive, it's better than passively waiting to starve to death. He is saying that the remaining horses represent the remaining people in the city, who are all facing certain death. This sets the stage for the miraculous discovery that the Aramean army has indeed fled, abandoning their supplies and bringing deliverance to Samaria.