This verse, 2 Kings 7:4, expresses the desperate and pragmatic reasoning of the four lepers outside the gate of Samaria, which is under siege by the Syrian army and suffering from a severe famine. Let's break down the meaning:
"If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there." This acknowledges the dire situation within the besieged city of Samaria. Because of the siege, the food supply has run out, and a devastating famine is raging. If the lepers were to go into the city seeking help, they would only face starvation and certain death.
"If we sit still here, we also die." Remaining where they are, outside the city gate, is equally hopeless. Without food or resources, they will simply waste away and die of exposure or hunger.
"Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians." This is the conclusion the lepers reach after considering their bleak options. They decide to take a risk and approach the enemy, the Syrian army, with the intention of surrendering.
"If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.” This explains the logic behind their decision. They realize that surrendering to the Syrians, there are two possible outcomes:
The Syrians might have mercy on them and spare their lives, in which case they would survive.
The Syrians might kill them, in which case they would die, but they argue that this is no worse than the inevitable death they face if they stay where they are or try to enter the city.
In essence, the verse shows the lepers' desperation and the difficult choice they face. They are choosing between a certain death and a chance, however slim, of survival. It's a risk based on the calculation that any possibility of life is better than certain death.
In the broader context of the story, this verse sets the stage for a miraculous event. God uses the lepers' desperate gamble to bring about a miraculous deliverance for the people of Samaria. The lepers find the Syrian camp deserted, and the abundance of food and supplies left behind ends the famine in Samaria. This demonstrates God's power and his ability to use even the most unlikely individuals and circumstances to achieve his purposes.
This verse, 2 Kings 7:4, expresses the desperate and pragmatic reasoning of the four lepers outside the gate of Samaria, which is under siege by the Syrian army and suffering from a severe famine. Let's break down the meaning:
"If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there." This acknowledges the dire situation within the besieged city of Samaria. Because of the siege, the food supply has run out, and a devastating famine is raging. If the lepers were to go into the city seeking help, they would only face starvation and certain death.
"If we sit still here, we also die." Remaining where they are, outside the city gate, is equally hopeless. Without food or resources, they will simply waste away and die of exposure or hunger.
"Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians." This is the conclusion the lepers reach after considering their bleak options. They decide to take a risk and approach the enemy, the Syrian army, with the intention of surrendering.
"If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.” This explains the logic behind their decision. They realize that surrendering to the Syrians, there are two possible outcomes:
The Syrians might have mercy on them and spare their lives, in which case they would survive.
The Syrians might kill them, in which case they would die, but they argue that this is no worse than the inevitable death they face if they stay where they are or try to enter the city.
In essence, the verse shows the lepers' desperation and the difficult choice they face. They are choosing between a certain death and a chance, however slim, of survival. It's a risk based on the calculation that any possibility of life is better than certain death.
In the broader context of the story, this verse sets the stage for a miraculous event. God uses the lepers' desperate gamble to bring about a miraculous deliverance for the people of Samaria. The lepers find the Syrian camp deserted, and the abundance of food and supplies left behind ends the famine in Samaria. This demonstrates God's power and his ability to use even the most unlikely individuals and circumstances to achieve his purposes.