2 Kings 7:13
New International Version
One of his officers answered, “Have some men take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their plight will be like that of all the Israelites left here—yes, they will only be like all these Israelites who are doomed. So let us send them to find out what happened.”

New Living Translation
One of his officers replied, “We had better send out scouts to check into this. Let them take five of the remaining horses. If something happens to them, it will be no worse than if they stay here and die with the rest of us.”

English Standard Version
And one of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.”

Berean Standard Bible
But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.”

King James Bible
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

New King James Version
And one of his servants answered and said, “Please, let several men take five of the remaining horses which are left in the city. Look, they may either become like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; or indeed, I say, they may become like all the multitude of Israel left from those who are consumed; so let us send them and see.”

New American Standard Bible
One of his servants responded and said, “Please, have some men take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they will be like all the multitude of Israel who have already perished, so let us send them and see.”

NASB 1995
One of his servants said, “Please, let some men take five of the horses which remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who have already perished, so let us send and see.”

NASB 1977
And one of his servants answered and said, “Please, let some men take five of the horses which remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who have already perished, so let us send and see.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And one of his servants answered and said, “Please, let some men take five of the remaining horses, which remain in the city. Behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who remain in it; behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who have already come to an end, so let us send and see.”

Amplified Bible
One of his servants replied, “Please let some men take five of the horses which remain inside the city. Consider this: [if they are caught then at worst] they will be like all the people of Israel who are left in the city; [even if they are killed then] they will be like all the people of Israel who have already died. So let us send [them] and see [what happens].”

Christian Standard Bible
But one of his servants responded, “Please, let messengers take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their fate is like the entire Israelite community who will die, so let’s send them and see.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But one of his servants responded, “Please, let messengers take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their fate is like the entire Israelite community who will die, so let’s send them and see.”

American Standard Version
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are consumed); and let us send and see.

Contemporary English Version
One of his officers replied, "We have a few horses left--why don't we let some men take five of them and go to the Syrian camp and see what's happening? We're going to die anyway like those who have already died."

English Revised Version
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One of his officers replied, "Please let some men take five of the horses that are left here. Those men will be no worse off than the rest of the Israelites who are dying. Let's send them to take a look."

Good News Translation
One of his officials said, "The people here in the city are doomed anyway, like those that have already died. So let's send some men with five of the horses that are left, so that we can find out what has happened."

International Standard Version
One of his attendants suggested, "Please, let's take five of the remaining horses, since those who remain here will end up like the rest of Israel, which has already died, and we'll send them out to look."

Majority Standard Bible
But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.”

NET Bible
One of his advisers replied, "Pick some men and have them take five of the horses that are left in the city. (Even if they are killed, their fate will be no different than that of all the Israelite people--we're all going to die!) Let's send them out so we can know for sure what's going on."

New Heart English Bible
And one of his servants answered, "Please let some take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Look, they are like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see."

Webster's Bible Translation
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

World English Bible
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’s send and see.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And one of his servants answers and says, “Then please let them take five of the horses that are left, that have been left in it—behold, they [are] as all the multitude of Israel who have been left in it; behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel who have been consumed—and we send and see.”

Young's Literal Translation
And one of his servants answereth and saith, 'Then let them take, I pray thee, five of the horses that are left, that have been left in it -- lo, they are as all the multitude of Israel who have been left in it; lo, they are as all the multitude of Israel who have been consumed -- and we send and see.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And one of his servants will answer and say, They shall take five of the horses remaining which were left in it, (behold them as all the multitude of Israel which were left in it: behold them as all the multitude of Israel which were finished:) and we will send and see.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And one of his servants answered: Let us take the five horses that are remaining in the city (because there are no more in the whole multitude of Israel, for the rest are consumed,) and let us send and see.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But one of his servants responded: “Let us take the five horses that remain in the city (for there were no more amid the entire multitude of Israel, since the rest had been consumed), and sending, we will be able to explore.”

New American Bible
One of his servants, however, suggested: “Let some of us take five of the horses remaining in the city—they are just like the whole throng of Israel that has reached its limit—and let us send scouts to investigate.”

New Revised Standard Version
One of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, since those left here will suffer the fate of the whole multitude of Israel that have perished already; let us send and find out.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some horsemen take five of the horses that remain; if they are captured, let them be considered a loss like all the army of Israel that has perished; therefore let us send and see.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And one of his Servants answered and said: we should bring five of the horsemen who are left; if they are captured, they are to be considered as all the people of Israel that is finished, and we will send and we will see.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And one of his servants answered and said: 'Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city--behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are consumed--and let us send and see.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And one of his servants answered and said, Let them now take five of the horses that were left, which were left here; behold, they are the number left to all the multitude of Israel; and we will send thither and see.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Siege Lifted
12So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’ ” 13But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.” 14Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”…

Cross References
2 Kings 6:33
While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

2 Kings 5:3-4
She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” / And Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.

2 Kings 4:42-44
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 3:16-18
and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ / This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

2 Kings 2:14
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

1 Kings 17:13-16
“Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, / for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” / So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household. ...

1 Kings 18:41-45
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” / So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. / “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” ...

1 Samuel 14:6-10
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” / His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” / “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them. ...

Exodus 14:13-14
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Numbers 13:30
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”

Joshua 6:2-5
And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. / March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. / Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. ...

Judges 7:9-15
That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up and go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. / But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah / and listen to what they are saying. Then your hands will be strengthened to attack the camp.” So he went with Purah his servant to the outposts where armed men were guarding the camp. ...

Isaiah 7:4-9
and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. / For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying: / ‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’ ...

Isaiah 55:8-11
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. / For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, ...

Jeremiah 32:17
“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!


Treasury of Scripture

And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray you, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

one

2 Kings 5:13
And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

in the city [heb] in it

2 Kings 7:4
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

2 Kings 6:33
And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?

Jeremiah 14:18
If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.

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2 Kings 7
1. Elisha prophesies incredible plenty in Samaria
3. four lepers, venturing on the host of the Syrians, bring tidings of their flight
12. The king, finding by spies the news to be true, spoils the tents of the Syrians.
17. The lord who would not believe the prophecy of plenty is trampled in the press














But one of his servants replied
This phrase introduces a servant who steps forward with a suggestion. In the Hebrew context, a "servant" (עֶבֶד, 'eved) often denotes someone in a position of service or subordination, yet here, it highlights the wisdom and initiative that can come from unexpected sources. This servant's courage to speak up reflects the biblical theme that God can use anyone, regardless of status, to fulfill His purposes.

Please, let some men take
The plea "Please" (נָא, na) is a polite request, indicating the servant's respect and urgency. The suggestion to "take" (לָקַח, laqach) implies action and initiative. In biblical narratives, taking action often precedes divine intervention, suggesting that human initiative can align with God's will when it is rooted in faith and obedience.

five of the horses that are left
The number "five" (חָמֵשׁ, chamesh) can symbolize grace or God's provision in biblical numerology. The mention of "horses" (סוּס, sus) signifies strength and mobility, crucial for reconnaissance. The phrase "that are left" underscores scarcity and desperation, reflecting the dire circumstances in Samaria due to the siege. This context highlights the need for faith and resourcefulness in times of crisis.

their plight will be like that of the whole multitude of Israel who are left
The word "plight" (מִקְרֶה, miqreh) suggests a shared fate or circumstance. The "whole multitude of Israel" refers to the besieged population, emphasizing collective suffering. The phrase "who are left" indicates survival amidst great loss, pointing to a remnant theme prevalent in Scripture, where God preserves a faithful few through trials.

Yes, they will be like all the multitude of Israel who have perished
The affirmation "Yes" (כֵּן, ken) reinforces the inevitability of the situation. The comparison to "all the multitude of Israel who have perished" highlights the severity of the siege's impact. This stark reality serves as a backdrop for God's impending deliverance, reminding readers of His power to bring life from death and hope from despair.

So let us send them and see
The phrase "let us send" (נִשְׁלְחָה, nishlachah) conveys a proactive decision to seek out God's deliverance. The word "see" (רָאָה, ra'ah) implies investigation and discovery. In biblical narratives, seeing often precedes understanding or revelation, suggesting that stepping out in faith can lead to witnessing God's miraculous works. This call to action encourages believers to trust in God's provision and guidance, even when the path is uncertain.

(13) Let some take.--Literally, And (i.e., then) let them take. (Comp. 2Kings 2:9; 2Kings 4:41.)

Five.--Used as an indefinite small number, like our "half a dozen." (Comp. Leviticus 26:8; Isaiah 30:17.) The actual number taken was two pairs (2Kings 7:14). . . .

Verse 13. - And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain. One of Jehoram's "servants," i.e. of the officers attached to his person, suggested that a small body of horse (four or five) should be sent out to reconnoiter. The besieged had still some horses left, though apparently not many. Note the phrase, "five of the horses that remain." The majority had died of want, or been killed to furnish food to the garrison. (Behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it - i.e. in Samaria - behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed); i.e. they will run no more risk than the other troops who remain in the city, for these, too, "are consumed," i.e. are on the point of perishing. Supposing that they fall into the enemy's hands, it will go no harder with them than with the "multitude" which is on the point of starvation. And let us send and see. We can do nothing until we know whether the siege is really raised, or whether the pretended withdrawal is a mere ruse. We must send and have this matter made clear.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But one
אֶחָ֨ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

his servants
מֵעֲבָדָ֜יו (mê·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

replied,
וַיַּעַן֩ (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

“Please,
נָ֞א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

have [scouts] take
וְיִקְחוּ־ (wə·yiq·ḥū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

five
חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה (ḥă·miš·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

of the horses
הַסּוּסִים֮ (has·sū·sîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

remain
הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִים֮ (han·niš·’ā·rîm)
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

in the city.
בָהּ֒ (ḇāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

Their plight
הִנָּ֗ם (hin·nām)
Interjection | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

will be no worse than all
כְּכָל־ (kə·ḵāl-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the Israelites
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

who
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

are left
נִשְׁאֲרוּ־ (niš·’ă·rū-)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

here.
בָ֔הּ (ḇāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

You can see
הִנָּ֕ם (hin·nām)
Interjection | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

that
כְּכָל־ (kə·ḵāl-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

all the Israelites
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

here
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

are doomed.
תָּ֑מּוּ (tām·mū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8552: To be complete or finished

So let us send them
וְנִשְׁלְחָ֖ה (wə·niš·lə·ḥāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

and find out.?
וְנִרְאֶֽה׃ (wə·nir·’eh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see


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OT History: 2 Kings 7:13 One of his servants answered Please let (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 7:12
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