2nd Kings Chapter 7 verse 3 Holy Bible
Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
read chapter 7 in ASV
Now there were four lepers seated at the doorway into the town: and they said to one another, Why are we waiting here for death?
read chapter 7 in BBE
And there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate, and they said one to another, Why do we abide here until we die?
read chapter 7 in DARBY
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
read chapter 7 in KJV
And there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
read chapter 7 in WBT
Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
read chapter 7 in WEB
And four men have been leprous, at the opening of the gate, and they say one unto another, `What -- we are sitting here till we have died;
read chapter 7 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 3-16. - The mode in which Elisha's prophecy of relief and deliverance was fulfilled is now set forth. Four lepers, excluded from the city, and on the point of perishing of hunger, felt that they could be no worse off, and might better their condition, if they deserted to the Syrians. They therefore drew off from the city at nightfall, and made for the Syrian camp. On arriving, they found it deserted. The entire host, seized with a sudden panic, had fled, about the time that they began their journey. The lepers' first thought was to enrich themselves by plunder, but after a while it occurred to them that, unless they hastened to carry the good news to Samaria, inquiry would be made, their proceedings would be found out, and they would be severely punished. So they returned to the capital, and reported what they had discovered. Jehoram, on receiving the news, feared that the Syrians had prepared a trap for him, and declined to move. He consented, however, to send out scouts to reconnoiter. The scouts found evident proof that the entire army had actually fled and was gone, whereupon there was a general raid upon the camp and its stores, which were so abundant that Elisha's prophecy was fulfilled ere the day ended. Verse 3. - And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate; or, at the entrance to the gate-house. Lepers were forbidden by the Law to reside within cities (Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:3). They were thrust out when the disease developed itself, and forced to dwell without the walls. No doubt their friends within the city ordinarily supplied them with food; and hence they congregated about the city gates. And they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? In the extreme scarcity, it is probable that no food was brought to them, the inmates of the city having barely enough wherewith to sustain themselves (2 Kings 6:25). Thus they were on the point of perishing.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) And there were four leprous men.--Literally, And four men were lepers.At the entering in of the gate.--And so outside of the city. (Comp. Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2-3.) Rashi says they were Gehazi and his sons (!)Why sit we?--Or, Why are we abiding? Nobody brought them food any longer, owing to the pressure of the famine.
