The Siege of Samaria Lifted
2 Kings 7
Elisha promises that the famine in besieged Samaria will end within a day, a promise doubted by a royal officer. Four lepers discover that the Syrian army has fled in panic leaving its camp full of provisions, and when the news reaches the city the people plunder the camp, fulfilling Elisha's word and bringing about the officer's death exactly as foretold.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonELISHA replied, Hear a word of the Lord, Thus saith the Lord, About this time to-morrow, a measure of fine flour for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gates of Samaria.
BrentonAnd Elisaie said, Hear thou the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, As at this time, to-morrow a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gates of Samaria.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἑλισαιὲ ἄκουσον λόγον Κυρίου· τάδε λέλει Κύριος, ὡς ἡ ὥρα αὕτη, αὔριον μέτρον σεμιδάλεως σίκλου, καὶ δίμετρον κριθῶν σίκλου, ἐν ταῖς πύλαις Σαμαρείας.
KJVThen Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
JPSAnd Elisha said: ‘Hear ye the word of the LORD; thus saith the LORD: To-morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’
2
ThomsonUpon this a nobleman on whose hand the king leaned, in reply to Elisha said, Behold should the Lord make flood gates in heaven, can such a thing be? And Elisha replied, Behold thou shalt see it with thy eyes but shalt not eat thereof.
BrentonAnd the officer on whose hand the king rested, answered Elisaie, and said, Behold, if the Lord shall make flood-gates in heaven, might this thing be? and Elisaie said, Behold, thou shalt see with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ τριστάτης ἐφʼ ὃν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπανεπαύετο ἐπὶ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ τῷ Ἑλισαιὲ, καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ποιήσει Κύριος καταράκτας ἐν οὐρανῷ, μὴ ἔσται τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο; καὶ Ἑλισαιὲ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ σὺ ὄψει τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου, καὶ ἐκεῖθεν οὐ φάγῃ.
KJVThen a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
JPSThen the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said: ‘Behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might this thing be?’ And he said: ‘Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.’
3
ThomsonNow there were four lepers before the gate of the city, and one said to another, Why sit we here till we die?
BrentonAnd there were four leprous men by the gate of the city: and one said to his neighbour, Why sit we here until we die?
GreekΚαὶ τέσσαρες ἄνδρες ἦσαν λεπροὶ παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς πόλεως, καὶ εἶπεν ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, τί ἡμεῖς καθήμεθα ὧδε ἕως ἀποθάνωμεν;
KJVAnd 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?
JPSNow there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said one to another: ‘Why sit we here until we die?
4
ThomsonIf we say, let us go into the city; there is a famine in the city and we must die there. And if we stay here we must die. Now therefore come, let us desert to the camp of Syria; if they take us alive we may live; and if they put us to death, we can but die.
BrentonIf we should say, Let us go into the city, then there is famine in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit here, then we shall die. Now then come, and let us fall upon the camp of the Syrians: if they should take us alive, then we shall live; and if they should put us to death, then we shall only die.
GreekἘὰν εἴπωμεν, εἰσέλθωμεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ὁ λιμὸς ἐν τῇ πόλει, καὶ ἀποθανούμεθα ἐκεῖ· καὶ ἐὰν καθίσωμεν ὧδε, καὶ ἀποθανούμεθα· καὶ νῦν δεῦτε, καὶ ἐμπεσωμεν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν Συρίας· ἐὰν ζωογονήσωσιν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ζησόμεθα· καὶ ἐὰν θανατώσωσιν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἀποθανούμεθα.
KJVIf 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.
JPSIf 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 Arameans; if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.’
5
ThomsonSo they arose when it was dark to go to the Syrian camp. But when they came to a part of the camp of Syria; behold there was not a man there.
BrentonAnd they rose up while it was yet night, to go into the camp of Syria; and they came into a part of the camp of Syria, and behold, there was no man there.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐν τῷ σκότει εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν Συρίας· καὶ ἦλθον εἰς μέρος παρεμβολῆς Συρίας, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνὴρ ἐκεῖ.
KJVAnd they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
JPSAnd they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Arameans; and when they were come to the outermost part of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no man there.
6
ThomsonFor the Lord had caused the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, and the sound of a great army to be heard in the Syrian camp: whereupon they said one to another, Now hath the king of Israel hired against us the kings of the Chettites and the kings of Egypt to come upon us.
BrentonFor the Lord had made the army of Syria to hear a sound of chariots, and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great host: and each man said to his fellow, Now has the king of Israel hired against us the kings of the Chettites, and the kings of Egypt, to come against us.
GreekΚαὶ Κύριος ἀκουστὴν ἐποίησε παρεμβολὴν τὴν Συρίας φωνὴν ἅρματος καὶ φωνὴν ἵππου, φωνὴν δυνάμεως μεγάλης· καὶ εἶπεν ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, νῦν ἐμισθώσατο ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ τοὺς βασιλέας τῶν Χετταίων καὶ τοὺς βασιλέας Αἰγύπτου τοῦ ἐλθεῖν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς.
KJVFor the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
JPSFor the Lord had made the host of the Arameans to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host; and they said one to another: ‘Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.’
7
ThomsonTherefore they arose and fled while it was dark. They left their tents and their horses and their asses in the camp as it was, and fled for their lives.
BrentonAnd they arose and fled while it was yet dark, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses in the camp, as they were, and fled for their lives.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστησαν καὶ ἀπέδρασαν ἐν τῷ σκότει καὶ ἐγκατέλιπον τὰς σκηνὰς αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἵππους αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς ὄνους αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ ὡς ἔστι, καὶ ἔφυγον πρὸς τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτῶν.
KJVWherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
JPSWherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
8
ThomsonSo when the lepers came to a part of the camp they went into a tent and ate and drank, and carried thence silver and gold and raiment, and went away. And returning again they went into another tent and took things out of it and hid them.
BrentonAnd these lepers entered a little way into the camp, and went into one tent, and ate and drank, and took thence silver, and gold, and raiment; and they went and returned thence, and entered into another tent, and took thence, and went and hid the spoil.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσῆλθον οἱ λεπροὶ οὗτοι ἕως μέρους τῆς παρεμβολῆς, καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς σκηνὴν μίαν, καὶ ἔφαγον, καὶ ἔπιον, καὶ ἦραν ἐκεῖθεν ἀργύριον, καὶ χρυσίον, καὶ ἱματισμόν· καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς σκηνὴν ἄλλην, καὶ ἔλαβον ἐκεῖθεν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ κατέκρυψαν.
KJVAnd when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
JPSAnd when these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
9
ThomsonThen one said to another, We should not do so. This is a day of good news. Should we be silent and wait till the morning light, we shall incur guilt. Now therefore, come, let us go and inform the king’s household.
BrentonAnd one man said to his neighbour, We are not doing well thus: this day is a day of glad tidings, and we hold our peace, and are waiting till the morning light, and shall find mischief: now then come, and let us go into the city, and report to the house of the king.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησιον αὐτοῦ, οὐχ οὕτως ἡμεῖς ποιοῦμεν· ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, ἡμέρα εὐαγγελίας ἐστὶ, καὶ ἡμεῖς σιωπῶμεν, καὶ μένομεν ἕως φωτὸς τοῦ πρωῒ, καὶ εὑρήσομεν ἀνομίαν· καὶ νῦν δεῦρο, καὶ εἰσέλθωμεν καὶ ἀναγγείλωμεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ βασιλέως.
KJVThen they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
JPSThen they said one to another: ‘We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.’
10
ThomsonAccordingly they came and cried with a loud voice at the gate of the city and told them the news, saying, We have been to the camp of Syria and behold there is not a man there, nor the sound of a man. For there is nothing there but the horses and the asses tied, and the tents as they were.
BrentonSo they went and cried toward the gate of the city, and reported to them, saying, We went into the camp of Syria, and, behold, there is not there a man, nor voice of man, only horses tied and asses, and their tents as they were.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσῆλθον καὶ ἐβόησαν πρὸς τὴν πύλην τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν αὐτοῖς, λέγοντες, εἰσήλθομεν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν Συρίας, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκεῖ ἀνὴρ καὶ φωνὴ ἀνθρώπου, ὅτι εἰ μὴ ἵππος δεδεμένος καὶ ὄνος, καὶ αἱ σκηναὶ αὐτῶν ὡς εἰσί.
KJVSo they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
JPSSo they came and called unto the porters of the city; and they told them, saying. 'We came to the camp of the Arameans, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the asses tied, and the tents as they were.’
11
ThomsonAnd when the watchmen at the gates cried and told the king’s household within,
BrentonAnd the porters cried aloud, and reported to the house of the king within.
GreekΚαὶ ἐβόησαν οἱ θυρωροὶ, καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ βασιλέως ἔσω.
KJVAnd he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.
JPSAnd the porters called, and they told it to the king’s household within.
12
Thomsonthe king arose and said to his servants, Let me tell you what Syria hath done to us. They know that we are famishing, therefore they have left their camp and hid themselves in the fields, saying, They will come out of the city and we shall take them alive and enter the city.
BrentonAnd the king rose up by night, and said to his servants, I will now tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They knew that we are hungry; and they have gone forth from the camp and hidden themselves in the field, saying, They will come out of the city, and we shall catch them alive, and go into the city.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστη ὁ βασιλεὺς νυκτὸς, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ, ἀναγγελῶ δὴ ὑμῖν ἃ ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν Συρία· ἔγνωσαν ὅτι πεινῶμεν ἡμεῖς, καὶ ἐξῆλθαν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ ἐκρύβησαν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, λέγοντες, ὅτι ἐξελεύσονται ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ συλληψόμεθα αὐτοὺς ζῶντας, καὶ εἰς τὴν πόλιν εἰσελευσόμεθα.
KJVAnd the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
JPSAnd the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants: ‘I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying: When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’
13
ThomsonTo this one of his servants said in reply, Pray let them take five of the remaining horses which are left here, behold they are nearly all the multitude belonging to Israel which are left: and let us send thither and see.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη εἷς τῶν παίδων αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπε, λαβέτωσαν δὴ πέντε τῶν ἵππων τῶν ὑπολελειμμένων οἳ κατελείφθησεν ὧδε, ἰδού εἰσι πρὸς πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος Ἰσραὴλ τὸ ἐκλεῖπον, καὶ ἀποστελοῦμεν ἐκεῖ καὶ ὀψόμεθα.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.’
14
ThomsonSo they took two horsemen, and the king of Israel sent them after the king of Syria, saying, Go and see.
BrentonSo they took two horsemen; and the king of Israel sent after the king of Syria, saying, Go, and see.
GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβον δύο ἐπιβάτας ἵππων· καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ ὀπίσω τοῦ βασιλέως Συρίας, λέγων, δεῦτε, καὶ ἴδετε.
KJVThey took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
JPSThey took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the host of the Arameans, saying: ‘Go and see.’
15
ThomsonAnd they went on after them as far as the Jordan. And behold all the way was full of clothes and vessels, which the Syrians had thrown away in their panicy fright. And when the messengers returned and told the king,
BrentonAnd they went after them even to Jordan: and, behold, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their panic. And the messengers returned, and brought word to the king.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ἕως τοῦ Ἰορδάνου. καὶ ἰδοὺ πᾶσα ἡ ὁδὸς πλήρης ἱματίων καὶ σκευῶν ὧν ἔῤῥιψε Συρία ἐν τῷ θαμβεῖσθαι αὐτούς· καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν οἱ ἄγγελοι καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ βασιλεῖ.
KJVAnd they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
JPSAnd they went after them unto the Jordan; and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Arameans had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
16
Thomsonthe people went out and plundered the camp of Syria. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.
BrentonAnd the people went out, and plundered the camp of Syria: and a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord, and two measures of barley for a shekel.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ διήρπασεν τὴν παρεμβολὴν Συρίας· καὶ ἐγένετο μέτρον σεμισάλεως σίκλου, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα Κυρίου, καὶ δίμετρον κριθῶν σίκλου.
KJVAnd the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
JPSAnd the people went out, and spoiled the camp of the Arameans. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
17
ThomsonNow the king had stationed at the gate the nobleman on whose hand he had leaned, but the people trod him down so that he died, according to the saying of the man of God, who spoke to him when the messenger came down to him.
BrentonAnd the king appointed the officer on whose hand the king leaned to have charge over the gate: and the people trampled on him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spoke when the messenger came down to him.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς κατέστησε τὸν τριστάτην ἐφʼ ὃν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπανεπαύετο τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς πυλῆς· καὶ συνεπάτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ λαὸς ἐν τῇ πύλῃ, καὶ ἀπέθανε καθὰ ἐλάλησεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὃς ἐλάλησεν ἐν τῷ καταβῆναι τὸν ἄγγελον πρὸς αὐτόν.
KJVAnd the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
JPSAnd the king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate; and the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.
18
ThomsonFor when Elisha spoke to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, and this shall be about this time to-morrow in the gate of Samaria;
BrentonSo it came to pass as Elisaie had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel; and it shall be as at this time to-morrow in the gate of Samaria.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο καθὰ ἐλάλησεν Ἑλισαιὲ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, λέγων, δίμετρον κριθῆς σίκλου καὶ μέτρον σεμιδάλεως σίκλου· καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἡ ὥρα αὔριον ἐν τῇ πύλῃ Σαμαρείας.
KJVAnd it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
JPSAnd it came to pass, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying: ‘Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to-morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria’;
19
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the officer answered Elisaie, and said, Behold, if the Lord makes flood-gates in heaven, shall this thing be? and Elisaie said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ τριστάτης τῷ Ἑλισαιὲ, καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ Κύριος ποιεῖ καταράκτας ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, μὴ ἔσται τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο; καὶ εἶπεν Ἑλισαιὲ, ἰδοὺ ὄψει τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου, καὶ ἐκεῖθεν οὐ μὴ φάγῃ.
KJVAnd that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
JPSand that captain answered the man of God, and said: ‘Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?’ and he said: ‘Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof’;
20
Thomsonthis nobleman answered and said to Elisha, Behold should the Lord make flood gates in heaven, could this be? Thereupon Elisha said, Behold thou shalt see with thy eyes but shalt not eat thereof. And so it fell out: For the people trampled him down at the gate, so that he died.
BrentonAnd it was so: for the people trampled on him in the gate, and he died.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως, καὶ συνεπάτησαν αὐτὸν ὁ λαὸς ἐν τῇ πύλῃ, καὶ ἀπέθανε.
KJVAnd so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
JPSit came to pass even so unto him; for the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died.