2 Kings 7:12

Armenian Eastern Bible 1994

Արքան գիշերով ելաւ եւ ասաց իր ծառաներին. «Հիմա ասեմ ձեզ, թէ ասորիները մեզ ինչ են արել։ Գիտենալով, որ սոված ենք,

What Does This Mean?

The king wakes up at night and tells his servants that the Syrians have left their camp because they think the Israelites are hungry and will come out of the city. The king thinks the Syrians are hiding to catch them and enter the city.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek with your friends. Your friend thinks you're too tired to come out and play, so they hide outside to surprise you when you do come out. The king thinks the Syrians are doing something similar.

Historical Background

This verse is part of the Book of 2 Kings, written around 560 BCE. It describes events during the reign of King Jehoram of Israel, when the city was under siege by the Syrian army. The narrative reflects the political and military tensions of the time.

Living It Out Today

Today, we can apply this to situations where we need to be cautious about our adversaries' motives. If you're in a tricky negotiation, remember to consider that the other party might have hidden intentions.

Topics

• warfare
• strategy
• perception
• caution
• adversaries
• hidden intentions

Related Verses

• Joshua 9:4
• 1 Samuel 17:34
• 2 Chronicles 20:16
• Luke 12:2
• 1 Corinthians 2:11

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the king wake up at night?

The king woke up at night because he had a sudden realization about the Syrians' tactics and wanted to inform his servants immediately.

What was the king's main concern?

The king was concerned that the Syrians were hiding to ambush the Israelites when they came out of the city, which could allow the Syrians to enter and capture it.

How did the king perceive the situation with the Syrians?

The king perceived that the Syrians knew about the Israelites' hunger and planned to use it to their advantage by hiding to catch the Israelites off guard.

What can we learn from the king's caution?

The king's caution teaches us to be wary of hidden motives and to carefully consider the actions of our adversaries, especially during critical times.