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.

2 KINGS 7:13KJV
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2 Kings 7:13 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 7:13 mean?

2 Kings 7:13 shows one of the king’s servants suggesting that they send out a small group with some of the last remaining horses to check what has happened outside the besieged city, since the people left inside are already in desperate straits. The servant reasons that there is little left to lose, so it is worth sending scouts to investigate.

The scene takes place during a siege of Samaria by the Arameans. The city is starving, and the king’s servant is speaking to the king, offering a practical idea: to send a few men with five horses to see if the enemy is really gone, as the prophet Elisha had predicted. The servant points out that the remaining people and horses are already as good as lost, so risking a few to get information is sensible.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 7:13

  • "servants" (עֶבֶד, ʿeved): This word refers to someone serving the king, highlighting that the advice comes from a subordinate, not a royal official or prophet.
  • "take" (לָקַח, laqach): The suggestion is to "take" five horses, showing a careful, limited risk rather than a large expedition.
  • "remain/left" (שָׁאַר, sha'ar): This word appears several times, emphasizing how few resources and people are left in the city, underlining the desperation.
  • "multitude" (הָמוֹן, hamon): Used for both the people remaining and those already lost, this word points to the scale of loss and the small number left.

Why 2 Kings 7:13 matters

  • This verse highlights the dire situation inside Samaria and the practical thinking of the king’s servant, who weighs the risks and sees little left to lose.
  • The repeated use of words for "left" and "multitude" draws attention to how depleted the city’s resources and people have become, making the servant’s suggestion seem reasonable.
  • The verse sets up the action that follows, where the scouts will discover that the Aramean army has indeed fled, confirming Elisha’s prophecy and leading to the city’s deliverance.