God miraculously caused the Arameans to flee, leaving behind the provisions that would save Samaria from famine.
When the prophet Elisha foretold that famine-stricken Samaria would soon experience relief, the king and his people were understandably hesitant to believe such a miraculous prediction given the dire circumstances surrounding the city. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, established around 880 BC under King Omri, and it often faced conflict with Aram (also known as Syria). The Aramean army had besieged Samaria, causing extreme scarcity of food. Yet Elisha declared that by the following day, provisions would be abundant. The king, skeptical but desperate, received word that the Aramean camp might be deserted, and he resolved to send a small reconnaissance party to verify whether the enemy had truly abandoned its siege.
It is in this setting that Scripture explains, “They took therefore two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of the Arameans, saying, ‘Go and see.’” (2 Kings 7:14). This action by the king signals both caution and hope. The charioteers and their horses were tasked to venture outside Samaria’s walls and examine the surrounding Aramean encampment. If the Arameans had indeed fled, this would confirm that God’s promise of sudden deliverance—relayed by Elisha—was being fulfilled. The king’s order to “go and see” also illustrates a significant spiritual principle: the transition from doubt to potential faith often requires a step of investigation, even if that step is taken reluctantly.
God used the crippling fear that had come upon the Aramean army to accomplish what the Israelites themselves could not do under siege, underscoring His power to deliver His people in desperate times. The verse demonstrates both God’s mercy and the importance of acting upon His promises, even when they seem impossible.
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2 Kings 7:14 meaning
When the prophet Elisha foretold that famine-stricken Samaria would soon experience relief, the king and his people were understandably hesitant to believe such a miraculous prediction given the dire circumstances surrounding the city. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, established around 880 BC under King Omri, and it often faced conflict with Aram (also known as Syria). The Aramean army had besieged Samaria, causing extreme scarcity of food. Yet Elisha declared that by the following day, provisions would be abundant. The king, skeptical but desperate, received word that the Aramean camp might be deserted, and he resolved to send a small reconnaissance party to verify whether the enemy had truly abandoned its siege.
It is in this setting that Scripture explains, “They took therefore two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of the Arameans, saying, ‘Go and see.’” (2 Kings 7:14). This action by the king signals both caution and hope. The charioteers and their horses were tasked to venture outside Samaria’s walls and examine the surrounding Aramean encampment. If the Arameans had indeed fled, this would confirm that God’s promise of sudden deliverance—relayed by Elisha—was being fulfilled. The king’s order to “go and see” also illustrates a significant spiritual principle: the transition from doubt to potential faith often requires a step of investigation, even if that step is taken reluctantly.
God used the crippling fear that had come upon the Aramean army to accomplish what the Israelites themselves could not do under siege, underscoring His power to deliver His people in desperate times. The verse demonstrates both God’s mercy and the importance of acting upon His promises, even when they seem impossible.