Four leprous men at the entrance of the gate find the camp of Aram empty — 'this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace'; the flour and barley sell in the gate as Elisha said, and the doubting captain is trodden there.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And Elisha said: ‘Hear you the word of Hashem; thus says Hashem: 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.’
verse value 6071
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 70 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 6071 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֣ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·word·of·Hashem" (דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 432: in·shekel, in·shekel. The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "Elisha" (root אלישע, 45x in II Kings). First appearance of the root סאה ("seah·fine flour") in II Kings. First appearance of the root שקל ("in·shekel") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·word·of·Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 12 words.
Metzudat David
And he said, etc. When he heard the words of the messenger, who refused to lay a hand upon him out of fear of the LORD, and the king agreed with him, he said: Behold, at this time tomorrow, there shall be a seah of fine flour for a shekel, etc.
In the gate. A place where they sell grain there.
Malbim
"A seah of fine flour for a shekel" — it is clear that the decree of the famine had not been revoked at that time. And it is taught in Bava Batra (page 91): "One does not leave the Land of Israel for outside the Land unless two seahs [of grain] are available for a sela. This is the statement of Rabbi Shimon. When is this applicable? At a time when one cannot find [grain] to purchase. But at a time when one can find [grain] to purchase, even if the price rose to one seah for a sela, one should not leave." And the Rambam ruled in accordance with the first Tanna. And it would have been fitting for the price to be two seahs for a shekel, for that too is a time of famine, since in times of cheap prices, four seahs are available for a sela, as stated in Ketubot (page 64). However, Elisha established this matter through two factors: 1. That two seahs of barley would be available for a shekel, and people are able to eat barley; 2. That this price would apply in Samaria, where one could find [grain] to purchase. And on this basis, there is a logical argument that even if the price were one seah for a sela, one should not leave.
Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said: ‘Behold, if Hashem should make windows in heaven, might this thing be?’ And he said: ‘Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat thereof.’
verse value 6350
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 101 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 6350 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·to·the·king" (אֲשֶׁר־לַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·said. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "that·to·the·king" (אֲשֶׁר־לַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩), "they" (הִנְּכָ֤ה). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that·to·the·king" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings). First appearance of the root שליש ("third part") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'this', dividing the verse into phrases of 16 and 7 words.
Radak
"Which belongs to the king, leaning on his hand." [This is] a concise expression, and the explanation is: the aide who belonged to the king was the one leaning on his hand.
"Windows in the heavens": to bring down rain, or in a hyperbolic manner, to bring down wheat and barley, following the manner of the descent of the manna. And Targum Jonathan renders: "If the LORD were to open the windows and bring down abundance from heaven."
"Ha-nekha." The letter he is written as in "ha-nitzevet imkhah," and similar cases.
Ralbag
"The aide on whose arm the king leaned" – this means that at the time the king was leaning on his arm, the king heard his words, as it is stated: "He denied the prophecy of Elisha," implying that it would not be as Elisha said, for it is impossible that God would make windows in the heavens.
Metzudat David
"Which the king leaned on." The word "which" serves in place of two words, as if it said, "which belonged to the king, which he leaned upon with his hand when he came to the prophet," as it is stated above: "Is it not the sound of his master's feet..."
"Behold, the Lord is doing." Even if the Lord were to make windows in the heavens, to pour down from there upon the earth fine flour and barley, could it be that this thing would be so cheap?
Sees. That cheapness [the low price foretold]:
"And from there you shall not eat." For you shall die immediately, and because he mocked his words, he said this to him.
Metzudat Zion
The third commander. A high official, so too (Exodus 15:4): and the chosen of his third-commanders:
He leaned. He was supported:
The casements. Windows, so too (Hosea 13:3): and as smoke from a window:
There you are. Behold you, and it is like 'here you are', and the hey is superfluous, an example: (I Samuel 1:26) 'who stood with you [imach]', and its normal form is 'with you [imach]':
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?
verse value 4282
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "what?" (מָ֗ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·four" (וְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·four" (וְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה), "leprous" (מְצֹרָעִ֖ים), "until·we·die" (עַד־מָֽתְנוּ). The root איש appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·shouting" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "man" (root איש, 119x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'gate', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 8 words. Full calculation: וְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה [and·four] (284) + אֲנָשִׁ֛ים [man] (401) + הָי֥וּ [were] (21) + מְצֹרָעִ֖ים [leprous] (450) + פֶּ֣תַח [opening] (488) + הַשָּׁ֑עַר [gate] (575) + וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ [and·they·said] (263) + אִ֣ישׁ [man] (311) + אֶל־רֵעֵ֔הוּ [to·shouting] (312) + מָ֗ה [what?] (45) + אֲנַ֛חְנוּ [we] (115) + יֹשְׁבִ֥ים [live] (362) + פֹּ֖ה [here] (85) + עַד־מָֽתְנוּ [until·we·die] (570) = 4282.
Rashi
And four men. Gehazi and his sons (Sotah 47a):
The entrance of the gate. As it is said (Leviticus 13:46): he shall sit alone, outside the camp shall his dwelling be:
Radak
"And four men." Our Sages of blessed memory said that these four were Gehazi and his three sons.
"The gate's opening." Just as it is customary for lepers to dwell outside the city, as it is written: "His dwelling shall be outside the camp."
Until we died. Until we died:
Ralbag
"And four men were lepers at the entrance of the gate." This is because they were required to stand outside the camp, and there was a place for them within the city gate, adjacent to the entrance of the gate.
Metzudat David
"The entrance of the gate." They were sitting at the entrance of the gate, in accordance with the law of the leper, as it is stated (Leviticus 13:46): "Outside the camp shall his dwelling be."
Until we die. Until we die of famine:
Malbim
The questions: It should have said, “Men who were lepers were at the entrance of the gate.”
And the four men: Our Sages of blessed memory explained that they were Gehazi and his three sons. For Elisha had healed other lepers, and all the more so Naaman, as is evident from the words of the young girl, who said to Naaman’s wife that Elisha would heal him. Surely she said this because it was his custom to heal. It is clear, however, that these were Gehazi and his sons, whom he could not heal. Regarding them it is said, “lepers,” meaning that they remained lepers and were not healed. Since they were afflicted in Shomron, they were sent outside the wall, in accordance with the law that lepers are expelled from cities surrounded by a wall, as stated in Chapter 1 of Tractate Kelim.
If 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 to the host of the Arameans; if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.’
verse value 5437
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 92 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֔ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·if·they·kill·us" (וְאִם־יְמִיתֻ֖נוּ, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 502: and·we·will·die, and·we·shall·die, and·we·shall·die. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "if·we·say" (אִם־אָמַ֩רְנוּ֩), "we·come" (נָב֨וֹא), "and·if·we·sit" (וְאִם־יָשַׁ֥בְנוּ). The root מות appears 4 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "if·we·say" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "we·come" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "go" (root הלך, 98x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·we·shall·die', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 9 words.
Radak
"And let us desert." As in "You are defecting to the Chaldeans":
Metzudat David
We will live. For there bread is found:
"And we shall die." As if to say: What does it matter if we die? For in any case, we are destined for death.
Metzudat Zion
And fall. A matter of leaning, so too (Jeremiah 37:13): to the Chaldeans you are falling:
Malbim
If we said that he meant to say that since here we will surely die, whether we enter the city or remain here, but if we fall into the camp of Aram there is uncertainty, and if so, this matter is close to gain and far from loss, for if they let us live we will gain, in that we will live, and if they kill us we will lose nothing, for otherwise we would have died anyway; regarding this he said three times, "and we will die."
And they rose up in the twilight, to go to 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.
verse value 2424
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 51 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָ֑ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·encampment" (אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 241: Aram, Aram. The root בוא appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·come" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "man" (root איש, 119x in II Kings); "Aram" (root ארם, 29x in II Kings). First appearance of the root קצה ("until·end") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Aram', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ [and·they·arose] (162) + בַנֶּ֔שֶׁף [in·the·twilight] (432) + לָב֖וֹא [to·come] (39) + אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה [to·encampment] (134) + אֲרָ֑ם [Aram] (241) + וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ [and·they·came] (25) + עַד־קְצֵה֙ [until·end] (269) + מַחֲנֵ֣ה [encampment] (103) + אֲרָ֔ם [Aram] (241) + וְהִנֵּ֥ה [and·behold] (66) + אֵֽין־שָׁ֖ם [nothing·there] (401) + אִֽישׁ [man] (311) = 2424.
Ralbag
“And they rose and fled at twilight.” This means that during the night they heard the sounds that God, blessed be He, caused them to hear as a sign of a miracle, and on that very night they fled immediately, and out of their great fear they abandoned their horses and donkeys and fled on foot.
Metzudat Zion
In the twilight. In the evening, so too (Isaiah 5:11) after the twilight:
Malbim
The questions: Why did he say twice "and they came to the edge of the camp" here and in verse 8?
“And they rose up at twilight”: Behold, the word of the prophet would be fulfilled, who compressed the time and said, “At this time tomorrow.” It was necessary that the lepers deliberate on this matter specifically on that night, and that they set out at the beginning of the night, and that they not wait until dawn, but rather immediately inform the king’s household. For if they had informed them in the morning and they had first sent people to look, the time mentioned by the prophet, “At this time tomorrow,” would have passed. And regarding what is stated, “And they came as far as the edge of the camp of Aram”: for the custom of a camp is to station guards somewhat distant from the camp, to observe all that is happening; and this is what is alluded to here. And they found no one there. This is not so with what is stated a second time (in verse 8), “And they came as far as the edge of the camp,” which refers to the camp proper.
For 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 has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.’
verse value 6151
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 107 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָ֗ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "has·hired·against·us" (שָֽׂכַר־עָלֵ֩ינוּ֩, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 136: voice, voice, voice. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·my·Lord" (וַאדֹנָ֞י), "caused·to·hear" (הִשְׁמִ֣יעַ), "encampment" (אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֣ה). The root קול appears 3 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·they·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·brother" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). First appearance of the root מצרים ("Egypt") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'great', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 13 words.
Rashi
[God] caused the camp of Aram to hear. It seemed to them as if they were hearing [it]:
Radak
He caused the camp of Aram to hear. Before the lepers came, on that very night — for if they had fled since the previous day, the Israelites would have seen them. And so it says, "And they arose at twilight." Immediately upon hearing the sound, great fear entered their hearts, and they fled.
Metzudat David
"And the Lord made them hear." The reason for this was that they found no man there; for "the Lord made them hear," etc. This means that through the Divine providence of the Lord, it appeared to them as though they were hearing.
To come upon us. And this is the voice that we hear:
Malbim
And the Lord, and it was of the miracle that the Lord caused their ears to hear the noise of an army, and secondly, that they were terrified and it arose in their hearts that it was the army of the kings of Egypt and the kings of the Hittites, from whom they were in fear, and they did not have the strength to stand against them.
Wherefore 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.
verse value 3907
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "in·the·twilight" (בַנֶּ֒שֶׁף֒, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·their·horses" (וְאֶת־סֽוּסֵיהֶם֙, 9 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·they·arose" (וַיָּק֘וּמוּ֮), "and·they·fled" (וַיָּנ֣וּסוּ), "their·tents" (אֶת־אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם). The root נוס appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "as·that·it" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "to·soul" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "and·they·arose" (root קום, 23x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'as·that·it', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיָּק֘וּמוּ֮ [and·they·arose] (168) + וַיָּנ֣וּסוּ [and·they·fled] (138) + בַנֶּ֒שֶׁף֒ [in·the·twilight] (432) + וַיַּעַזְב֣וּ [and·they·forsook] (101) + אֶת־אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם [their·tents] (492) + וְאֶת־סֽוּסֵיהֶם֙ [and·their·horses] (588) + וְאֶת־חֲמֹ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם [and·a·donkey] (710) + הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה [encampment] (108) + כַּאֲשֶׁר־הִ֑יא [as·that·it] (537) + וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ [and·they·fled] (132) + אֶל־נַפְשָֽׁם [to·soul] (501) = 3907.
Radak
"And they fled for their lives." To save their lives, they did not spare their wealth; they did not even stop to harness the horses in order to ride upon them.
Metzudat David
The camp as it was. Everything was in perfection, as it was while they were there:
"For their life." To save their life:
Malbim
The questions: Why did they abandon their horses and flee on foot?
“And they arose,” and indeed it was a miracle that they fled immediately and did not even take their horses, for by doing so the flight would have been easier for them, since they thought that the enemy was already upon them. Therefore, they fled on foot, reasoning that by doing so the enemies would be occupied with plundering the camp—the tents and the horses—and would not turn to pursue them, since they had left behind all the spoils.
And 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.
verse value 4460
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 119 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָד֙) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "one" (אֶחָד֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·lepers" (הַֽמְצֹרָעִ֨ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 380: from·there, from·there. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "the·lepers" (הַֽמְצֹרָעִ֨ים), "and·gold" (וְזָהָב֙), "and·garments" (וּבְגָדִ֔ים). The root בוא appears 3 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·tent" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "and·they·went" (root הלך, 98x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·they·hid', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 8 words.
Then 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.’
verse value 4893
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 106 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֨ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "day·flesh" (יוֹם־בְּשֹׂרָ֣ה, 7 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "day·flesh" (יוֹם־בְּשֹׂרָ֣ה), "and·we" (וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ), "stilling" (מַחְשִׁ֗ים). The root אנחנו appears 2 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·they·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·shouting" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'perversity', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 6 words.
Rashi
And we found guilt. We are liable to the kingdom:
Radak
Not so. “Not good” – according to its Targumic translation, “not fit” – refers to what we do.
Machashim. They remain silent and do not inform:
"And we waited until the light of morning." If we wait until the light of morning to proclaim [the news], we will have incurred guilt in this:
Iniquity. Written fully with two vavs:
Ralbag
This is not how we act. That is to say: we do not act in a manner befitting this day, for it is a day worthy of good tidings. If we remain silent and wait until the light of dawn, the people of Israel will know, and punishment will befall us for not having announced this good news. And behold, at that time it was still night.
Metzudat David
Not so. Not good and upright — as in (Judges 12:6): "And he could not say it correctly."
"This day, etc." For there is in this day good tidings to be announced, yet we remain silent from announcing them; and if we wait until morning, surely the king will learn of it through others, and we shall be held guilty in his eyes for not hastening to come and announce the news.
Metzudat Zion
Holding silent. Remaining silent, so too (above 2:3): 'I also know it; be silent!':
And waiting. A matter of delay and waiting, so too (below 9:3): 'and flee and do not tarry':
Malbim
The questions: The phrase "on this day" is superfluous; and the phrase "and we waited until morning light"—could they not have delayed until midnight, filled their houses with plunder, and then gone and reported (16-20)? Why is there a duplication in "there was a seah of flour, etc., as the word of the Lord, and the people trampled him, as the man of God had spoken"? And why is there a duplication in "as the man of God had spoken when the king came down to him"? And why does it repeat a second time, "it was as the man of God had spoken, etc., and the steward answered, etc., and it was to him thus, etc."? All these are duplicated and superfluous matters.
We do not act thus, they said, for their practice was not correct, namely, not to revive those perishing from hunger. And regarding this he said, "On this day," since they had already sinned in a similar matter by coveting the money they took from Naaman. And why should we add sin upon transgression? And what is meant by "and we waited until morning light"? For if they do not report it now, they will be forced to wait until morning. For if they were to report it at midnight, it would be known that they had stolen and lied, and placed the goods in their vessels, for it is not the custom to fall into the enemy's camp in the middle of the night. And they would understand that they had gone to the camp at the beginning of the night. And they would ask them, "Why did you delay until now and not report it immediately?" And they would understand that they had taken spoils from there. And according to this, they would be forced to wait until morning light, so that there would be no suspicion upon them. And they would incur guilt, for in the meantime the lives of those perishing from hunger hang in the balance.
So they came and called to 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.’
verse value 4682
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 100 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "as·that·they" (כַּאֲשֶׁר־הֵֽמָּה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 267: tied, tied. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·gate" (אֶל־שֹׁעֵ֣ר), "we·came" (בָּ֚אנוּ), "and·voice·of" (וְק֣וֹל). The root בוא appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "as·that·they" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "to·gate" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'man', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 7 words.
Rashi
As they were. As they were full from their beginning, they did not take out what was within them:
Radak
"To the gatekeeper of the city, and they told them." [The word] "gatekeeper" is used in a general sense, as in "and his home-born slave, they shall eat of his bread" [Leviticus 22:11]; or its meaning is that they called out to one of the gatekeepers, and all of them arose and told them this matter.
"The horse was tied, and the donkey was tied." [This is stated] in a general sense, like "And I had an ox and a donkey" [Genesis 32:6], and its meaning is that they were tied at their feeding troughs.
Metzudat David
"The gatekeeper of the city." The guard of the city gate:
"Tethered." [Meaning:] tied to the manger, as was customary.
"As they were." [Meaning: the tents were left] as they had been all along, just as they had been there [before].
And the porters called, and they told it to the king’s household within.
verse value 1673
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "house·of" (בֵּ֥ית, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·porters" (הַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "toward the inside" (פְּנִֽימָה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "house·of" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "and·called" (root קרא, 50x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·porters', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְרָ֖א [and·called] (317) + הַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים [the·porters] (625) + וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ [and·they·told] (39) + בֵּ֥ית [house·of] (412) + הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ [king] (95) + פְּנִֽימָה [toward the inside] (185) = 1673.
Radak
"And he called to the gatekeepers." The city gatekeeper called out to the gatekeepers of the king's house, and they announced it within the king's house.
Ralbag
"And he called the gatekeepers." This means that the city gatekeeper summoned the gatekeepers who guard the king's gate.
Metzudat David
"And he called to the gatekeepers." The city gatekeeper called out to the guards of the king's palace gates, and said to them these words, and they reported the matter to the inner court, the place where the king resides:
Malbim
"And he called the gatekeepers" – namely, those whom they referred to as "the gatekeeper of the city," meaning the head and the overseer. He called and assembled all the gatekeepers, and they reported to the royal court.
And the king arose in the night, and said to 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.’
verse value 6122
Insights
Verse structure: 26 words, 126 letters. Notable word values: "to·us" (לָ֖נוּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to·you" (לָכֶ֔ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·his·servants" (אֶל־עֲבָדָ֔יו, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: to·you, know. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "let·me·tell·now" (אַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א), "that·hungry" (כִּֽי־רְעֵבִ֣ים), "from·the·camp" (מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 22 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that·they·did" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings). First appearance of the root לכם ("to·you") in II Kings. First appearance of the root תפש ("and·we·will·catch·them") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Aram', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 15 words.
Rashi
For we are hungry. And desirous to go out to the spoil and to the food:
Radak
To hide. With a he:
"beha-sadeh" – it is written with the definite article (the letter heh), as is proper, like "la-gadud" ("to the company") which came upon him, and similar cases; and it is read "ba-sadeh" ("in a field") without the definite article, in accordance with the common practice to leniently omit it.
Metzudat David
"That which..., etc." The cunning and stratagem that they devised:
"When they go out"—to provide themselves with something to eat, for due to the severity of the famine, they will not wait until they have investigated the matter.
Malbim
"And he said to his servants" — this recounts the wickedness of the king, for although the prophet had already spoken to him and assured him that salvation would come the next day, and he should have believed that something would happen to cause Aram to flee, his heart did not turn to the prophet's words, and he attributed it to a stratagem of Aram.
And one of his servants answered and said: ‘Let some take, I pray you, 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.’
verse value 7407
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 116 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָ֨ד) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "one" (אֶחָ֨ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "from·the·horses" (מִן־הַסּוּסִים֮, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 564: remained·in·it, remained·in·it. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·let·them·take·now" (וְיִקְחוּ־נָ֞א), "five" (חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה), "from·the·horses" (מִן־הַסּוּסִים֮). The root שאר appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings). First appearance of the root הנם ("behold·they") in II Kings. First appearance of the root המון ("all·murmur") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that·are·consumed', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 2 words.
Rashi
That remain in her. Within the city, that did not die of famine:
Behold they are like all the multitude of Israel that remain in her. If they say they are in danger lest someone kill them, behold they are in this city in the danger of famine like all the rest of the multitude of Israel that remain in her, and if they die they are like all the multitude of Israel, that perished of famine:
Radak
As all the multitude of Israel that remained therein. The word "multitude" is written with the definite article in construct state, like "the people," "the battle," "the ark," "the covenant," and similar expressions; yet it is read without the definite article, as is the custom in most cases. The meaning of the verse is thus: "They are like all the multitude of Israel"—that is, the horses are emaciated and feeble, like all the multitude of Israel that remained in Samaria, who were emaciated from hunger. If you should say, "How is it that only five horses remained in Samaria?"—the answer is: "They are like all the multitude of Israel that perished." Just as the men perished, so too did the horses perish. This is how my master and father, of blessed memory, explained it. And Jonathan translated: "If they perish, behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel that have perished."
Like the multitude of Israel. With a kaf:
Ralbag
"They are like all the multitude of Israel." Behold, "ha-hamon" (ההמון) is the ketiv (what is written), and "hamon" (המון) is the qere (what is read), and both mean the same thing. The intent of writing "ha-hamon" [with the definite article] is "the multitude of Israel," just as [in the phrase] "the prophecy of Oded the prophet," and the intention here is: if they escape, they are like all the multitude of Israel who remained in the city, and there is no loss in this; and if they perish, they are like all the multitude of Israel who perished, and this loss will not be recognized in relation to all that was lost because of the famine. And behold, they agreed to send only two chariots of horses, for they were sufficient to ascertain the truth of this matter.
Metzudat David
"Those who remained in it, etc." This is as if saying: Even if the enemy kills the horsemen, there is no harm in this, for they will be like all the multitude of Israel who remain in the city, for we are all destined to die of starvation, and the horsemen, if they remain here, will be like one of us. And if you worry about the fact that their death will come sooner, are they not like all the multitude of Israel who have already perished before them? Therefore, let us send them and see.
Metzudat Zion
There they are. Behold they are:
A multitude. A matter of a large crowd:
They came to an end. They finished:
Malbim
"And let them take, I pray, five," meaning that one need not be concerned about the danger they will face in going, for even though they are like all the multitude of Israel that remained, they are also like all the multitude of Israel that perished, since their end is to die of famine.
They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the host of the Arameans, saying: ‘Go and see.’
verse value 2440
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "two·of" (שְׁנֵ֖י, 3 letters) and the longest is "encampment·Aram" (מַֽחֲנֵה־אֲרָ֛ם, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "encampment·Aram" (מַֽחֲנֵה־אֲרָ֛ם). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "go" (root הלך, 98x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'horses', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְח֕וּ [and·took] (130) + שְׁנֵ֖י [two·of] (360) + רֶ֣כֶב [chariots] (222) + סוּסִ֑ים [horses] (176) + וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח [and·he·sent] (354) + הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ [king] (95) + אַחֲרֵ֧י [after] (219) + מַֽחֲנֵה־אֲרָ֛ם [encampment·Aram] (344) + לֵאמֹ֖ר [saying] (271) + לְכ֥וּ [go] (56) + וּרְאֽוּ [and·see] (213) = 2440.
Radak
"And they took two chariots of horses." But did it not say "five horses," and how can it be said that they took only two? For the meaning of "two chariots of horses" is two horses, and riders upon them, as in the Targum of Jonathan: "two riders of horses." Rather, from the five that were mentioned, they chose the two best among them.
Metzudat David
"Two chariots." For even so, they did not wish to endanger more than two.
"After the camp." He means to say: on the road to their own land:
Malbim
"And they took" — nevertheless, they sent only two, so as not to endanger five men, for two spies suffice.
And they went after them to 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.
verse value 3276
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 86 letters. Verse gematria: 3276 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָ֖ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·they·cast·away" (אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁלִ֥יכוּ, 9 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "after·them" (אַחֲרֵיהֶם֮), "all·the·way" (כׇל־הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ), "full·of" (מְלֵאָ֤ה). The root חפז appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "that·they·cast·away" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "and·they·went" (root הלך, 98x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·their·hurrying', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Rashi
In their haste. In their hastening to flee:
Radak
"Behafzam." The written text is with a he, and it would be from the nifal conjugation if the he is vocalized with a tsere; and the read form is without the he, from the qal conjugation.
Ralbag
"Which Aram cast off in their haste." This means: because they were hasty to go.
Metzudat David
"Which they cast away." To lighten their burden, due to the haste of their flight.
Metzudat Zion
In their haste. A matter of speed, so too (II Samuel 4:4): 'and it was in her haste to flee':
And 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 Hashem.
verse value 3838
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 58 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "the·people" (הָעָ֔ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "seah·fine flour" (סְאָה־סֹ֜לֶת, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 432: in·shekel, in·shekel. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·plundered" (וַיָּבֹ֕זּוּ). The root סאה appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "as·word·of" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings); "and·it·was" (root היה, 119x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Aram', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 8 words.
Malbim
(16–20) And the people went out and plundered. And thereby was fulfilled every word of the prophet: 1. That there, in the place of the camp, immediately a seah of flour was sold for a shekel, etc., according to the word of the Lord; 2. That also what the prophet said on his own initiative, namely that the deputy would be trampled by the people, was fulfilled. And this [the trampling] was not spoken in the name of the Lord, but rather it came to pass as the word of the man of God who spoke on his own when the king descended to him. Now, what the king had charged the deputy with was to restrain the people from plundering, so that each man would not take for himself, for the spoil belongs to the king’s treasury. And he stationed him at the gate to detain [the people]. And if he had remained at the gate, the word of the Lord would not have been fulfilled, that a seah of flour would be for a shekel, for it was in the deputy’s mind to increase the price and nullify the words of the prophet. And this is what is written: that by means of their trampling him at the gate, and he died, thereby it came to pass according to the word of the man of God to the king, saying: “Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of flour for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” For although it had already been said, “And there was a seah of flour for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord,” this was not at the gate of Samaria, but only in the place of the Aramean camp, which is outside the city. But in the city, where the king’s tax reaches from the grain brought into the city, the price was high. And incidentally, it explained the magnitude of the deputy’s sin: 1. That the prophet spoke this to the king, and it was not for the deputy to reply, especially since the sinner is judged according to the time and the matter. And in this time and matter, when the king came to the prophet to kill him, and the prophet prophesied this, it was not for him to contradict his mouth, for according to his words he would agree that the prophet be killed and not accept his promise. And this is what is written: “who spoke when the king descended,” etc. 2. That the prophet did not promise anything beyond nature, for he said, “Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of flour for a shekel,” meaning: Is it not that the price is throughout all the land of Israel two seahs of barley for a shekel? For so was the price in these years of famine, only in Samaria they could not buy thus because of the siege. And he promised that this price would be tomorrow at the gate of Samaria. And to this the deputy replied, “Behold, if the Lord should make windows in the heavens,” and this is not relevant to the words of the prophet. For if the prophet had promised that the price would be less than it is in the country, for this it would be necessary that the Lord make windows in the heavens, meaning that He would give rain, whereby the famine would cease and the price would become cheap. But since he said that the price would be as it is everywhere, for this there is no need except that the enemy be removed from there, and this is an easy matter. 3. That he denied the power of the Lord, saying, “Behold, if the Lord should make windows,” as if the hand of the Lord were shortened? 4. That he denied the words of the prophet, saying, “Could this thing be?” And he became liable to death according to the law, and his punishment was measure for measure, and this is what it said: “And so it was to him.”
And 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.
verse value 7166
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 87 letters. The shortest word is "the·people" (הָעָ֛ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·captain" (אֶת־הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 206: spoke, spoke. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "appointed" (הִפְקִ֨יד), "the·captain" (אֶת־הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ), "that·he·leaned" (אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁעָ֤ן). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·the·king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "that·he·leaned" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "spoke" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). First appearance of the root רמס ("and·they·trampled·him") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·he·died', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 9 words.
Rashi
That leaned upon his hand. Yesterday when he came to the house of Elisha:
Ralbag
"And the king appointed the aide." This means that he had already entrusted him to men who would guard him there, so that the people would trample him there because of what he had said against the prophet.
Metzudat David
"He put in charge." He appointed him then to be the gatekeeper:
"And they trampled him." Due to the great pressure of the people going to plunder the spoils, they trampled him underfoot.
And 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’;
verse value 5549
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֣ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·seah·fine·flour" (וּֽסְאָה־סֹ֙לֶת֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 432: in·shekel, in·shekel. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "two·seahs" (סָאתַ֨יִם), "and·seah·fine·flour" (וּֽסְאָה־סֹ֙לֶת֙). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·the·king" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "as·to·speak" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 10 words.
Radak
"And it came to pass, as He spoke." Since it had already stated "as the man of God spoke," the text recounts how the events unfolded, even though it had already written above; thus it returns to recount the matters here in relation to the deed.
Metzudat David
"And it came to pass as he spoke." [The text] returns and explains: Why did the prophet say that the officer would die? He said: Because when the man of God spoke, etc.
and that captain answered the man of God, and said: ‘Now, behold, if Hashem should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?’ and he said: ‘Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat thereof’;
verse value 5155
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 85 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "God" (הָאֱלֹהִים֮, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·said. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "they" (הִנְּךָ֤). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "as·the·word" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'this', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
"And he answered." And then the officer answered, etc.
And he said. And then the prophet said to him: Behold, you see, etc.
it came to pass even so to him; for the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died.
verse value 2009
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "so" (כֵּ֑ן, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·it·was·to·him" (וַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·they·trampled" (וַיִּרְמְס֨וּ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was·to·him" (root היה, 119x in II Kings); "the·people" (root עם, 65x in II Kings); "and·he·died" (root מות, 61x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'so', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ [and·it·was·to·him] (67) + כֵּ֑ן [so] (70) + וַיִּרְמְס֨וּ [and·they·trampled] (322) + אֹת֥וֹ [him] (407) + הָעָ֛ם [the·people] (115) + בַּשַּׁ֖עַר [in·the·gate] (572) + וַיָּמֹֽת [and·he·died] (456) = 2009.
Metzudat David
"And it was so for him." And just as the prophet said, so it was.
Metzudat David
Malbim