2 Kings 7:3 - Exposition

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate ; or, at the entrance to the gate-house . Lepers were forbidden by the Law to reside within cities (Le 13:46; Numbers 5:3 ). They were thrust out when the disease developed itself, and forced to dwell without the walls. No doubt their friends within the city ordinarily supplied them with food; and hence they congregated about the city gates. And they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? In the extreme scarcity, it is probable that no food was brought to them, the inmates of the city having barely enough wherewith to sustain themselves ( 2 Kings 6:25 ). Thus they were on the point of perishing.