And one of his servants answered and said, 'Let men take five of the horses that remain and are left in the city. Behold, they are as good as all the multitude that are left in the city: and as good as all the multitude of the city that are consumed, and let us send and see."

And out of the city he took a certain chamberlain that had the oversight of the men of war, and five men that were ever in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and Sophar the captain of the host that taught the people of the land to make war, and three score men of the people of the land that were found in the city also.

And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the hill altars where the priests did burn sacrifice, even from Geba to Beersheba. And he brake down the hill altars of the Gates, that were in the entering of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left hand of the gate of the city.

Though we thought that we might come into the city, yet is the dearth so great in the city, that we shall there die. And if we tarry here, we are but dead also. Now therefore come, and let us flee to the Host of the Syrians. If they save our lives, we shall live; and if they kill us, then are we dead."

And the king arose in the night and said to his servants, "I will show you, how the Syrians have served us. They know that we are oppressed with hunger, and therefore are gone out of their pavilions to hide themselves in the field, saying, 'They will come out of the city, and then we shall catch them alive and get into the city.'

And I will lengthen thy days yet fifteen years, and will deliver both thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city for mine own sake, and for David my servant's sake."

And thereto the city was broken up: wherefore all the men of arms fled by night, by a way through a gate, between two walls hard on the king's garden: the Chaldeans lying about the city. And the king went straight toward the desert.