מלכים ב, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״א

The dramatic news of a suddenly abandoned enemy camp makes its way to the political leadership in the dead of night. Rather than causing immediate chaos, the information flows through an orderly chain of command. The chief official stationed at the city gate receives the initial report and immediately calls out to the guards positioned at the royal palace to relay the astonishing information. From these palace guards, the message is carried deeper inside, ultimately reaching the private, inner quarters of the king's residence.

Woken from his sleep by the guards' report, the king does not react with immediate joy or relief. Instead, he is deeply suspicious of a trap. He explains to his officers that the enemy army is well aware of the severe famine plaguing the city. The king believes the enemy soldiers have merely abandoned their tents and faked a retreat, choosing instead to hide in the surrounding fields. According to this theory, their strategy is to wait for the starving residents to rush out toward the seemingly empty camp in search of food. Once the desperate citizens are out in the open, the enemy forces plan to capture them alive and finally conquer the city [צאינה וראינה].