The porter. — The Oriental versions may be right in reading “porters,” i.e., warders. The plural is implied by “they told them,” which immediately follows, and actually occurs in 2 Kings 7:11. But the reading of the LXX. and Vulg., “gate,” implies the same consonants differently pointed, as those of the word “porter.” This attests the antiquity of the reading. Probably, therefore, the word “porter” is here used collectively.
No man... voice of man. — The first word (’îsh) denotes an individual man, the second word (’âdâm) denotes the species, and so includes women and children.
Horses. — The horses. Similarly, the asses. Both words are singular (collectives) in the Hebrew.
Tied — i.e., tethered and feeding.
The tents. — Omit the.