So they came and called to the porter of the city,.... The chief of those that had the care of the gate of it; for there were more than one, as follows:and they told them; the porter, and the watchmen with him:we came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man; not one to be seen or heard:but horses tied, and asses tied; to their mangers; the latter, as well as the former, were used for war, not only to carry burdens, but to fight upon, as Aelianus relates of some people; and especially when there was a want of horses, as Strabo ; and both observe that this creature was sacrificed to Mars:and the tents as they were; none of them struck, nor anything taken out of them.
De Animal. l. 12. c. 34. Geograph. l. 15. p.