2 Kings 6 summary meaning ai explained commentary

2 Kings 6 meaning explained in AI Summary

This chapter recounts several miraculous events involving the prophet Elisha and highlights the ongoing conflict between Israel and Aram.

1. The Floating Ax Head (vv. 1-7): While Elisha is teaching a group of prophets, one of them loses an ax head in the Jordan River. Elisha miraculously makes the iron ax head float, demonstrating God's power to intervene in seemingly ordinary situations.

2. Elisha Outwits the Arameans (vv. 8-23): The king of Aram, frustrated by Elisha's ability to reveal his military plans to the king of Israel, sends a large army to capture him. Elisha, aware of the threat, prays for God to blind the Aramean soldiers. He then leads them to Samaria, where the king of Israel wants to kill them. However, Elisha convinces the king to show mercy, providing the soldiers with food and water before sending them home. This act of kindness shames the Arameans and leads to a temporary peace between the two nations.

3. The Siege of Samaria (vv. 24-33): The peace is short-lived. The Aramean king besieges Samaria, leading to a severe famine within the city. The situation becomes so desperate that people resort to cannibalism. The king of Israel, in despair and blaming Elisha, vows to kill him.

Key Themes:

God's Power and Provision: The floating ax head and the blinding of the Aramean army demonstrate God's power to work miracles and provide for his people, even in seemingly impossible situations.
Mercy and Forgiveness: Elisha's compassion towards the Aramean soldiers highlights the importance of showing mercy, even to enemies. This act of kindness leads to a temporary peace and stands in stark contrast to the brutality of the siege.
Faith and Doubt: The chapter contrasts Elisha's unwavering faith in God with the doubt and fear of the king of Israel. While Elisha trusts in God's provision, the king succumbs to despair and blames the prophet for his troubles.

This chapter sets the stage for the following chapters, where Elisha continues to play a pivotal role in the conflict between Israel and Aram, ultimately demonstrating God's power and sovereignty over all.

2 Kings 6 bible study ai commentary

The central theme of 2 Kings 6 is spiritual perception versus physical reality. The chapter contrasts those who can "see" God's invisible power and provision with those who are blinded by circumstance, fear, or sin. Through three distinct narratives—a personal miracle, a national deliverance, and a devastating siege—the text demonstrates that Yahweh's power operates in both small and large affairs, and true faith involves trusting in the unseen armies and resources of God, even when the visible world screams defeat.

2 Kings 6 Context

The events take place in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 9th century BC, likely during the reign of King Jehoram (or Joram). The primary antagonist nation is Aram (modern-day Syria), with its king Ben-Hadad II, which posed a constant military threat to Israel. This period was marked by ongoing syncretism and idolatry within Israel, yet Yahweh continued to work through His prophet, Elisha, to demonstrate His sovereignty over all nations and circumstances. The "sons of the prophets" were prophetic communities or guilds who lived together, studying under a leading prophet like Elisha. Siege warfare was a common and brutal military tactic designed to starve a fortified city into surrender.

2 Kings 6:1-7

The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he said, “Go.” Then one said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, the iron axe head fell into the water. And he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut down a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. And he said, “Take it up.” So he put out his hand and took it.

In-depth-analysis

Expansion and Initiative: The narrative begins with growth; the community of prophets has outgrown its dwelling. They take initiative to solve their own problem, showing diligence, but they seek Elisha's blessing and presence, showing submission to spiritual authority.
The Problem: The loss of the axe head was a significant crisis. Iron was a valuable commodity, and losing a borrowed tool placed the man in debt and disgrace (Ex 22:14-15). The Hebrew word for "borrowed" is sha'ul, emphasizing the man's responsibility to return it. His cry, "Alas, my master!" reflects genuine panic and distress over a seemingly small, personal issue.
The Miracle: Elisha's solution defies physics. God, through his prophet, reverses the law of gravity. This is not magic; Elisha uses a piece of wood, a natural element, as the point of contact for a supernatural act. This pattern (using a physical medium for a miracle) is common in Scripture.
God's Concern: The miracle demonstrates that God is intimately concerned with the small, everyday anxieties of His people—a lost tool, a pending debt. It stands in stark contrast to the distant, cosmic pagan gods. He is the God of the mundane as well as the magnificent.

Bible references

2 Kings 4:1-7: A poor widow said to Elisha... 'your servant my husband is dead... the creditor is coming to take my two children to be his slaves.' (Elisha provides for a personal financial need, mirroring the relief provided here.)
Exodus 4:2-4: Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” (God uses an ordinary object, a staff/stick, to perform a supernatural sign.)
Matthew 14:19-20: Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing... And they all ate and were satisfied. (Jesus addressing the physical need of the people through a miracle.)

Cross references

2 Ki 2:21 (Elisha purifies water with salt); Joh 2:1-11 (Jesus turns water to wine); Mt 17:27 (Jesus provides a coin from a fish's mouth); Heb 4:16 (approach God's throne for mercy and grace in time of need).

Polemics

This story acts as a subtle polemic against the pagan nature gods. Baal was the god of storms and fertility, supposedly controlling the natural world for grand purposes. Here, Yahweh demonstrates His absolute authority over nature (water, wood, iron) not for a cosmic battle, but to solve a poor man's debt. This personal care and power over creation asserted Yahweh's superiority in a deeply practical way.

2 Kings 6:8-14

Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel. And he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice. And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this matter, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words that you speak in your bedchamber.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

In-depth-analysis

Prophetic Intelligence: Elisha functions as a divine intelligence network. God reveals the enemy king's most secret military plans ("the very words that you speak in your bedchamber"). This is a demonstration of Yahweh's omniscience.
King of Aram's Blindness: The Syrian king’s first assumption is a human betrayal ("who of us is for the king of Israel?"). He operates purely on a physical, political level and cannot comprehend a spiritual source of information.
Disproportionate Force: Upon learning the source is one man, he sends "horses and chariots and a great army" to capture him. This massive overreaction highlights his rage and spiritual ignorance. He believes military might can overcome God's power.
Dothan: The location is significant. Dothan is where Joseph's brothers plotted against him and sold him into slavery (Gen 37:17). Now, in the same place, another righteous man of God is being plotted against and surrounded by a hostile force.

Bible references

Psalm 139:2-4: You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. ... even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. (The principle of God's complete omniscience, demonstrated by Elisha.)
Daniel 2:22: He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. (God revealing state secrets to his prophet, Daniel, mirroring Elisha's gift.)
Amos 3:7: For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. (The operational principle of God communicating His plans through prophets.)

Cross references

Heb 4:13 (no creature is hidden from His sight); Ps 33:10-11 (The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing); Isa 41:10-13 (God promises to protect His people from their enemies); Acts 12:1-11 (Peter delivered from a seemingly impossible prison surrounded by soldiers).

2 Kings 6:15-17

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

In-depth-analysis

Sight vs. Vision: This is the chapter's core. The servant sees with physical eyes and panics ("What shall we do?"). Elisha sees with spiritual eyes and is calm. His faith is not in the visible but the invisible.
The Reality of a Majority: Elisha's statement, "those who are with us are more than those who are with them," is a foundational truth of faith. The spiritual resources and allies of God's people always outnumber the forces of the enemy.
Prayer for Sight: Elisha does not pray for the enemy to disappear; he prays for his servant's perspective to change. "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." The solution to fear is not changing the circumstances, but seeing them correctly—from God's vantage point.
Horses and Chariots of Fire: This is the divine army of Yahweh. The "chariot of fire and horses of fire" is the same celestial force that took Elijah to heaven (2 Ki 2:11-12), confirming to Elisha (and the reader) that the same power that protected his master is now protecting him. These represent God's overwhelming, swift, and consuming power.

Bible references

Psalm 34:7: The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. (A literal description of the scene Elisha's servant witnessed.)
Ephesians 6:12: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities... against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (The New Testament explanation of the true nature of spiritual warfare.)
Hebrews 1:14: Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (Defines the role of the angelic host seen here.)

Cross references

Eph 1:18 (Paul's prayer for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened); Rom 8:31 (If God is for us, who can be against us?); Isa 31:1 (Woe to those who rely on horses and chariots from Egypt); Ps 91:11-12 (He will command His angels concerning you).

2 Kings 6:18-23

And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the word of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria. As soon as they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them. And when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians on raids came no more into the land of Israel.

In-depth-analysis

A Specific Blindness: Elisha prays for sanwerim, a temporary state of mental confusion and distorted vision, not complete darkness. This is the same word used to describe the blindness that afflicted the men of Sodom (Gen 19:11). They could still physically move but were disoriented and easily led.
Mercy over Judgment: God's power is used not to destroy the enemy but to neutralize and capture them without bloodshed. This is a profound act of divine power and restraint.
The King's Carnal Response: The King of Israel immediately sees the captured army as an opportunity for slaughter: "Shall I strike them down?" He is still thinking in purely military terms. Elisha’s title “My father” is used to give respect and authority to him.
Radical Grace: Elisha’s command is revolutionary: "Set bread and water before them." This is not just humane treatment; it is an act of covenantal hospitality and shocking grace. This action heaps "coals of fire" on their heads (Prov 25:21-22), shaming them with kindness and breaking the cycle of violence.
The Result: The enemy is disarmed not by the sword, but by mercy. The raids ceased because Aram was overcome by a moral and spiritual power it could not comprehend.

Bible references

Romans 12:20-21: To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him... For in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (The NT command that perfectly articulates what Elisha did.)
Proverbs 25:21-22: If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (The Old Testament source for the principle of shaming an enemy with kindness.)
Genesis 19:11: And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house... so that they wore themselves out trying to find the door. (The same Hebrew word for blindness used to incapacitate an enemy.)

Cross references

Lk 6:27 (Love your enemies); Lk 22:49-51 (Jesus heals the ear of the servant who came to arrest him); Mt 5:44 (Pray for those who persecute you).

2 Kings 6:24-33

Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria... as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help, my lord, O king!” ...And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—and as he was passing on the wall, the people saw, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body—and he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.” Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “See how this son of a murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?” And while he was still talking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, “This evil is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

In-depth-analysis

Covenant Curses: The "afterward" signals a shift. Israel's unrepentant sin has now invited the severe consequences foretold in the Mosaic Law. The hyperinflation (a worthless donkey's head for 80 shekels) and the horrific pact of cannibalism are a direct fulfillment of the curses for disobedience listed in the covenant.
The King's Despair and Misplaced Blame: The king wears sackcloth, a sign of mourning or repentance. However, his reaction reveals its shallowness. Instead of repenting of his sin which brought the curse, he blames God and His messenger, Elisha. His vow, "if the head of Elisha... remains on him today," mirrors Jezebel's oath against Elijah (1 Ki 19:2), showing he is a "son of a murderer" (Ahab).
Elisha's Prophetic Insight: Once again, Elisha knows the king's secret intent before it happens, demonstrating his consistent connection to God. He identifies the king's murderous heart and prepares the elders.
The Climax of Despair: The final verse summarizes the king's spiritual state: "This evil is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?" He correctly attributes the disaster to God but draws the wrong conclusion. Instead of repenting, he gives up on God entirely, choosing defiant despair over faith. This sets the stage for God's dramatic deliverance in the next chapter.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 28:53, 56-57: And you shall eat the fruit of your womb... in the siege and in the distress... The most tender and refined woman among you... will refuse to give to her husband... or to her son or daughter any of their afterbirth... or of her children whom she bears, for she will eat them secretly... (The specific covenant curse for disobedience that is being literally fulfilled in Samaria.)
Lamentations 4:10: The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people. (Jeremiah documents the same horror during the fall of Jerusalem, showing this was a repeated fulfillment of the curse.)
1 Kings 19:2: Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” (The king of Israel makes the same blasphemous vow as the wicked pagan queen.)

Cross references

Lev 26:29 (cannibalism curse); Jer 18:12 (they say, 'It's no use! We will follow our own plans'); Rom 2:4-5 (God's kindness is meant to lead to repentance, but the hardhearted store up wrath).

2 Kings chapter 6 analysis

Sight and Blindness: This is the primary theological thread of the chapter. It moves from seeing the miraculous (floating axe), to seeing the spiritual reality (angelic army), to being struck with physical/mental blindness (Arameans), to being spiritually blind to the cause of suffering (the king).
Power and Mercy: God’s power is shown to be absolute. He controls nature, armies, and nations. However, the chapter's climax is not a demonstration of destructive power, but of redemptive mercy (feeding the enemy), which contrasts sharply with the judgment His own people face for their covenant unfaithfulness.
Elisha as a Type of Christ: Elisha (Heb. Elisha, "My God is salvation") acts as a powerful type of Christ in this chapter.
- He provides for physical/financial needs miraculously (Axe head ~ Loaves and fishes).
- He reveals the unseen spiritual reality to his disciples (Angel army ~ Transfiguration).
- He shows mastery over enemy forces, leading them captive (Blinded army ~ "I am he," John 18:6).
- He commands radical mercy and provision for enemies (Feeding the army ~ "Love your enemies").
Covenant Faithfulness: The chapter is a case study in God's faithfulness to His covenant—both its blessings/protection and its curses. The deliverance from the Aramean army shows God's protection for His prophet, while the subsequent famine shows God's faithfulness in bringing the promised discipline of Deuteronomy 28 upon a rebellious nation.

2 Kings 6 summary

The chapter details three events showcasing God's power through Elisha. First, he makes a borrowed axe head float, showing God’s care for personal problems. Second, Elisha supernaturally reveals the Aramean king's war plans, and when the army comes for him, he has their eyes opened to see God's fiery angelic host and then has the enemy army struck with a confusing blindness. He leads them to Samaria and commands they be fed and released, an act of radical mercy that temporarily stops the war. Finally, when a subsequent siege causes a horrific famine and cannibalism in Samaria, the desperate king of Israel blames Elisha for the disaster, demonstrating complete spiritual blindness to his own sin and setting the stage for chapter 7.

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2 Kings chapter 6 kjv

¹ And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
² Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
³ And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
⁴ So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
⁵ But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
⁶ And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
⁷ Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
⁸ Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
⁹ And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
¹⁰ And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
¹¹ Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?
¹² And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
¹³ And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
¹⁴ Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
¹⁵ And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
¹⁶ And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
¹⁸ And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
¹⁹ And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
²⁰ And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
²¹ And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
²² And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
²³ And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
²⁴ And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
²⁵ And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
²⁶ And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
²⁷ And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
²⁸ And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
²⁹ So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
³⁰ And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
³¹ Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
³² But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?
³³ And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?

2 Kings chapter 6 nkjv

¹ And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.
² Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." So he answered, "Go."
³ Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go."
⁴ So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
⁵ But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed."
⁶ So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.
⁷ Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So he reached out his hand and took it.
⁸ Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place."
⁹ And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there."
¹⁰ Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.
¹¹ Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?"
¹² And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
¹³ So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan."
¹⁴ Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
¹⁵ And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
¹⁶ So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
¹⁸ So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
¹⁹ Now Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." But he led them to Samaria.
²⁰ So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!
²¹ Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?"
²² But he answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."
²³ Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.
²⁴ And it happened after this that Ben-Hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.
²⁵ And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver.
²⁶ Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!"
²⁷ And he said, "If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?"
²⁸ Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'
²⁹ So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him'; but she has hidden her son."
³⁰ Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath he had sackcloth on his body.
³¹ Then he said, "God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today!"
³² But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, "Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent someone to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?"
³³ And while he was still talking with them, there was the messenger, coming down to him; and then the king said, "Surely this calamity is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"

2 Kings chapter 6 niv

¹ The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us.
² Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet." And he said, "Go."
³ Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?" "I will," Elisha replied.
⁴ And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.
⁵ As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh no, my lord!" he cried out. "It was borrowed!"
⁶ The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.
⁷ "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
⁸ Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, "I will set up my camp in such and such a place."
⁹ The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there."
¹⁰ So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
¹¹ This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, "Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?"
¹² "None of us, my lord the king," said one of his officers, "but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom."
¹³ "Go, find out where he is," the king ordered, "so I can send men and capture him." The report came back: "He is in Dothan."
¹⁴ Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked.
¹⁶ "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
¹⁸ As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike this army with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
¹⁹ Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria.
²⁰ After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
²¹ When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?"
²² "Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master."
²³ So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory.
²⁴ Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria.
²⁵ There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels.
²⁶ As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, "Help me, my lord the king!"
²⁷ The king replied, "If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?"
²⁸ Then he asked her, "What's the matter?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son.'
²⁹ So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give up your son so we may eat him,' but she had hidden him."
³⁰ When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his robes. As he went along the wall, the people looked, and they saw that, under his robes, he had sackcloth on his body.
³¹ He said, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!"
³² Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, "Don't you see how this murderer is sending someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it shut against him. Is not the sound of his master's footsteps behind him?"
³³ While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him. The king said, "This disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"

2 Kings chapter 6 esv

¹ Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us.
² Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there." And he answered, "Go."
³ Then one of them said, "Be pleased to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go."
⁴ So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
⁵ But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, "Alas, my master! It was borrowed."
⁶ Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.
⁷ And he said, "Take it up." So he reached out his hand and took it.
⁸ Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place shall be my camp."
⁹ But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there."
¹⁰ And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
¹¹ And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?"
¹² And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
¹³ And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan."
¹⁴ So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
¹⁶ He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
¹⁸ And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
¹⁹ And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria.
²⁰ As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
²¹ As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?"
²² He answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."
²³ So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
²⁴ Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria.
²⁵ And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver.
²⁶ Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!"
²⁷ And he said, "If the LORD will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?"
²⁸ And the king asked her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'
²⁹ So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, 'Give your son, that we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son."
³⁰ When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes ? now he was passing by on the wall ? and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body ?
³¹ and he said, "May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today."
³² Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence, but before the messenger arrived Elisha said to the elders, "Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?"
³³ And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, "This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"

2 Kings chapter 6 nlt

¹ One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, "As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small.
² Let's go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet." "All right," he told them, "go ahead."
³ "Please come with us," someone suggested. "I will," he said.
⁴ So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees.
⁵ But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. "Oh, sir!" he cried. "It was a borrowed ax!"
⁶ "Where did it fall?" the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.
⁷ "Grab it," Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.
⁸ When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, "We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place."
⁹ But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, "Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there."
¹⁰ So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.
¹¹ The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, "Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?"
¹² "It's not us, my lord the king," one of the officers replied. "Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!"
¹³ "Go and find out where he is," the king commanded, "so I can send troops to seize him." And the report came back: "Elisha is at Dothan."
¹⁴ So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.
¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha.
¹⁶ "Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!"
¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
¹⁸ As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, "O LORD, please make them blind." So the LORD struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.
¹⁹ Then Elisha went out and told them, "You have come the wrong way! This isn't the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to the city of Samaria.
²⁰ As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, "O LORD, now open their eyes and let them see." So the LORD opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.
²¹ When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, "My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?"
²² "Of course not!" Elisha replied. "Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master."
²³ So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.
²⁴ Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria.
²⁵ As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove's dung sold for five pieces of silver.
²⁶ One day as the king of Israel was walking along the wall of the city, a woman called to him, "Please help me, my lord the king!"
²⁷ He answered, "If the LORD doesn't help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor wine from the press to give you."
²⁸ But then the king asked, "What is the matter?" She replied, "This woman said to me: 'Come on, let's eat your son today, then we will eat my son tomorrow.'
²⁹ So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, 'Kill your son so we can eat him,' but she has hidden her son."
³⁰ When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin.
³¹ "May God strike me and even kill me if I don't separate Elisha's head from his shoulders this very day," the king vowed.
³² Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders of Israel when the king sent a messenger to summon him. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, "A murderer has sent a man to cut off my head. When he arrives, shut the door and keep him out. We will soon hear his master's steps following him."
³³ While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the king said, "All this misery is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"