2 Kings 6 19

2 Kings 6:19 kjv

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.

2 Kings 6:19 nkjv

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.

2 Kings 6:19 niv

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.

2 Kings 6:19 esv

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.

2 Kings 6:19 nlt

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.

2 Kings 6 verses

2 Kings 6 19 Meaning

This verse captures Elisha's divinely inspired strategic deception of the blinded Aramean army. He diverts them from their true target, Dothan, by falsely stating they are on the wrong path and in the wrong city to find the man they seek (Elisha himself). Elisha then promises to lead them to the person they are searching for, and subsequently guides the entire military force, in their state of blindness, to Samaria, the capital city of Israel, where they are vulnerable and captured without a battle.

2 Kings 6 19 Context

This verse occurs during a time of intense military conflict between Israel and Aram (Syria). The king of Aram repeatedly attempts to ambush the king of Israel, but his plans are consistently thwarted because the prophet Elisha reveals Aram's movements to the Israelite king. Frustrated and believing there's a spy, the Aramean king's servants reveal Elisha's supernatural ability to know secret thoughts and plans. In response, the Aramean king sends a large army with horses and chariots to Dothan, where Elisha is residing, intending to capture him. The previous verse (2 Kgs 6:18) describes Elisha's prayer to the LORD to strike the approaching Aramean army with blindness, which the LORD immediately grants, causing their inability to properly perceive their surroundings and recognize Elisha himself. This sets the stage for Elisha's unique response in verse 19, demonstrating God's protection of His prophet and Israel through supernatural means rather than direct warfare. This entire episode serves as a powerful testament to the supremacy of the God of Israel over military might and pagan deities.

2 Kings 6 19 Word analysis

• And Elisha said unto them,: This introduces the prophet's direct interaction. Elisha, acting under divine inspiration and empowerment, assumes control of the situation, directly addressing the confused, sight-impaired Aramean soldiers. This highlights the prophet as God's instrument.
• This is not the way,:
  • Original Hebrew: לֹא־זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ (lo-zeh ha-derekh) - "not this the way."
  • Meaning: This is a deliberate misdirection. The phrase "the way" (derekh) can refer not only to a physical path but also a method or custom. Elisha implies they are not on the correct physical road to find their objective, but also perhaps that their very method of trying to capture him is fundamentally mistaken in God's eyes.
  • Significance: While literally deceptive regarding their current location, Elisha's words possess a deeper layer of truth: they truly are not approaching "the man whom ye seek" in the correct or divinely intended manner. Their worldly military strategy is powerless against divine power.
• neither is this the city:
  • Original Hebrew: וְלֹא־זֹה הָעִיר (v'lo-zoh ha-ir) - "and not this the city."
  • Meaning: Reinforces the geographical deception. Elisha states that Dothan (the city they are in) is not the place they are looking for, referring to the "man" they seek. This compounds their spatial disorientation.
  • Significance: Their physical blindness is matched by their geographical and strategic misunderstanding. Their inability to recognize Dothan, despite having surrounded it, underscores the efficacy of God's supernatural blinding.
• follow me,:
  • Original Hebrew: לְכוּ אַחֲרַי (lekhoo acharay) - "go after me."
  • Meaning: An imperative command, a direct invitation to relinquish their own direction and trust his lead. For blinded men, they must literally rely on him.
  • Significance: Elisha takes command over their large military force, an ironic reversal of roles given they had come to capture him. It also echoes calls for discipleship or obedience to a guide, highlighting the Arameans' total dependence.
• and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek.
  • Original Hebrew: וַאֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶל־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם מְבַקְשִׁים (va'avi'akhem el-ha'ish asher-atem mevakshim) - "and I will bring you to the man whom you seek."
  • Meaning: This statement, while strategically deceptive in its immediate context, is technically truthful in its broader sense. Elisha is "the man" they seek, and he will lead them to where he (as a prophet of God) can deal with them effectively.
  • Significance: Elisha employs cunning by playing on their partial knowledge and spiritual blindness. He uses ambiguity: he will bring them to the man they seek, meaning he is that man, but not in the location or circumstances they anticipate. This is not for malicious gain but for God's glory and Israel's protection.
• But he led them to Samaria.
  • Original Hebrew: וַיְנַחֵם שֹׁמְרוֹנָה (vay'na'chem Shomronah) - "and he guided them to Samaria."
  • Meaning: The literal fulfillment of his promise, but one that leads to their unexpected capture. Samaria was the capital of Israel, deep within Israelite territory and fortified, far from their objective of Dothan.
  • Significance: This marks the climax of Elisha's strategy and God's providence. Without battle, an entire enemy army is rendered helpless within the capital. The word וַיְנַחֵם (vay'na'chem, "he guided them") emphasizes a deliberate and purposeful leading, underscoring Elisha's complete control over the blinded Arameans. This act underscores the sovereignty of God over nations and military forces.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "This is not the way, neither is this the city": This dual denial strips the Arameans of their physical bearing and confirms their disorientation. It lays the groundwork for them to accept Elisha's leadership implicitly, demonstrating their utter vulnerability.
• "follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek": This phrase encapsulates Elisha's tactical genius. It transforms him from their target into their guide, effectively disarming them psychologically while they are already disarmed physically (by blindness). The conditional promise ("I will bring you...") creates trust, exploiting their limited vision. This divine enablement highlights that God sometimes works through wise and surprising human actions.

2 Kings 6 19 Bonus section

This incident, following the initial blinding, illustrates the profound depth of the LORD's control over His creation and human events. It's not just a momentary blindness; it's a persistent disorientation that allows an entire army to be led into captivity without resistance. This reflects a divine strategic move to protect Israel and demonstrate His power without a single casualty on Israel's side. The subsequent feeding of the Aramean army (2 Kgs 6:22-23) by the king of Israel at Elisha's command, rather than their execution, serves as a powerful display of God's mercy and a lesson in how enemies should be treated according to God's will, leading to a temporary cessation of Aramean raids against Israel. This episode demonstrates that God's justice often works through means that surprise human expectations, sometimes even through paradoxical acts like showing grace to aggressors, to achieve a greater purpose.

2 Kings 6 19 Commentary

This verse exemplifies divine intervention working through strategic human wisdom. Elisha, empowered by God, completely takes charge of a massive enemy army that had come to capture him. His words are a brilliant example of intentional ambiguity, or "truthful deception," where the statement itself holds a layer of truth, even while misleading the listener for a higher purpose. He is the man they seek, and he does lead them. However, he leads them not to their anticipated triumph but to their vulnerability. This showcases the LORD's power not only to supernaturally blind enemies but also to use His prophet's cunning to neutralize a threat without direct violence. It underlines God's protective care over His people and the prophet's role as a direct instrument of God's will, subduing the adversary in an unprecedented, almost humorous, manner, proving God's ways are higher than man's, far surpassing human military strategy.