2 Kings 6 22

2 Kings 6:22 kjv

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.

2 Kings 6:22 nkjv

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."

2 Kings 6:22 niv

"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."

2 Kings 6:22 esv

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."

2 Kings 6:22 nlt

"Of course not!" Elisha replied. "Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master."

2 Kings 6 verses

2 Kings 6 22 Meaning

2 Kings 6:22 reveals the prophet Elisha's divinely inspired command to the king of Israel to extend an extraordinary act of mercy and hospitality to a blinded Aramean army, who had been miraculously delivered into his hands in Samaria. Instead of striking them down, which would have been common practice for captured enemies, Elisha instructs the king to provide them with food and water and allow them to return safely to their master. This directive highlights God's sovereignty over warfare, His character of grace, and His preference for demonstrating power through merciful intervention rather than brute force.

2 Kings 6 22 Context

The immediate context of 2 Kings 6:22 unfolds the remarkable series of events orchestrated by Elisha. The Aramean king, frustrated by Elisha's revelations of his military plans to the king of Israel, dispatches a large army to capture the prophet in Dothan (vv. 13-14). When Elisha's servant becomes terrified by the surrounding Aramean forces, Elisha prays for his eyes to be opened, revealing a mountain full of fiery chariots and horses protecting them (vv. 15-17), demonstrating God's invisible army. Subsequently, Elisha prays for the Aramean army to be blinded, leads them not to Dothan, but to Samaria, the capital of Israel (vv. 18-19). The king of Israel, seeing the blinded, disoriented enemy host in his city, excitedly asks Elisha if he should strike them down (v. 21). Verse 22 is Elisha's profound response, guiding the king away from vengeful violence towards divine mercy. Historically, conflicts between Israel and Aram were frequent and often brutal, making this act of clemency highly counter-cultural. Elisha's actions consistently demonstrate YHWH's absolute supremacy over nations and their armies, and a polemic against the typical ruthless military tactics of the day, showing God's people a different, more divine way.

2 Kings 6 22 Word analysis

• Therefore: (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer) Connects Elisha’s command directly to the preceding events: the miraculous blindness and leading of the Arameans to Samaria, all by divine intervention through Elisha. It signifies a consequence of God’s extraordinary action, establishing the moral imperative.

• he answered: (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer) Refers to Elisha. His words carry the authority of God's prophet. It's a direct and definitive response to the king’s question, leaving no room for doubt or alternative actions.

• You shall not strike them: (לֹא־תַכֶּה֙ - lo takkeh) A strong negative imperative in Hebrew (lo indicating absolute prohibition, nakah meaning "to strike down, smite, kill"). This command is firm and uncompromising. It contradicts the natural inclination for vengeance or opportunism in warfare, asserting a higher divine ethic. The implication is that God forbade such an act because He delivered them, not the king’s strength.

• would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow?: (הַתַּכֶּ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁבִיתָ֙ בְּחַרְבְּךָ֙ וּבְקַשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ)

  • would you strike?: (הַתַּכֶּ֗ה - ha-takkeh) A rhetorical question using the interrogative ha- (whether/if) to imply absurdity or impropriety. It suggests that such an act would be unethical or unjust given the circumstances.
  • those whom you have taken captive: (אֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁבִיתָ֙ - asher shavita) "Shavita" is from shavah, meaning "to take captive." This highlights that these enemies are already subdued, not a direct threat. Crucially, the capture was not by the king's sword and bow but by divine power.
  • with your sword and your bow?: (בְּחַרְבְּךָ֙ וּבְקַשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ - b’charbecha u’b’kashteka) This phrase emphasizes the typical means by which soldiers take captives in battle. The rhetorical question here exposes the irony: the king did not capture them this way. It highlights that the enemy's helpless state was due to divine intervention, making striking them an unmerited, boastful act against God's sovereign deliverance, not a personal victory.

• Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink: (שִׂים֩ לֶ֙חֶם֙ וָמַ֜יִם לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם וְיֹאכְל֧וּ וְיִשְׁתּ֖וּ)

  • Set food and water before them: (שִׂים֩ לֶ֙חֶם֙ וָמַ֜יִם לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם - sim lechem va-mayim lifnehem) A direct imperative. "Lechem" (bread/food) and "mayim" (water) are basic necessities, signaling an act of true hospitality and life-sustaining provision, a complete reversal from killing. It’s an act of grace and benevolence towards an enemy.
  • that they may eat and drink: (וְיֹאכְל֧וּ וְיִשְׁתּ֖וּ - v’yokhlu v’yishtu) The purpose clause. They are to be nourished and strengthened, not weakened or destroyed. This prepares them for safe passage.

• and go to their master: (וְיֵלְכ֖וּ אֶל־אֲדֹֽנֵיהֶֽם׃ - v’yelku el-adonehem) This specifies the ultimate destination and purpose of their release. "Adonehem" (their master) refers to the king of Aram. It's a shocking, unexpected, and utterly magnanimous conclusion, designed to communicate God's power and mercy not just to the Arameans but also to their king, preventing future conflict and fostering awe for Israel's God.

2 Kings 6 22 Bonus section

The Aramean raids against Israel significantly reduced after this event, as noted in the subsequent verse (2 Kgs 6:23), though not entirely stopping later. This indicates the effectiveness of Elisha's radical approach; the demonstration of YHWH's power and benevolence had a practical deterrent effect that military conquest might not have achieved. This divine strategy suggests that God often operates not by crushing enemies but by demonstrating a superior way that draws people to Him, aligning with Proverbs 25:22 and Paul's exhortation in Romans 12:20. The "heaping burning coals on his head" (Prov 25:22) refers not to punishment but metaphorically to the burning shame and conviction one might feel when receiving undeserved kindness from someone they wronged, leading to a potential change of heart or acknowledgement of God's power.

2 Kings 6 22 Commentary

2 Kings 6:22 stands as a beacon of divine wisdom and radical compassion in the midst of historical conflict. Elisha's command to the king of Israel represents a profound ethical counter-cultural to the common brutal warfare practices of the ancient Near East. The king's natural instinct, "Shall I strike them down?", aligns with human logic of vengeance and opportunistic victory over a helpless enemy. However, Elisha, acting as God's mouthpiece, declares an absolute prohibition, reminding the king that these captives were not taken by his "sword and bow," but by the sovereign hand of God. To slaughter them now would be to claim a victory not truly his own and to desecrate a divine intervention. Instead, Elisha instructs a shocking act of hospitality: to provide food and water and then release them. This act of grace aims to transform potential continued warfare into a display of God's character and power. It sows seeds of awe and perhaps peace, showing the Arameans and their king that YHWH is a God who does not rely on brute force, but can conquer by unexpected mercy, leaving a lasting impression. This act serves as a prophetic picture of God's kingdom values: returning good for evil, loving one's enemies, and demonstrating divine power through acts of self-sacrificial benevolence rather than human might.

Examples of its practical usage:

• In moments of conflict or rivalry, choose reconciliation and kindness over retaliation, mirroring God's mercy.
• Recognize that true victory, as demonstrated by God, often comes through unexpected acts of grace and provision.
• Challenge the human inclination for vengeance by adopting a Christ-like posture towards those perceived as enemies or rivals.