◄ 2 Kings 6:14 ►
the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city.
Study Bible
Then the king
This phrase refers to the king of Aram, who is determined to capture the prophet Elisha. Historically, the kings of Aram were often in conflict with Israel, and this context sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation. The king's actions reflect a worldly reliance on military might rather than seeking divine guidance, a common theme in the Old Testament where earthly rulers often fail to recognize the sovereignty of God.

sent horses, chariots, and a great army
The use of "horses" and "chariots" signifies military strength and power. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, chariots were a formidable force, often used to intimidate and overpower enemies. The "great army" underscores the king's determination and the perceived threat Elisha posed. This military mobilization highlights the contrast between human power and divine protection, a recurring theme in Scripture where God often uses the weak to confound the strong.

They came by night
The decision to move under the cover of darkness suggests a strategic attempt to surprise and capture Elisha. Biblically, night often symbolizes danger, evil, or the absence of God's light. This setting amplifies the tension and the perceived vulnerability of Elisha, yet it also sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention, demonstrating that no darkness can hide from His sight.

and surrounded the city
The act of surrounding the city indicates a complete and overwhelming force, intending to leave no escape for Elisha. This tactic is reminiscent of other biblical sieges, where cities were encircled to cut off supplies and force surrender. However, in the biblical narrative, such human strategies are often thwarted by divine intervention, reminding believers of God's omnipotence and the futility of opposing His will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The King of Aram
The ruler who is determined to capture Elisha, the prophet of Israel, due to Elisha's ability to reveal his military plans to the king of Israel.

2. Elisha
The prophet of God who is the target of the king of Aram's military action. Elisha is known for his prophetic insight and miracles.

3. Dothan
The city where Elisha is residing when the Aramean army surrounds it. It is located in the northern part of ancient Israel.

4. Horses and Chariots
Symbolic of military power and might, representing the king of Aram's determination to capture Elisha.

5. The Great Army
The formidable force sent by the king of Aram to ensure the capture of Elisha, highlighting the perceived threat Elisha posed to Aram.
Teaching Points
Divine Protection
God's protection is not always visible to the human eye, but it is real and powerful. Believers can trust in God's unseen hand guarding them against spiritual and physical threats.

Faith Over Fear
In moments of fear and overwhelming circumstances, believers are called to have faith in God's sovereignty and power, just as Elisha did.

Spiritual Insight
Pray for spiritual insight to see beyond the physical circumstances, understanding that God is at work in ways we may not immediately perceive.

God's Sovereignty
Recognize that God's plans cannot be thwarted by human schemes. His purposes will prevail, as demonstrated by the futility of the king of Aram's efforts.

Prayer as a Weapon
Use prayer as a powerful tool to seek God's intervention and to open our eyes to His presence and protection in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the king of Aram's response to Elisha's prophetic abilities reflect human attempts to control or counteract God's plans?

2. In what ways can we apply the lesson of divine protection in our own lives when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges?

3. How does Elisha's calmness in the face of danger serve as a model for our own reactions to fear-inducing situations?

4. What are some practical ways we can cultivate spiritual insight to perceive God's work in our lives and the world around us?

5. How can the account of Elisha and the Aramean army encourage us to rely on prayer and faith when confronted with opposition or threats?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 6:15-17
These verses continue the account, showing Elisha's servant's fear and Elisha's prayer for his eyes to be opened to see God's protection.

Psalm 34:7
This verse speaks of the angel of the Lord encamping around those who fear Him, paralleling the divine protection Elisha experiences.

Romans 8:31
This passage reminds believers that if God is for us, who can be against us, echoing the theme of divine protection and support.
Sermons
God's Presence with His PeopleC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 6:8-16
A Bootless InvasionJ. Orr 2 Kings 6:8-23
Elisha At DothanMonday Club Sermons2 Kings 6:8-23
Elisha's DefendersGeorge W. Brown.2 Kings 6:8-23
Elisha's SafeguardJ. Murray.2 Kings 6:8-23
Our AlliesW. Hoyt, D. D.2 Kings 6:8-23
Secure Amid PerilsL. A. Banks, D. D.2 Kings 6:8-23
The Encompassing Defence of the FaithfulJ. G. Greenhough, M. A.2 Kings 6:8-23
The King of Syria and ElishaD. Thomas 2 Kings 6:8-23
Within the Circle of FlameJ. Dunk.2 Kings 6:8-23
People
Aram, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Elisha, Shaphat, Syrians
Places
Dothan, Jordan River, Samaria, Syria
Topics
Army, Carriages, Chariot, Chariots, Circling, Compassed, Encompassed, Force, Heavy, Horses, Host, Round, Strong, Surrounded, Thither, Town
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 6:14

     5252   chariots

2 Kings 6:14-15

     4657   horse

2 Kings 6:14-17

     8787   opposition, to God

Library
Young Man! a Prayer for You
THIS YOUNG MAN waited upon a prophet: he could not have had a more instructive occupation; yet his eyes needed to be opened. He was well disposed towards good things, for the tone of his language to his master shows that he was heartily at one with him; but his eyes were not yet half opened. Being in great alarm for his master's safety, he ran to him to warn him: good servants should be their master's best friends. In return, his believing master prays for him. If we desire the good of our servants, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
There are divers kinds of fasting--First, A constrained fast, as when men either have not food to eat, as in the famine of Samaria (2 Kings vi. 25;) or, having food, cannot eat it for heaviness or sickness, as it befel them who were in the ship with St. Paul (Acts xxvii. 33.) This is rather famine than fasting. Secondly, A natural fast, which we undertake physically, for the health of our body. Thirdly, A civil fast, which the magistrate enjoins for the better maintenance of the commonwealth. Fourthly, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Whether a Mann is Bound to Correct his Prelate?
Objection 1: It would seem that no man is bound to correct his prelate. For it is written (Ex. 19:12): "The beast that shall touch the mount shall be stoned," [*Vulg.: 'Everyone that shall touch the mount, dying he shall die.'] and (2 Kings 6:7) it is related that the Lord struck Oza for touching the ark. Now the mount and the ark signify our prelates. Therefore prelates should not be corrected by their subjects. Objection 2: Further, a gloss on Gal. 2:11, "I withstood him to the face," adds: "as …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Absolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration
God not only created everything, but everything which He created is subject to His immediate control. God rules over the works of His hands. God governs the creatures He has made. God reigns with universal dominion. When He pleased, the sun and moon stood still (Josh. 10:12, 13); and at a word from Him the sun went backward ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz (Is. 38:8). At His command the Red Sea ceased to flow, and at His command it resumed its normal course (Ex. 14). In response to the prayer of Elisha, …
Arthur W. Pink—The Godhood of God

The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course.
1. Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties in the way to heaven.--2. Therefore a more particular view of them is taken, as arising from the remainder of indwelling sin.--3. From the world, and especially from former sinful companions.--4. From the temptations and suggest ions of Satan.--5, 6. The Christian is animated and encouraged, by various considerations, to oppose them; particularly by the presence of God; the aids of Christ; the example of others, who, though …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God Distinguished by Certain Marks from Fictitious Gods.
1. The mere fact of creation should lead us to acknowledge God, but to prevent our falling away to Gentile fictions, God has been pleased to furnish a history of the creation. An impious objection, Why the world was not created sooner? Answer to it. Shrewd saying of an old man. 2. For the same reason, the world was created, not in an instant, but in six days. The order of creation described, showing that Adam was not created until God had, with infinite goodness made ample provision for him. 3. The …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Helpless State of the Sinner under Condemnation.
1, 2. The sinner urged to consider how he can be saved from this impending ruin.--3. Not by any thing he can offer.--4. Nor by any thing he can endure.--5. Nor by any thing hr can do in the course of future duty.--6-8. Nor by any alliance with fellow-sinners on earth or in hell.--9. Nor by any interposition or intercession of angels or saints in his favor. Hint of the only method to be afterwards more largely explained. The lamentation of a sinner in this miserable condition. 1. SINNER, thou hast …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

May one Lose the Blessing?
The question trembles from many a lip--If I get the blessing, may I lose it? Most certainly. But, glory be to God! He has made ample provision for failure. There is no reason why we should fail; God has made ample provision against failure; we must not expect to fail; but in case we do fail, provision has been made. The most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of God's written commands, or to the inward promptings of His Holy Spirit. "The Holy Ghost whom God hath …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

Meditations for the Morning.
1. Almighty God can, in the resurrection, as easily raise up thy body out of the grave, from the sleep of death, as he hath this morning wakened thee in thy bed, out of the sleep of nature. At the dawning of which resurrection day, Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints; and every one of the bodies of the thousands of his saints, being fashioned like unto his glorious body, shall shine as bright as the sun (2 Thess. i. 10; Jude, ver. 14; Phil. iii. 21; Luke ix. 31;) all the angels shining …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It.
[Sidenote: 1139] 33. (20). It seemed to him, however, that one could not go on doing these things with sufficient security without the authority of the Apostolic See; and for that reason he determined to set out for Rome, and most of all because the metropolitan see still lacked, and from the beginning had lacked, the use of the pall, which is the fullness of honour.[507] And it seemed good in his eyes[508] that the church for which he had laboured so much[509] should acquire, by his zeal and labour, …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
2 Kings 6:14 NIV
2 Kings 6:14 NLT
2 Kings 6:14 ESV
2 Kings 6:14 NASB
2 Kings 6:14 KJV

2 Kings 6:14 Commentaries

Bible Hub
2 Kings 6:13
Top of Page
Top of Page