◄ 2 Kings 6:22 ►
"Do not kill them," he replied. "Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master."
Study Bible
Do not kill them
This phrase reflects a profound moment of mercy and restraint. In the Hebrew context, the word for "kill" (הָרַג, harag) often implies a violent or unjust death. Elisha's command here is countercultural, as the expected response to captured enemies would typically be execution. This directive aligns with the broader biblical theme of mercy triumphing over judgment (James 2:13), showcasing God's heart for compassion even towards adversaries.

he replied
The word "replied" indicates a response to a preceding situation. Elisha's reply is not just a reaction but a deliberate choice to follow God's guidance. In the narrative, this response comes after the Aramean army is struck with blindness and led into Samaria. Elisha's calm and authoritative reply demonstrates his role as a prophet who speaks God's will, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine wisdom in moments of decision.

Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow?
This rhetorical question challenges the norms of warfare and victory. The "sword" (חֶרֶב, chereb) and "bow" (קֶשֶׁת, qeshet) are symbols of human strength and military might. Elisha's question implies that true victory is not achieved through human means but through God's intervention. It invites reflection on the futility of relying solely on physical power, encouraging believers to trust in God's sovereignty and justice.

Set food and water before them
The act of providing "food and water" (לֶחֶם וּמַיִם, lechem u'mayim) is a powerful symbol of hospitality and peace. In ancient Near Eastern culture, sharing a meal was a gesture of reconciliation and covenant. By feeding their enemies, the Israelites demonstrate a radical form of love and forgiveness, prefiguring Jesus' teachings to love one's enemies (Matthew 5:44). This act transforms a potential moment of vengeance into one of grace and restoration.

so they may eat and drink
The phrase emphasizes the provision of basic needs, highlighting the humanity of the captives. Eating and drinking are universal acts that transcend enmity, reminding us of our shared human condition. This gesture of kindness serves as a reminder that all people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), deserving of dignity and compassion regardless of their actions.

and then return to their master
Allowing the captives to "return to their master" (וְיֵלְכוּ אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיהֶם, v'yelekhu el-adoneihem) signifies a release from bondage and a restoration of peace. This act of sending them back unharmed is a testament to the transformative power of mercy. It reflects the biblical principle that kindness can lead to repentance and reconciliation (Romans 2:4). By returning to their master, the captives become witnesses to the mercy of the God of Israel, potentially influencing their own nation towards peace.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elisha
A prophet in Israel, successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and guidance to the kings of Israel.

2. The King of Israel
The unnamed king during Elisha's time, who sought Elisha's counsel regarding the captured Aramean soldiers.

3. Aramean Soldiers
The enemy troops who were supernaturally blinded and led into Samaria by Elisha.

4. Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where the Aramean soldiers were brought.

5. The Aramean King
The ruler of Aram, who was at war with Israel and whose soldiers were captured.
Teaching Points
Mercy Over Vengeance
Elisha's response to the king of Israel emphasizes the importance of showing mercy rather than seeking revenge. This reflects God's character and His call for us to act with compassion.

Divine Strategy
The situation demonstrates that God's ways are higher than our ways. Instead of a military victory, God orchestrates a peaceful resolution, teaching us to seek His wisdom in conflict.

Hospitality as a Witness
By feeding the enemy, Elisha turns a potential act of war into an opportunity for witness. Our actions can reflect God's love and potentially transform hearts.

Trust in God's Protection
The account reassures believers that God is in control, even in dire situations. We can trust Him to protect and guide us through challenges.

Peaceful Resolution
The passage encourages seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts, aligning with the biblical call to be peacemakers.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Elisha's response to the king of Israel challenge our natural inclinations towards those who oppose us?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of showing mercy to our "enemies" in our daily lives?

3. How does this passage reflect the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and His unexpected ways of delivering His people?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to be peacemakers in our communities, following Elisha's example?

5. How do the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament reinforce the actions taken by Elisha in this passage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 5:44
Jesus teaches to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, which aligns with Elisha's directive to show mercy to the captured soldiers.

Romans 12:20
Paul echoes the principle of feeding your enemy, which is a direct application of Elisha's actions in this passage.

Proverbs 25:21-22
This proverb advises feeding your enemy, promising that it will heap burning coals on their head, a metaphor for causing them to feel shame and possibly repent.
Sermons
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
Eyes Closed, and Eyes OpenedC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 6:17-23
People
Aram, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Elisha, Shaphat, Syrians
Places
Dothan, Jordan River, Samaria, Syria
Topics
Bow, Bread, Captive, Captured, Death, Drink, Eat, Hast, Kill, Master, Prisoner, Slay, Smite, Smiting, Strike, Sword, Wouldest, Wouldst
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 6:22

     4293   water
     8262   generosity, human
     8301   love, and enemies
     8786   opposition, to sin and evil

2 Kings 6:18-23

     1416   miracles, nature of

2 Kings 6:21-24

     8728   enemies, of Israel and Judah

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 6:22 NIV
2 Kings 6:22 NLT
2 Kings 6:22 ESV
2 Kings 6:22 NASB
2 Kings 6:22 KJV

2 Kings 6:22 Commentaries

Bible Hub
2 Kings 6:21
Top of Page
Top of Page