2 Kings 6:1-16 ▼

1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha: 'Behold now, the place where we dwell before thee is too strait for us.

2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto the 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 the 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, my 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 made the iron to swim.

7 And he said: 'Take it up to thee.' So he put out his hand, and took it.

8 Now the king of Aram warred against Israel; and he 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 Arameans are coming down.'

10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he guarded himself there, not once nor twice.

11 And the heart of the king of Aram was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them: 'Will ye not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?'

12 And one of his servants said: 'Nay, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bed-chamber.'

13 And he said: 'Go and see 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, a host with horses and chariots was round about the city. And his servant said unto him: 'Alas, my master! how shall we do?'

16 And he answered: 'Fear not: for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.'