2 Kings 6:1-27 ▼

1 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place where we are dwelling there to your face is too tight for us.

2 Let us go, please, to the Jordan, and let take from there each man one beam, and let us make to us there a place where we may dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.”

3 And the one said, “Be resolved, please, and go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”

4 And he went with them, and they came to the Jordan, and they cut down the trees.

5 And it came to pass, the one was cutting down a tree and the iron fell into the water. And he cried out and said, “Alas, master! And it was borrowed.”

6 And the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place, and he cut off a stick and threw it in there; and the iron he made float.

7 And he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” And he stretched out his hand, and he took it.

8 And the king of Aram had been making war against Israel, and he counseled with his servants, saying, “In such and such a place My camp will be.”

9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware of passing over this place. For there Aram is coming down.”

10 And the king of Israel sent one to the place of which the man of God had told him; and he warned him, and he was watchful there—not once and not twice.

11 And the heart of the king of Aram was greatly troubled by this thing, and he called to his servants and said to them, “Will you? not show to me who of us is for the king of Israel?”

12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord the king, but Elisha the prophet, who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, in Dothan.”

14 And he sent there horses and chariot and a great army, and they came by night and went around against the city.

15 And the servant of the man of God rising, arose early, and he went out, and there was an army surrounding the city, and horse and chariot. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

16 And he answered, “Fear not, for more are those who are with us than those who are with them.”

17 And Elisha prayed and said, “O YHWH, open, please, his eyes, that he may see.” And YHWH opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

18 And they came down to him, and Elisha prayed to YHWH and said, “Strike, please, this people with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19 And 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.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 And it came to pass, when they came to Samaria, that Elisha said, “O YHWH, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And YHWH opened their eyes, and they saw. And behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 And the king of Israel said to Elisha at his seeing them, “Shall I strike? Shall I strike, My father?”

22 And he answered, “You shall not strike. Those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow, would you kill? Set food and water before their faces, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”

23 And he prepared for them a great feast, and they ate and drank, and he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands from Aram added not again to come into the land of Israel.

24 And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his camp, and he went up and laid siege against Samaria.

25 And there was a great famine in Samaria. And behold, they lay siege against it until the head of a donkey was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a forth of a cab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.

26 And it came to pass that the king of Israel passing by on the wall, and a woman cried out to him, saying, “Save me, my lord the king.”

27 And he said, “YHWH does not save you—from where do I save you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?”