◄ 2 Kings 6:9 ►
Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there."
Study Bible
But the man of God
This phrase refers to Elisha, a prophet in Israel, who is often called "the man of God" in the Scriptures. The Hebrew term used here is "ish ha-Elohim," which signifies a person who is not only a servant of God but also someone who embodies divine wisdom and authority. Elisha's role as a prophet is crucial, as he serves as a conduit for God's guidance and protection over Israel. His life and ministry are marked by miraculous acts and profound spiritual insight, demonstrating God's active presence among His people.

sent word to the king of Israel
Elisha's communication with the king of Israel highlights the prophet's role as an intermediary between God and the nation's leadership. The Hebrew verb "shalach" (to send) indicates a deliberate and purposeful action. This act of sending a message underscores the importance of divine guidance in political and military matters. Historically, prophets often advised kings, and their counsel was considered vital for the nation's well-being. Elisha's intervention here is a testament to God's concern for His people and His desire to protect them from harm.

Be careful not to pass this place
The warning given by Elisha is a direct and urgent command. The phrase "be careful" translates from the Hebrew "hishamer," which means to guard oneself or to be on alert. This instruction implies a need for vigilance and prudence, emphasizing the importance of heeding divine warnings. The specificity of "this place" suggests that God is aware of the enemy's plans and is actively working to thwart them. It serves as a reminder that God is omniscient and sovereign over all circumstances.

for the Arameans are going down there
The Arameans, also known as the Syrians, were frequent adversaries of Israel. The phrase "are going down" indicates a planned movement or attack, suggesting that the Arameans were strategically positioning themselves to ambush the Israelites. This intelligence, revealed through Elisha, demonstrates God's providential care and His ability to reveal the hidden schemes of the enemy. Historically, the Arameans were a powerful and persistent threat, yet this verse illustrates that no enemy is beyond God's control or knowledge.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elisha
The "man of God" referred to in this verse, Elisha was a prophet in Israel who succeeded Elijah. He was known for his miracles and his role as a spiritual leader.

2. King of Israel
The ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel during this time. He received warnings from Elisha about the movements of the Aramean army.

3. Arameans
A group of people from Aram (modern-day Syria) who were often in conflict with Israel. They were planning to ambush the Israelites.

4. Israel
The northern kingdom, distinct from Judah, often in conflict with surrounding nations, including Aram.

5. The Place
While not named in this verse, it refers to a specific location where the Arameans planned to attack, highlighting the strategic military intelligence provided by Elisha.
Teaching Points
Divine Guidance and Protection
God provides guidance and protection to His people through His servants. Just as Elisha warned the king, God often uses His Word and His people to guide us away from danger.

The Role of Prophets
Prophets in the Bible served as God's mouthpiece, delivering messages of warning, guidance, and hope. Today, we can seek God's guidance through prayer and Scripture.

Spiritual Warfare Awareness
Just as the Arameans plotted against Israel, we face spiritual battles. Being aware of the enemy's tactics is crucial, and we must rely on God's wisdom to navigate these challenges.

Obedience to God's Warnings
The king of Israel heeded Elisha's warnings, which saved his people. We must be attentive and obedient to God's warnings in our lives to avoid spiritual pitfalls.

Community and Leadership
Elisha's relationship with the king highlights the importance of godly counsel in leadership. Leaders should seek and value the wisdom of those who are spiritually mature.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Elisha's role as a prophet in this passage reflect the importance of spiritual leadership in our lives today?

2. In what ways can we discern and respond to God's warnings in our own lives, similar to how the king of Israel responded to Elisha's message?

3. How can we apply the concept of divine protection in our daily spiritual battles, as seen in this passage?

4. What are some modern-day examples of "Aramean" threats that we need to be aware of, and how can we seek God's guidance to avoid them?

5. How does this passage encourage us to seek and value godly counsel in our decision-making processes?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 6:8-23
This broader passage provides context for the verse, detailing how Elisha repeatedly warned the king of Israel about the Aramean plans, demonstrating God's protection over Israel.

1 Kings 19:19-21
This passage describes Elisha's calling by Elijah, establishing his role as a prophet and his dedication to God's service.

Psalm 91:11
This verse speaks of God's protection over His people, similar to how God used Elisha to protect Israel from the Arameans.
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
Aramaeans, Arameans, Beware, Care, Heed, Pass, Passing, Saying, Secret, Syrians, Thither, Waiting
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 6:8-10

     7773   prophets, role

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 6:9 NIV
2 Kings 6:9 NLT
2 Kings 6:9 ESV
2 Kings 6:9 NASB
2 Kings 6:9 KJV

2 Kings 6:9 Commentaries

Bible Hub
2 Kings 6:8
Top of Page
Top of Page