2 Kings6
New American Standard
1Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too cramped for us.
2Please let us go to the Jordan, and let us each take from there a beam, and let us construct a place there for ourselves, to live there.” So he said, “Go.”
3Then one of them said, “Please agree and go with your servants.” And he said, “I will go.”
4So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
5But it happened that as one of them was cutting down a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Oh, my master! It was borrowed!”
6Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float.
7Then he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
8Now the king of Aram was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.”
9But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, saying, “Be careful that you do not pass this place, because the Arameans are coming down there.”
10And the king of Israel sent scouts to the place about which the man of God had told him; so he warned him, so that he was on his guard there, more than once or twice.
11Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this matter; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
12One of his servants said, “No, 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.”
13So he said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send men and take him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”
14So he sent horses and chariots and a substantial army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?”
16And he said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.”
17Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes so that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the word of Elisha.
19Then 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 brought them to Samaria.
20When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, so that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
22But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set bread and water before them, so that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.”
23So he provided a large feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
24Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad the king of Aram gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.
25So there was a severe famine in Samaria; and behold, they kept besieging it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
26And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord the king!”
27But he said, “If the Lord does not help you, from where am I to help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”
28Then the king said to her, “What is on your mind?” And she said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’
29So we cooked my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, so that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.”
30When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes—and he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body.
31Then he said, “May God do so to me and more so, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.”
32Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent a man to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door shut against him. Is the sound of his master’s feet not behind him?”
33While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, “Behold, this evil is from the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The sons of the prophets enlarge their habitations, Iron made to swim. (1–7). Elisha discloses the counsels of the Syrians. (8–12). Syrians sent to seize Elisha. (13–23). Samaria besieged, A famine, The king sends to slay Elisha. (24–33).
vv1-7
There is that pleasantness in the converse of servants of God, which can make those who listen to them forget the pain and the weariness of labour. Even the sons of the prophets must not be unwilling to labour. Let no man think an honest employment a burden or a disgrace. And labour of the head, is as hard, and very often harder, than labour with the hands. We ought to be careful of that which is borrowed, as of our own, because we must do as we would be done by. This man was so respecting the axe-head. And to those who have an honest mind, the sorest grievance of poverty is, not so much their own want and disgrace, as being rendered unable to pay just debts. But the Lord cares for his people in their smallest concerns. And God's grace can thus raise the stony iron heart, which is sunk into the mud of this world, and raise up affections, naturally earthly.
vv8-12
The king of Israel regarded the warnings Elisha gave him, of danger from the Syrians, but would not heed the warnings of danger from his sins. Such warnings are little heeded by most; they would save themselves from death, but will not from hell. Nothing that is done, said, or thought, by any person, in any place, at any time, is out of God's knowledge.
vv13-23
What Elisha said to his servant is spoken to all the faithful servants of God, when without are fightings, and within are fears. Fear not, with that fear which has torment and amazement; for they that are with us, to protect us, are more than they that are against us, to destroy us. The eyes of his body were open, and with them he saw the danger. Lord, open the eyes of our faith, that with them we may see thy protecting hand. The clearer sight we have of the sovereignty and power of Heaven, the less we shall fear the troubles of earth. Satan, the god of this world, blinds men's eyes, and so deludes them unto their own ruin; but when God enlightens their eyes, they see themselves in the midst of their enemies, captives to Satan, and in danger of hell, though, before, they thought their condition good. When Elisha had the Syrians at his mercy, he made it appear that he was influenced by Divine goodness as well as Divine power. Let us not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. The Syrians saw it was to no purpose to try to assault so great and so good a man.
Key Words
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
נָבִיא: a prophet or (generally) inspired man
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
אֱלִישָׁע: Elisha, the famous prophet
מָקוֹם: properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
יִשְׁוִי: Jishvi, the name of two Israelites
צַר: narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ; (transitive) an opponent (as crowding)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
2 Kings 6Direct fulfillment of Moses' covenantal curse warning that mothers would eat their children during sieges.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Recalls the same supernatural chariots of fire seen at Elijah's departure, showing ongoing divine protection.
Supported by JFB
The same word for mental blindness/hallucination is used here as with the Sodomites.
Supported by JFB
Geographical identification of Dothan, the same location where Joseph was sold by his brothers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates the scriptural reality of the angel of the Lord encamping around those who fear Him.
Supported by JFB
Practical demonstration of feeding one's enemy to overcome evil with good.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Mosaic law regarding the responsibility and strict justice of restoring borrowed items.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mosaic curse predicted in the law, where Israel would eat the flesh of their children.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jehoram's murderous vow mimics his mother Jezebel's oath to slaughter Elijah.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains why Elisha had a new, inexperienced servant following Gehazi's recent leprosy dismissal.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Another historical instance of Israel feeding and releasing captives instead of executing them.
Supported by JFB
Parallels prophetic perception recognizing an approaching messenger before they knock on the door.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mosaic legal precedent involving an axe-head slipping from a wooden handle during logging.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God opening eyes to see provision/safety that was physically present but spiritually hidden.
Supported by JFB