6
1 The
sons of the
prophets said to
Elisha, “See now,
the place where
we live and
meet with you
is too small
for us.
2 Please
let us go
to the Jordan,
and each man take
a beam from
there, and let’s
make us a
place there, where
we may live.”
He answered, “Go!”
3 One said, “Please
be pleased to
go with your
servants.”
He answered, “I
will go.”
4 So he
went with them. When they
came to the
Jordan, they cut
down wood.
5 But
as one was cutting
down a tree, the ax
head fell into
the water. Then
he cried out
and said, “Alas, my master!
For it was
borrowed.”
6 The
man of God asked, “Where
did it fall?”
He showed him
the place. He
cut down a
stick, threw it
in there, and
made the iron
float.
7 He said, “Take
it.” So he
put out his
hand and took
it.
8 Now
the king of Syria
was at war
against Israel;
and he took
counsel with his
servants, saying, “My
camp will be
in such and
such a place.”
9 The
man of God
sent to the
king of Israel,
saying, “Beware that
you not pass
this place, for
the Syrians are
coming down there.”
10 The
king of Israel
sent to the
place which the man
of God told him
and warned him
of; and he
saved himself
there, not once or
twice.
11 The
king of Syria’s
heart was very
troubled about
this. He called
his servants, and
said to them,
“Won’t you show me
which of us
is for the
king of Israel?”
12 One
of his servants
said, “No, my lord,
O king; but Elisha,
the prophet who
is in Israel,
tells the king
of Israel the
words that you
speak in your
bedroom.”
13 He said, “Go
and see where
he is, that
I may send
and get him.”
He was told, “Behold, he is in
Dothan.”
14 Therefore
he sent horses,
chariots, and a
great army there.
They came by night
and surrounded the
city.
15 When
the servant of
the man of God
had risen early
and gone out,
behold, an army
with horses and
chariots was
around the city.
His servant said
to him, “Alas,
my master! What
shall we do?”
16 He answered,
“Don’t be afraid,
for those who
are with us
are more than
those who are
with them.”
17 Elisha
prayed, and said, “LORD, please open his
eyes, that he
may see.” the
LORD opened the
young man’s eyes,
and he saw;
and behold, the
mountain was full
of horses and
chariots of fire
around Elisha.
18 When
they came down
to him, Elisha
prayed to the
LORD, and said, “Please
strike this people
with blindness.”
He struck them
with blindness according
to Elisha’s word.
19 Elisha said
to them, “This
is not the
way, neither is
this the city.
Follow me, and
I will bring
you to the
man whom you seek.”
He led them
to Samaria.
20 When
they had come
into Samaria, Elisha said, “LORD, open these men’s eyes,
that they may
see.”
The LORD opened
their eyes, and
they saw; and
behold, they were
in the middle
of Samaria.
21 The
king of Israel said
to Elisha, when he
saw them, “My
father, shall I
strike them? Shall
I strike them?”
22 He answered,
“You shall not
strike them. Would
you strike those
whom you have
taken captive with
your sword and
with your bow?
Set bread and
water before them,
that they may
eat and drink,
then go to
their master.”
23 He
prepared a great
feast for them.
After they ate and
drank, he sent
them away and
they went to
their master. So
the bands of Syria
stopped raiding the land of
Israel.
24 After
this, Benhadad king
of Syria gathered
all his army,
and went up
and besieged
Samaria.
25 There
was a great
famine in Samaria.
Behold, they
besieged it until
a donkey’s head
was sold for
eighty pieces of
silver, and the
fourth part of
a kab
of dove’s dung for
five pieces of
silver.
26 As
the king of
Israel was passing
by on the
wall, a woman
cried to him,
saying, “Help, my lord,
O king!”
27 He said, “If
the LORD doesn’t
help you,
where could I get
help for you?
From the threshing
floor, or from
the wine press?”
28 Then
the king asked
her, “What is
your problem?”
She answered, “This woman said
to me, ‘Give
your son, that
we may eat him
today, and we
will eat my son
tomorrow.’
29 So
we boiled my
son and ate him;
and I said to
her on the next
day, ‘Give up
your son, that
we may eat him;’
and she has hidden
her son.”
30 When
the king heard
the words of
the woman, he
tore his clothes.
Now he was
passing by on
the wall, and
the people looked,
and behold, he
had sackcloth underneath
on his body.
31 Then
he said, “God do
so to me,
and more also,
if the head
of Elisha the son
of Shaphat stays
on him today.”
32 But
Elisha was sitting
in his house,
and the elders
were sitting with
him. Then the
king sent a
man from before
him; but before
the messenger came
to him, he said
to the elders, “Do
you see how
this son of
a murderer has
sent to take
away my head?
Behold, when the
messenger comes,
shut the door,
and hold the
door shut against
him. Isn’t the
sound of his
master’s feet behind
him?”
33 While
he was still
talking with them,
behold, the
messenger came
down to him.
Then he said, “Behold, this evil is
from the LORD.
Why should I
wait for the
LORD any longer?”