2 Kings 6:22

22 He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you ¹kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? ²Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."

2 Kings 6:22 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 6:22

And he answered, thou shalt not smite them
For they were not his, but the prophet's captives, or rather the Lord's:

wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword
and with thy bow?
when soldiers are made prisoners of war, it is contrary to humanity, to the laws of nature and nations, to kill them in cold blood, and much more those who were taken not by his sword and bow, but by the power and providence of God:

set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to
their master;
the king of Syria, and report the miracles wrought, and the good usage they met with, when in the hand of an enemy, fed and let go; which would be more to the glory of the God of Israel, and more agreeable to the character of a king of Israel, reckoned merciful, and more serviceable to the civil good of the land of Israel, as well as more to the honour of the prophet and true religion, see ( Romans 12:20 Romans 12:21 ) .

2 Kings 6:22 In-Context

20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD , open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?"

22 He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."

23 So he prepared a great 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.

24 Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 20:11-16; 2 Chronicles 28:8-15
• 2. Romans 12:20

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "said"
• [b]. Lit "smite"
• [c]. Lit "smite"