2 Kings 6:8-18

The Arameans Plot to Capture Elisha

8 Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he counseled with his servants saying, "In such and such a place shall be my camp."

9 ¹The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there."

10 The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, more than once or twice.

11 Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you tell 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 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him." And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in ²Dothan."

14 He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

15 Now 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, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"

16 So he answered, "³Do not fear, for ⁴those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "⁵O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of ⁶horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Strike this people with blindness, I pray." So He ⁷struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

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2 Kings 6:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 6

In this chapter are recorded other wonders of Elisha, as causing iron to swim, 2Ki 6:1-7 having knowledge of the secret counsels of the king of Syria, which he disclosed to the king of Israel, 2Ki 6:8-12 smiting the Syrian army with blindness sent to take him, and which he led into the midst of Samaria, 2Ki 6:13-23, and the chapter is closed with an account of the siege of Samaria, and a sore famine in it, 2Ki 6:24-33.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 7

1. 2 Kings 4:1, 7; 2 Kings 6:12
2. Genesis 37:17
3. Exodus 14:13
4. 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8; Romans 8:31
5. 2 Kings 6:20
6. 2 Kings 2:11; Psalms 68:17; Zechariah 6:1-7
7. Genesis 19:11

Footnotes 5

[a]. Lit "took counsel"
[b]. Lit "not once or twice"
[c]. Lit "How"
[d]. Lit "said"
[e]. Lit "nation"