2 Kings 6:17

17 And when Elisha had prayed, he said, Lord, open thou the eyes of this young man, that he (may) see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And, lo! the hill (was) full of horses, and of chariots of fire, in the compass of Elisha (all around Elisha).

2 Kings 6:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 6:17

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes,
that he may see
Not the eyes of his body, which were not shut nor blinded, but the eyes of his mind; or, in other words, grant him a vision, represented in so strong a light, as to remove his fears:

and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw;
he had a vision of angels:

and, behold, the mountain;
on which the city was built, or one near it:

was full of horses and chariots of fire;
angels in this form, as in ( 2 Kings 2:11 ) , and these were

round about Elisha;
being round about the city where he was; or rather so in the vision it was represented to the young man, he saw his master surrounded with horses and chariots of fire, in the utmost safety.

2 Kings 6:17 In-Context

15 Soothly the minister of the man of God rose early, and went out, and he saw an host in the compass of the city, and horses, and chariots (And the servant of the man of God rose up early, and went out, and he saw an army all around the city, with horses, and chariots). And he told to the man of God, and said, Alas! alas! alas! my lord, what shall we do?

16 And he answered, Do not thou dread (Do not thou fear); for more be with us than with them.

17 And when Elisha had prayed, he said, Lord, open thou the eyes of this young man, that he (may) see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And, lo! the hill (was) full of horses, and of chariots of fire, in the compass of Elisha (all around Elisha).

18 And the enemies came down to him; but Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, I beseech thee, smite this folk with blindness (I beseech thee, strike these people with blindness). And the Lord smote them, (so) that they saw not, by the word of Elisha.

19 Forsooth Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither this is the city; follow ye me, and I shall show you the man, whom ye seek. And he led them into Samaria.