2 Kings 6

CHAPTER 6

An Axhead Floats (6:1-7)

1-7 The company of the prophets—which company we are not told (2 Kings 2:3,5; 4:38)-wanted to build a larger dwelling. So they cut down trees to make poles with which to build their dwelling. But an iron axhead one of the prophets was using fell into the Jordan River (verse 5). The prophet had borrowed it, and now was faced with the cost of replacing the expensive tool—a cost the prophet could not afford. He would probably have to work for the owner of the axhead until it was paid for. However, Elisha came to his aid and caused the axhead to float to the top of the water, where the prophet could then retrieve it. There is no way to scientifically explain this miracle; it was an act of God’s grace, a demonstration of His concern for one of His faithful servants. God is concerned for every detail of our lives, both great and small (see Matthew 6:25-34; 10:29-31).

Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans (6:8-23)

8-12 Ben-Hadad king of Aram²⁵ (Syria) was in a continuing onandoff war with Israel. But whenever he made a raid into Israel’s territory, Joram king of Israel somehow knew when and where the raid would occur. Ben-Hadad naturally assumed there was a spy in his camp who was tipping off the Israelites (verse 11). But it wasn’t a spy; it was Elisha! God was giving Elisha advance knowledge of everything the Arameans were doing—including what Ben-Hadad was saying in his bedroom (verse 12)—and Elisha was then passing this knowledge on to Joram.

13-17 When Ben-Hadad learned that it was Elisha who was responsible, he made a plan to capture him—a plan which Elisha also knew about, of course. During the night Ben-Hadad’s forces surrounded the city where Elisha was staying; when Elisha’s servant saw the soldiers next morning, he was frightened. But Elisha asked the Lord to open his servant’s eyes to see the heavenly forces that were watching over them (see Genesis 32:1-2; Psalm 34:7; Matthew 26:53). Elisha knew that these invisible forces had more power than Ben-Hadad’s visible forces. Elisha told the servant: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (verse 16). This well-known statement has given encouragement to countless believers down through the centuries; no matter how great our earthly adversaries appear to be, our heavenly allies are always greater.

18-20 Elisha then prayed that Ben-Hadad’s soldiers might be stricken with physical blindness, and the Lord answered his prayer. Then Elisha told the soldiers that if they wanted to find the prophet they were seeking they must follow him. He said, “I will lead you to the man you are looking for” (verse 19)—which he then proceeded to do.²⁶ When their eyes were opened, they found that instead of capturing Elisha, they had been captured themselves!

21-23 Joram asked Elisha if Ben-Hadad’s captured soldiers should be killed, and Elisha said “No.” Ordinarily, captured soldiers were turned into forced laborers. But in this case, Elisha treated the soldiers to a banquet and sent them home (verse 23). In doing this, Elisha was illustrating a spiritual principle later described in the book of Proverbs and quoted by the Apostle Paul: If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink (Proverbs 25:21; Romans 12:20). Paul then wrote: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). This is a principle we need to apply in our lives every day; and when we do, we shall discover that it really works. And in addition, God will reward us (see Proverbs 25:22; Matthew 5:43-48).

Because of Israel’s kindness to Ben-Hadad’s soldiers—and also because of their fear of Elisha’s God—the Arameans temporarily stopped raiding Israel’s territory. Through this entire episode, God once again demonstrated to both the Israelites and the Arameans that He alone held the real power over both their nations—indeed, over all nations.

Famine in Besieged Samaria (6:24-33)

24 -25 The Arameans’ fear of Israel’s God did not last long. Mainly because Joram and the Israelites had shown no REPENTANCE for their idolatrous ways, God permitted Ben-Hadad to advance right into the heart of Israel and besiege its capital, Samaria. As a result of the siege, supplies to the city were cut off, and food became so scarce that even the barely edible head of a donkey sold for eighty shekels (a kilogram) of silver, an exorbitant price (verse 25).

26-31 In these verses the writer describes a sad incident. During the siege, a woman called out to King Joram for help; he replied that only the Lord could provide help. But then Joram asked the woman what the matter was (verse 27).

The woman had made an agreement with another woman that they would eat their young sons. The first woman had cooked her son and they had eaten him. But the second woman had now hidden her son and broken their agreement.

When the king heard her story he was greatly distressed. Being forced to eat one’s children had been listed as one of the consequences of breaking God’s covenant (Leviticus 26:29). But Joram wasn’t thinking a bout a broken covenant; hewasn’t thinking about Israel’s idolatry, which was the true cause of the siege and resulting famine. Instead, Joram blamed Elisha for Israel’s predicament (verse 31).Elisha could have miraculously provided food, but he didn’t. Elisha could have blinded the forces of Ben-Hadad, but he didn’t. Joram was sure that Elisha, like Elijah before him, was the true “troubler” of Israel; Elisha was Israel’s “enemy” (see 1 Kings 18:1617; 21:20). Accordingly, Joram swore an oath that he would have Elisha’s head cut off that very day (verse 31).

Both in anger and distress, the king tore his robes (verse 30); then the people noticed that underneath his robes he was wearing sackcloth.²⁷

32-33 As usual, Elisha knew in advance what the king was planning. The king first sent a messenger to Elisha and the city elders. Then, it seems, the king himself immediately followed after the messenger, perhaps to revoke the order for Elisha’s execution.²⁸ When the king arrived, he told the elders there was no use waiting on the Lord any longer because He wasn’t going to help them; indeed, it was the Lord who had brought this disaster on them in the first place (verse 33). Joram was beginning to get some insight into Israel’s situation-though not enough to recognize the SIN that had caused it.