8
Whenever the king of Aram was fighting against Israel, he asked for advice from his officers about where they were to camp.
9
So the man of God would send a message to the king of Israel, "Be careful not to go by that place. The Arameans are hiding there."
10
Then the king of Israel would send someone to the place that the man of God told him about. Elisha warned them so that they would be on their guard. He did this repeatedly.
11
The king of Aram was very angry about this. He called his officers and asked them, "Won't you tell me who among us is [a spy] for the king of Israel?"
12
One of his officers answered, "No one, Your Majesty. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel everything you say--even what you say in your bedroom."
13
The king said, "Find out where he is. Then I will send men to capture him." The king was told, "He is in Dothan."
14
So the king sent horses and chariots and a large fighting unit there. They came at night and surrounded the city.
15
When the servant of the man of God got up in the morning and went outside, he saw troops, horses, and chariots surrounding the city. Elisha's servant asked, "Master, what should we do?"
16
Elisha answered, "Don't be afraid. We have more forces on our side than they have on theirs."
17
Then Elisha prayed, "LORD, please open his eyes so that he may see." The LORD opened the servant's eyes and let him see. The mountain around Elisha was full of fiery horses and chariots.
18
As the Arameans came down to get him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Please strike these people with blindness." The LORD struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
19
Elisha told them, "This isn't the way! This isn't the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you're looking for." So he led them into Samaria.
20
When they came into Samaria, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men, and let them see." The LORD opened their eyes and let them see that they were in the middle of Samaria.
21
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Master, should I kill them? Should I kill them?"
22
Elisha answered, "Don't kill them. Do you kill everyone you take captive in combat? Give them food and water. Let them eat and drink. Then let them go back to their master."
23
So the king prepared a great feast for them. They ate and drank, and then he sent them back to their master. After this, Aramean troops didn't raid Israel's territory anymore.
