1
One day the group of prophets that Elisha was in charge of complained to him, "The place where we live is too small!
2
Give us permission to go to the Jordan and cut down some trees, so that we can build a place to live." "All right," Elisha answered.
3
One of them urged him to go with them; he agreed,
4
and they set out together. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began to work.
5
As one of them was cutting down a tree, suddenly his iron ax head fell in the water. "What shall I do, sir?" he exclaimed to Elisha. "It was a borrowed ax!"
6
"Where did it fall?" Elisha asked. The man showed him the place, and Elisha cut off a stick, threw it in the water, and made the ax head float.
7
"Take it out," he ordered, and the man reached down and picked it up.
8
The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his officers and chose a place to set up his camp.
9
But Elisha sent word to the king of Israel, warning him not to go near that place, because the Syrians were waiting in ambush there.