2 Kings 6:13-33

13 And he said, "Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him." And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in Dothan."
14 Therefore sent he thither horses and chariots and a great host, and they came by night and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone forth, behold, a host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
16 And he answered, "Fear not, for they that are with us are more than they that are with them."
17 And Elisha prayed and said, "LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see." And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD and said, "Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness." And He smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, "This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek." But he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they had come into Samaria, that Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha when he saw them, "My father, shall I smite them? Shall I smite them?"
22 And he answered, "Thou shalt not smite them. Wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."
23 And he prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
24 And it came to pass after this that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up and besieged Samaria.
25 And there was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!"
27 And he said, "If the LORD do not help thee, from whence shall I help thee? Out of the barn floor or out of the wine press?"
28 And the king said unto her, "What aileth thee?" And she answered, "This woman said unto me, `Give thy son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'
29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And I said unto her on the next day, `Give thy son, that we may eat him'; and she hath hid her son."
30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
31 Then he said, "God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day."
32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him. But ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, "See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? Look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?"
33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him; and he said, "Behold, this evil is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"

2 Kings 6:13-33 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.

Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.