2 Kings 6:17-27

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.

20 And when they had entered into Samaria, Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, (so) that they (can) see now. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, that they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 And the king of Israel, when he had seen them, said to Elisha, My father, whether I shall smite them? (My father, shall I strike them down?)

22 And he said, Thou shalt not smite them, for thou hast not taken them by thy sword and bow, that thou smite them; but set thou bread and water before them, that they eat and drink, and go to their lord again. (And he said, Thou shalt not strike them down, for thou hast not taken them with thy sword and bow, so that thou may strike them down; but put thou bread and water before them, so that they can eat and drink, and then let them go back to their lord again.)

23 And much preparing of meats was set forth to them; and they ate, and drank. And the king let go them, and they went to their lord; and [the] thieves of Syria came no more into the land of Israel (And then the king let them go, and they went back to their lord; and after that, the thieves of Syria no longer came into the land of Israel).

24 Forsooth it was done after these things, Benhadad, king of Syria, gathered all his host (called up all his army), and went up, and besieged Samaria.

25 And great hunger was made in Samaria; and so long it was besieged (and it was besieged for so long), till [that] the head of an ass were sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a measure called [a] cab, (out) of the craw of culvers , was sold for five pieces of silver.

26 And when the king of Israel passed by the wall of the city, a woman cried to him, and said, My lord the king, save thou me.

27 Which said (Who said), Nay, the Lord save thee; whereof may I save thee? (out) of [the] cornfloor, either (out) of [the] presser?

2 Kings 6:17-27 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.