2 Kings 6:15

KJV

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

KJV (with Strong's)

And when the servant {H8334} of the man {H376} of God {H430} was risen {H6965} early {H7925}, and gone forth {H3318}, behold, an host {H2428} compassed {H5437} the city {H5892} both with horses {H5483} and chariots {H7393}. And his servant {H5288} said {H559} unto him, Alas {H162}, my master {H113}! how shall we do {H6213}?

Complete Jewish Bible

The servant of the man of God got up early in the morning; on going outside, he saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. His servant said to him, "Oh, my master, this is terrible! What are we going to do?"

Berean Standard Bible

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”

American Standard Version

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host with horses and chariots was round about the city. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Kings 6:15 vividly captures a moment of profound human fear and limited perception in the face of overwhelming physical threat. The scene unfolds early in the morning as Elisha's servant steps outside to discover their city, Dothan, completely encircled by a formidable Syrian army, equipped with a vast array of horses and chariots. This sight immediately plunges the servant into despair, prompting his desperate cry, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" This exclamation sets the stage for a powerful divine intervention that will reveal a greater, unseen reality at work.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment within a larger narrative in 2 Kings 6, which highlights Elisha's prophetic ministry and God's miraculous protection of Israel. Prior to this, Elisha has repeatedly thwarted the King of Syria's ambush attempts against Israel by supernaturally revealing the Syrian army's movements to the King of Israel (cf. [2 Kings 6:8-12](/2_kings/6-8 "2 Kings 6:8-12 - Elisha Reveals Syrian Plans")). Frustrated by these repeated failures, the Syrian king learns that Elisha is the source of this intelligence and dispatches a large, elite military force specifically to capture the prophet in Dothan ([2 Kings 6:13-14](/2_kings/6-13 "2 Kings 6:13-14 - Syrian Army Sent to Capture Elisha")). The servant's fearful reaction in verse 15 serves as a dramatic setup for Elisha's profound demonstration of faith and God's unseen, protective power, which is revealed immediately in the verses that follow, culminating in the miraculous blinding and leading away of the Syrian army ([2 Kings 6:18-20](/2_kings/6-18 "2 Kings 6:18-20 - Elisha Blinds the Syrian Army")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of Elisha's ministry (9th century BCE) was characterized by frequent conflicts between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and its powerful northern neighbor, Aram (Syria). These were often border skirmishes or attempts by Aram to assert dominance. Horses and chariots represented the most advanced and formidable military technology of the ancient Near East, symbolizing overwhelming power and speed in warfare. A city being "compassed" or surrounded by such a force implied a siege, a common military tactic designed to cut off supplies and force surrender, often leading to dire consequences for the inhabitants. Dothan itself was a strategically located city, situated on a trade route in the northern part of Israel, making it a logical target for military operations. The servant's reaction is typical of someone facing a seemingly insurmountable military threat in a world where such encounters often meant destruction or enslavement.

* **Key Themes:** The immediate context of 2 Kings 6:15 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of 2 Kings and the broader prophetic narrative. The most prominent theme is the **sovereignty and protective power of Yahweh** over His people and His prophets, even in the face of superior earthly forces. This verse starkly contrasts **human fear and limited perception** with **divine insight and unlimited power**. The servant represents the natural human tendency to react with despair when faced with visible, overwhelming odds, while Elisha, in the subsequent verses, embodies unwavering **faith** in an unseen spiritual reality. This narrative also underscores the theme of **spiritual warfare**, where the true battle is often unseen, and God's heavenly hosts are far more numerous and powerful than any earthly army, echoing similar themes found in passages like [Psalm 34:7](/psalms/34-7 "Psalm 34:7 - The Angel of the Lord Encamps").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Host (Hebrew, _machaneh'_):** This word refers to an encampment, a camp, or an army. In this context, it emphasizes the sheer scale, organized nature, and military might of the Syrian forces. It's not just a few soldiers, but a vast, intimidating military presence that has completely surrounded the city, signifying an overwhelming and inescapable threat.
* **Alas! (Hebrew, _'ah'_):** This is a guttural exclamation of distress, lament, or despair. It conveys a deep sense of hopelessness and utter helplessness. The servant is not merely surprised; he is profoundly overwhelmed and believes their situation is beyond remedy, expressing a raw, visceral fear.
* **How shall we do? (Hebrew, _mah-na'aseh'_):** This rhetorical question expresses the servant's conviction that there is no possible course of action, no escape, and no solution. It is a cry of utter desperation, indicating a complete lack of perceived options or hope in the face of the formidable enemy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth":** This clause establishes the setting – early morning – and the initial action of the servant. His "going forth" implies a routine or innocent act, making the discovery that follows all the more shocking and sudden. The title "servant of the man of God" emphasizes his proximity to Elisha and, by extension, to divine power, yet his immediate reaction is purely human.
* **"behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots":** This is the dramatic revelation. The word "behold" (Hebrew, _hinneh_) draws immediate attention to the shocking sight. The "host" (army) is described with specific military components – "horses and chariots" – which were the elite, most powerful elements of ancient armies. The phrase "compassed the city" vividly portrays the complete encirclement, signifying that Dothan and its inhabitants, including Elisha and his servant, are trapped and utterly at the mercy of this overwhelming force.
* **"And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?":** This final clause captures the servant's immediate, visceral, and human response to the terrifying sight. His address, "my master," signifies his dependence on Elisha, but his subsequent "Alas!" and "how shall we do?" reveal his complete despair and inability to conceive of any solution. He sees only the physical threat and perceives no way out, highlighting the stark contrast with Elisha's spiritual vision.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to heighten its dramatic impact and convey its theological message. **Contrast** is immediately evident between the servant's limited, fear-driven perception and Elisha's later, divinely enlightened perspective. The overwhelming physical reality of the Syrian army stands in stark opposition to the unseen spiritual reality that Elisha will soon reveal. **Foreshadowing** is also present, as the servant's desperate cry sets the stage for Elisha's miraculous intervention, hinting that a solution beyond human capability is imminent. The description of the "host" with "horses and chariots" uses **imagery** to evoke a sense of overwhelming power and inescapable threat, painting a vivid picture of the servant's despair. The servant's rhetorical question, "how shall we do?", functions as a form of **lament** and **hyperbole**, emphasizing the perceived impossibility of their situation and underscoring the depth of his fear.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Kings 6:15 serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of spiritual reality versus physical appearances. It underscores the truth that God's people often face challenges that seem insurmountable from a purely human perspective, yet there is an unseen, spiritual realm where God's power and protection are actively at work. The servant's fear highlights the human tendency to rely solely on what is visible, leading to despair. However, the narrative implicitly teaches that true security and hope are found not in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God's unseen army, which is far greater than any earthly foe. This passage encourages believers to cultivate spiritual sight, trusting that God's resources and protective hand are always at play, even when circumstances appear dire.

* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord")
* [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt for Help")
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31 - If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The servant's immediate and overwhelming fear in 2 Kings 6:15 resonates deeply with the human experience. We, too, often find ourselves confronted by "hosts" that seem to "compass" our lives – whether they are financial crises, health challenges, relational breakdowns, or societal pressures. Our natural inclination is to panic, to exclaim, "Alas! How shall we do?" This verse serves as a profound mirror, inviting us to examine where our gaze is fixed in moments of crisis. Are we, like the servant, fixated solely on the visible, formidable obstacles, or are we seeking the spiritual perspective that Elisha embodies? The narrative reminds us that our perception of reality is often limited by our physical sight, and true hope and peace are found when we learn to look beyond the immediate circumstances to the unseen, all-powerful hand of God. It challenges us to cultivate a faith that trusts in God's unseen protection and provision, even when all visible evidence suggests otherwise.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "hosts" or overwhelming challenges are currently "compassing" your life, causing you to feel fear or despair?**
* **In what ways do you tend to rely on your natural sight and understanding rather than seeking God's spiritual perspective in difficult situations?**
* **How might cultivating a deeper awareness of God's unseen presence and power change your response to overwhelming circumstances?**
* **What practical steps can you take to shift your focus from visible threats to the invisible reality of God's protection?**

### FAQ
**Why was the servant so afraid, given that he was with a powerful prophet like Elisha?**

Answer: The servant's fear was a natural human reaction to an overwhelming physical threat. Despite being in the presence of Elisha, a man through whom God had performed many miracles, the servant's immediate perception was limited to what his eyes could see: a vast, well-equipped Syrian army completely surrounding their city. This sight alone was enough to induce panic and a sense of hopelessness, as it implied certain capture or death. His fear highlights the contrast between natural human sight and the spiritual insight that Elisha possessed and would soon demonstrate, reminding us that even those close to spiritual leaders can struggle with a limited perspective.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Kings 6:15, with its stark contrast between visible threat and unseen divine protection, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The servant's cry, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" echoes humanity's desperate plea in the face of overwhelming spiritual foes – sin, death, and the powers of darkness – which are far more formidable than any earthly army. Just as Elisha opened his servant's eyes to see the "horses and chariots of fire" ([2 Kings 6:17](/2_kings/6-17 "2 Kings 6:17 - Elisha Prays for His Servant's Eyes to Be Opened")), so too does Christ open the eyes of our understanding to perceive the spiritual realities of God's kingdom. He is the ultimate "man of God" who, through His life, death, and resurrection, has decisively defeated the unseen "host" that held humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers")). In Christ, believers are not left to despair, for "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" ([1 John 4:4](/1_john/4-4 "1 John 4:4 - Greater Is He Who Is In You")). He is our ever-present protector, and through faith in Him, we are assured that no weapon formed against us shall prosper ([Isaiah 54:17](/isaiah/54-17 "Isaiah 54:17 - No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper")), for He has overcome the world ([John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Jesus Overcomes the World")). The spiritual vision granted by Christ reveals that we are surrounded not by defeat, but by the victorious presence of the Lamb of God and His heavenly host.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:26

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

2 Chronicles 20:12

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes [are] upon thee.

Psalms 53:5

There were they in great fear, [where] no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame, because God hath despised them.

Exodus 24:13

And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

2 Kings 5:20

¶ But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

1 Kings 19:21

And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

2 Kings 5:27

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow.