2 Kings 6:22

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.

And he answered {H559}, Thou shalt not smite {H5221} them: wouldest thou smite {H5221} those whom thou hast taken captive {H7617} with thy sword {H2719} and with thy bow {H7198}? set {H7760} bread {H3899} and water {H4325} before {H6440} them, that they may eat {H398} and drink {H8354}, and go {H3212} to their master {H113}.

He answered, "Don't attack them! You wouldn't even attack prisoners you had captured with your own sword and bow, would you? So give them food to eat and water to drink, and let them return to their master."

β€œDo not kill them,” he replied. β€œWould you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”

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.

Commentary

Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of the prophet Elisha and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Syria. A Syrian army, sent to capture Elisha, was miraculously struck with blindness at Elisha's prayer (2 Kings 6:18). Elisha then led the disoriented soldiers directly into Samaria, the capital of Israel. The King of Israel, seeing his enemies helpless before him, eagerly asked Elisha if he should kill them. Elisha's response in verse 22 is a profound demonstration of God's unexpected mercy and strategic wisdom, defying conventional warfare tactics.

Key Themes

  • Divine Mercy and Compassion: Elisha's command to feed the enemy soldiers instead of killing them highlights God's preference for mercy over immediate retribution. This act of kindness is a powerful witness, demonstrating a compassion that transcends human animosity.
  • God's Unconventional Strategy: The Lord, through Elisha, employed an extraordinary method to deal with the Syrian threat. Rather than a bloody battle, God used a display of His power and an act of grace to disarm the enemy, proving His sovereignty in unique ways. This divine strategy ultimately caused the Syrian raiding bands to cease their incursions for a time (2 Kings 6:23).
  • Overcoming Evil with Good: This Old Testament account provides a powerful precursor to New Testament teachings on overcoming evil with good and loving one's enemies. Elisha's instruction to provide food and water to the captives embodies this principle, aiming to soften the hearts of adversaries rather than harden them.
  • Elisha's Prophetic Authority: Elisha, as God's prophet, overrides the king's natural inclination for vengeance. His words carry divine authority, guiding the king to act according to God's will, not human impulse.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "smite" (Χ ΦΈΧ›ΦΈΧ” - nakah) implies striking, beating, or killing. Elisha's rhetorical question, "wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow?" emphasizes the distinction between those captured in fair battle and those supernaturally delivered into one's hands. The implication is that these soldiers were not captured through the king's prowess but by divine intervention, thus requiring a different, more merciful response.

Practical Application

This passage challenges believers to consider how they respond to adversaries or those who cause them harm. It teaches that:

  • Mercy is a Powerful Weapon: Acts of kindness, even towards enemies, can be more effective in the long run than aggression.
  • Trust God's Methods: God's ways are often counter-intuitive to human logic. We are called to trust His plans, even when they seem unconventional.
  • Be a Witness: Showing compassion can be a powerful testimony to God's character, potentially leading others to consider His truth.
  • Overcome Hatred with Love: In a world often driven by retaliation, this narrative calls us to embody God's love and extend grace.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 48:22

    Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

  • Romans 12:20

    Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

  • Romans 12:21

    Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:8

    And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:15

    And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

  • Deuteronomy 20:11

    And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, [that] all the people [that is] found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

  • Deuteronomy 20:16

    But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
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