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2 Kings 6:32

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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?

But Elisha {H477} sat {H3427} in his house {H1004}, and the elders {H2205} sat {H3427} with him; and the king sent {H7971} a man {H376} from before {H6440} him: but ere the messenger {H4397} came {H935} to him, he said {H559} to the elders {H2205}, See {H7200} ye how this son {H1121} of a murderer {H7523} hath sent {H7971} to take away {H5493} mine head {H7218}? look {H7200}, when the messenger {H4397} cometh {H935}, shut {H5462} the door {H1817}, and hold him fast {H3905} at the door {H1817}: is not the sound {H6963} of his master's {H113} feet {H7272} behind {H310} him?

Elisha was sitting in his house, and the leaders were sitting there with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the leaders, "Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent someone to remove my head? Look, when the messenger comes, close the door and keep it shut against him. You can hear his master's footsteps following right behind him!"

Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”

But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him; andthe kingsent 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 my head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold the door fast against him: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

Commentary

2 Kings 6:32 captures a pivotal moment during a severe siege in Samaria, revealing the prophet Elisha's extraordinary divine insight and the desperate, murderous intent of the King of Israel.

Context

This verse is set amidst a devastating siege of Samaria by the Syrian army under Ben-hadad, leading to an extreme famine within the city. The suffering was so intense that people resorted to cannibalism, as starkly described in the verses immediately preceding (2 Kings 6:25 and 2 Kings 6:29). The King of Israel (likely Jehoram, son of Ahab) was overwhelmed by the crisis and, in his despair and anger, blamed Elisha for the calamity. He rashly vowed to kill the prophet, dispatching a messenger to execute his command.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation and Prophetic Insight: Elisha, while sitting with the elders, supernaturally knows the king's secret decision and the messenger's impending arrival before he even reaches the door. This highlights God's ability to reveal hidden things to His servants.
  • God's Protection of His Servants: Despite the king's murderous intent, Elisha is not caught off guard. God forewarns him, enabling him to prepare and protect himself, demonstrating divine oversight even in dangerous situations.
  • The King's Desperation and Rashness: The king's decree to kill Elisha stems from profound desperation and a misguided attempt to attribute blame, showcasing the dangers of leadership without divine guidance in times of crisis.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Son of a murderer": Elisha refers to the King of Israel (Jehoram) as "this son of a murderer." This is a powerful and ironic accusation. Jehoram was the son of King Ahab, who famously murdered Naboth to seize his vineyard (1 Kings 21:19). Elisha uses this term not just as an insult, but to prophetically link Jehoram's current murderous intent to his father's violent legacy.
  • "Take away mine head": This is a blunt and direct expression for execution, clearly indicating the king's lethal command.
  • "Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?": This crucial phrase reveals the depth of Elisha's prophetic vision. He knows that the king himself, the "master" of the messenger, is following closely behind to ensure the execution is carried out or to confront Elisha directly. This underscores that Elisha's knowledge isn't merely of the messenger's arrival, but of the king's immediate presence.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even when facing intense opposition or seemingly insurmountable problems, God is aware and in control. He knows the thoughts and intentions of all, and He protects His own.
  • Divine Guidance in Crisis: Like Elisha, we are called to seek God's wisdom and guidance, especially when circumstances seem dire. God can provide clarity and direction when human solutions fail.
  • Patience and Discernment: The king's rashness led him to blame and attack an innocent prophet. This serves as a reminder to exercise patience and discernment, avoiding hasty judgments and seeking God's perspective before acting, particularly under pressure.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 8:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, [as] I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

  • Ezekiel 14:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

  • 1 Kings 18:4 (5 votes)

    For it was [so], when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

  • Ezekiel 20:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, [that] certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

  • 1 Kings 21:10 (3 votes)

    And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And [then] carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

  • 1 Kings 18:13 (3 votes)

    Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

  • 1 Kings 18:14 (3 votes)

    And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here]: and he shall slay me.