2 Kings6

Elisha performs a miracle by making a borrowed axe head float. He then supernaturally discerns the Syrian king's military plans, repeatedly saving Israel. When the Syrians attempt to capture Elisha, he blinds them and leads them to Samaria, where they are fed and released, halting further raids. The chapter concludes with a severe famine during a subsequent Syrian siege of Samaria, leading to extreme desperation and the king's vow to kill Elisha.

The Floating Axe Head

The guild prophets said to Elisha, "As you can see, the place where we are living in order to be with you is too small for us.

Please allow us to go to the Yarden; each of us will collect a log there, and we'll build a place there for us to live." He answered, "Go ahead."

But one of them said, "Please, won't you come with your servants?" He answered, "All right, I will";

so he went with them. When they arrived at the Yarden, they cut down trees;

but as one was felling a tree trunk, the head of his axe fell in the water. "Oh, no!" he cried. "My master, it was a borrowed one!"

The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" He showed him the place. Then Elisha cut a stick, threw it in there, and the iron axe-head floated to the surface.

"Lift it out," he said. So he put out his hand and took it.

Elisha Reveals Syrian War Plans

Now the king of Aram went to war against Isra'el; and in consulting his servants he said, "I'll set up my ambush camp in such-and-such a place."

The man of God sent this message to the king of Isra'el: "Be careful not to go past such-and-such a place, because Aram will attack there."

So the king of Isra'el sent men to the place the man of God had told him and warned him about, and he took special precautions there. This happened more than once or twice,

and it greatly upset the king of Aram. He called his servants and said to them, "Tell me which of you is betraying us to the king of Isra'el?"

One of his servants replied, "It's not that, my lord, king. Rather, Elisha, the prophet who is in Isra'el, tells the king of Isra'el the words you speak privately in your own bedroom!"

He said, "Go and see where he is, so that I can send and bring him here." They told him, "He's in Dotan."

So he sent horses, chariots and a large army there; they came by night and surrounded the city.

Chariots of Fire Protect Elisha

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?"

He answered, "Don't be afraid - those who are with us outnumber those who are with them!"

Elisha prayed, "ADONAI, I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see." Then ADONAI opened the young man's eyes, and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha, the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots.

When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to ADONAI, "Please strike these people blind"; and he struck them blind, as Elisha had asked.

Next, Elisha told them, "You've lost your way, and this isn't even the right city. Follow me, and I'll take you to the man you're looking for." Then he led them to Shomron.

On their arrival in Shomron, Elisha said, "ADONAI, open the eyes of these men, so that they can see." ADONAI opened their eyes, and they saw: there they were, in the middle of Shomron.

When the king of Isra'el saw them, he asked Elisha, "My father, should I attack them? Should I attack them?"

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."

So he provided well for them; and after they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away; and they returned to their master. After that, no more raiding parties entered the land of Isra'el from Aram.

The Siege and Great Famine

But some time afterwards, Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, went up and laid siege to Shomron.

At the time, there was a severe famine in Shomron; and they maintained their siege until a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver and half a pint of doves' dung for five pieces of silver.

As the king of Isra'el was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, "Help, my lord, king!"

He said, "If ADONAI isn't helping you, how do you expect me to help you? There isn't any grain, and there isn't any wine."

Then the king asked her, "What's troubling you?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give me your son, so that we can eat him today; and we'll eat my son tomorrow.'

So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give your son, so that we can eat him,' but she has hidden her son."

When the king heard what the woman said, he tore his clothes. At the time, he was passing by on the wall; and when the people looked, they saw him there with sackcloth against his skin.

Then he said, "May God do terrible things to me, and worse ones too, if the head of Elisha the son of Shafat remains on his body by day's end."

Elisha Confronts the King's Anger

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!"

While he was still speaking, the messenger arrived with this message from the king: "Here, this evil is from ADONAI. Why should I wait for ADONAI any longer?"

Study Notes for 2 Kings 6

Verse 1

The 'sons of the prophets' were communities of spiritual disciples established by Elijah and Elisha. Their need for expansion indicates the growth and health of the prophetic movement in Israel.

Verse 5

The urgency of the prophet’s cry emphasizes the seriousness of losing borrowed property. The miracle is performed not just to display power, but to restore integrity and relieve the prophet’s distress.

Verse 6

Elisha’s simple action of throwing a stick into the water demonstrates God’s power extending even to the reversal of natural laws, providing for the practical needs of his servants.

Verse 8

This section introduces the ongoing conflict between Israel and Aram (Syria). The Syrian king (likely Benhadad) uses secret strategy, but Elisha’s divine insight renders these plans useless.

Verse 9

Elisha acts as a divine intelligence agent, protecting the King of Israel (Joram) despite Israel’s spiritual failures, emphasizing God’s faithfulness to preserve his people.

Verse 12

This verse underscores the extent of divine knowledge available through Elisha—God knows the most secret thoughts and plans of the enemies, even those spoken in the king's private chamber.

Verse 14

Dothan was a strategic city located on a major trade route, making it an ideal place for the Syrian army to attempt to capture Elisha.

Verse 15

The young servant’s fear reflects the limitations of human sight and reliance on physical defense. His initial despair contrasts with Elisha’s calm faith.

Verse 16

Elisha’s reply is a profound declaration of faith, asserting the reality of the invisible spiritual army protecting God’s prophet. The forces of heaven outweigh earthly threats.

Verse 17

The 'horses and chariots of fire' recall Elijah’s fiery ascension (2 Kings 2:11). This vision provides a visible manifestation of God’s overwhelming heavenly army, assuring the servant of divine protection.

Verse 18

Elisha requests temporary blindness, a state of confusion and disorientation (Hebrew: *sanwerim*). This serves to disarm the enemy without immediate slaughter.

Verse 22

Elisha commands an act of radical mercy and hospitality toward the enemy, promoting non-retaliation. This act demonstrates God’s desire for magnanimity and served to demoralize future Syrian raids.

Verse 23

The generosity shown by Israel led to a temporary period of peace. This illustrates that covenant actions (mercy toward the enemy) can be more effective than military might.

Verse 24

This siege by Benhadad contrasts sharply with the earlier peaceful resolution, showing the continued geopolitical struggle and the cyclical nature of conflict.

Verse 25

This verse portrays the horrific conditions of the famine, fulfilling the curses of the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 28:53). The high price of non-food items signifies absolute desperation.

Verse 29

The act of cannibalism is the ultimate sign of covenant disaster and national breakdown (Leviticus 26:29), illustrating the consequence of Israel’s continued disobedience.

Verse 31

The king blames Elisha for the catastrophe, shifting responsibility from the nation's sin onto the prophet who represented God. This rash vow of execution demonstrates profound spiritual ignorance and misplaced rage.

Verse 32

Elisha supernaturally knows the king’s murderous intent before the messenger arrives. His reference to the king as 'this son of a murderer' likely refers to King Ahab or the bloody history of the ruling dynasty.

Verse 33

The king's statement reflects profound theological despair: he recognizes that the suffering is 'of the LORD' but concludes that waiting for God to act is useless, demonstrating a complete breakdown of trust.

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2 Kings6

The Floating Axe Head

Elisha Reveals Syrian War Plans

Chariots of Fire Protect Elisha

The Siege and Great Famine

Elisha Confronts the King's Anger

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