2 Kings 6:14

Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

Therefore sent {H7971} he thither horses {H5483}, and chariots {H7393}, and a great {H3515} host {H2428}: and they came {H935} by night {H3915}, and compassed {H5362} the city {H5892} about {H5362}.

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

the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city.

Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

Commentary

2 Kings 6:14 describes the formidable military response of the King of Syria to the prophet Elisha's divinely-given insights. Frustrated by Elisha repeatedly revealing his war plans to the King of Israel, the Syrian monarch dispatched a massive force to capture the prophet, hoping to neutralize this spiritual advantage.

Context

This verse is part of a thrilling narrative in 2 Kings 6 where the prophet Elisha plays a pivotal role in protecting Israel from Syrian incursions. The King of Syria, Ben-hadad II, was consistently thwarted in his military campaigns because Elisha, through divine revelation, supernaturally informed the King of Israel of the Syrian army's ambush locations (2 Kings 6:10). Believing there was a traitor within his own ranks, the Syrian king was informed by his servants that it was Elisha, the prophet living in Dothan, who possessed this extraordinary foresight (2 Kings 6:12). Incensed by this spiritual opposition and the frustration of his military efforts, he decided to capture Elisha by force, viewing him as a significant threat to his strategic objectives.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Knowledge: The passage powerfully illustrates God's omniscience, revealing secrets to His prophet that no human strategy or intelligence could uncover. This divine insight rendered even the most powerful human military plans ineffective.
  • The Scale of Opposition: The Syrian kingโ€™s decision to send "horses, and chariots, and a great host" signifies the immense perceived threat of Elisha's spiritual power. It underscores the intensity of the spiritual battle, where overwhelming physical forces are deployed against a single man of God.
  • Strategic Secrecy and Surprise: The detail that "they came by night, and compassed the city about" emphasizes the Syrian army's attempt at a surprise, overwhelming capture. Their aim was to secure Elisha discreetly before he could receive further divine warning or potentially escape, highlighting their desperation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "great host" in the original Hebrew is chayil gadol (ื—ึทื™ึดืœ ื’ึผึธื“ื•ึนืœ), which directly translates to "great army" or "great force." This term emphasizes the sheer magnitude, strength, and formidable nature of the military contingent dispatched. It highlights the significant resources and determination the Syrian king committed to apprehending Elisha, underscoring the gravity with which he viewed the prophet's supernatural capabilities.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual opposition can manifest in overwhelming physical or circumstantial challenges. Just as the Syrian army surrounded the city of Dothan, believers may sometimes feel surrounded by seemingly insurmountable difficulties or hostile forces. However, the subsequent verses (notably 2 Kings 6:17) reveal that God's invisible protection is far greater than any visible threat. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's unseen power and provision, even when human resources seem inadequate or the enemy's strength appears overwhelming. It also highlights the importance of spiritual discernment in understanding the true nature of our battles, which are often not merely against "flesh and blood" but against unseen spiritual forces.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash 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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 18:3 (2 votes)

    Judas then, having received a band [of men] and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

  • John 18:6 (2 votes)

    As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.

  • Matthew 26:55 (2 votes)

    In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

  • Matthew 26:47 (2 votes)

    ยถ And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

  • 1 Samuel 23:26 (2 votes)

    And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

  • 1 Samuel 24:2 (2 votes)

    Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

  • 2 Kings 18:17 (2 votes)

    ยถ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field.