Bible Chapter Summary
2 Kings 6 Summary
Divine Protection and the Siege of Samaria
Elisha helps the sons of the prophets recover a borrowed axe head from the Jordan by making it float. When Syria wars against Israel, Elisha reveals the Syrian camp's plans to the king of Israel repeatedly, saving the nation from ambush. The Syrian king discovers that Elisha reveals his secret counsel and sends horses, chariots, and a great host to capture him at Dothan. Elisha's servant sees the surrounding army and despairs, but Elisha prays that his eyes be opened to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire. Elisha then strikes the Syrian army with blindness, leads them to Samaria, and restores their sight; the king of Israel would slay them, but Elisha commands him to feed them instead, and the Syrian bands cease coming into Israel. Later, Ben-hadad besieges Samaria and causes great famine where prices become exorbitant and people resort to cannibalism.
Key themes
Key verses
2 Kings 6:17
“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
2 Kings 6:18
“And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.”
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.”
2 Kings 6:25
“And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.”
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