Chapter 6
1 The sons of the prophets said to Elisha , " See now , the place where we live and meet with you is too small for us .
2 Please let us go to the Jordan , and each man take a beam from there , and let ’s make us a place there , where we may live ." He answered, " Go !"
3 One said, " Please be pleased to go with your servants ." He answered, " I will go ."
4 So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan , they cut down wood .
5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the axe head fell into the water . Then he cried out and said, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed ."
6 The man of God asked, " Where did it fall ?" He showed him the place . He cut down a stick , threw it in there , and made the iron float .
7 He said, " Take it ." So he put out his hand and took it .
8 Now the king of Syria was at war against Israel ; and he took counsel with his servants , saying, " My camp will be in such and such a place ."
9 The man of God sent to the king of Israel , saying, " Beware that you not pass this place , for the Syrians are coming down there ."
10 The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of ; and he saved himself there , not once or twice .
11 The king of Syria’s heart was very troubled about this . He called his servants , and said to them , "Won’t you show me which of us is for the king of Israel ?"
12 One of his servants said , " No , my lord, O king ; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel , tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom ."
13 He said, " Go and see where he is , that I may send and get him ." He was told , " Behold , he is in Dothan ."
14 Therefore he sent horses , chariots , and a great army there . They came by night and surrounded the city .
15 When the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone out , behold , an army with horses and chariots was around the city . His servant said to him , "Alas, my master! What shall we do ?"
16 He answered, "Don’t be afraid , for those who are with us are more than those who are with them ."
17 Elisha prayed , and said, " LORD , please open his eyes , that he may see ." the LORD opened the young man ’s eyes , and he saw ; and behold , the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.
18 When they came down to him , Elisha prayed to the LORD , and said , " Please strike this people with blindness ." He struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s word .
19 Elisha said to them , " This is not the way , neither is this the city . Follow me , and I will bring you to the man whom you seek ." He led them to Samaria .
20 When they had come into Samaria , Elisha said, " LORD , open these men’s eyes , that they may see ." The LORD opened their eyes , and they saw ; and behold , they were in the middle of Samaria .
21 The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them , " My father, shall I strike them ? Shall I strike them ?"
22 He answered, " You shall not strike them . Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow ? Set bread and water before them , that they may eat and drink , then go to their master."
23 He prepared a great feast for them . After they ate and drank , he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel .
24 After this , Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army , and went up and besieged Samaria .
25 There was a great famine in Samaria . Behold , they besieged it until a donkey ’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver , and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver .
26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall , a woman cried to him , saying, " Help , my lord, O king !"
27 He said, "If the LORD doesn’t help you , where could I get help for you ? From the threshing floor , or from the wine press ?"
28 Then the king asked her , " What is your problem?" She answered, " This woman said to me , ‘ Give your son , that we may eat him today , and we will eat my son tomorrow .’
29 So we boiled my son and ate him ; and I said to her on the next day , ‘ Give up your son , that we may eat him ;’ and she has hidden her son ."
30 When the king heard the words of the woman , he tore his clothes. Now he was passing by on the wall , and the people looked , and behold , he had sackcloth underneath on his body .
31 Then he said, "God do so to me , and more also , if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on him today ."
32 But Elisha was sitting in his house , and the elders were sitting with him . Then the king sent a man from before him ; but before the messenger came to him , he said to the elders , " Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head ? Behold , when the messenger comes , shut the door , and hold the door shut against him . Isn’t the sound of his master ’s feet behind him ?"
33 While he was still talking with them , behold , the messenger came down to him . Then he said , " Behold , this evil is from the LORD . Why should I wait for the LORD any longer ?"