2 Kings 6:13-23

B. ELISHA CAPTURES A TROOP OF SOLDIERS 6:13-23

TRANSLATION

(13) And he said, Go and observe where he is, that I may send, and take him. And someone told him, Behold, in Dothan. (14) And he sent there horses, chariots, and a strong force; and they came by night and surrounded the city. (IS) And the minister of the man of God had risen early to go out, and behold a host surrounding the city with horse and chariot. And his servant said unto him, Alas my master! How shall we do? (16) And he said, Do not fear, for more numerous are those with us than those with them. (17) And Elisha prayed, and said, O LORD open, I pray you, his eyes that he might see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw, and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. (18) And they went down unto them.[539] And Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite, I pray you, this people with blindness. And He smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. (19) And Elisha said unto them, Not this way, and not this city. Come after me, and I will bring you to the man whom you are seeking. And he took them to Samaria. (20) And it came to pass when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold they were in the midst of Samaria. (21) And the king of Israel said unto Elisha when he saw them, Shall I smite them? Shall I smite them, my father? (22) And he said, Do not smite them. Would you be smiting those you had taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, that they may go unto their master. (23) And he prepared great provisions for them, and they ate and drank; then he sent them away, and they went unto their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not again come into the land of Israel.

[539] The object of the preposition is singular but seems to refer to the Aramean host and thus in English it seems best to render them.

COMMENTS

Benhadad did not express any doubt as to the validity of the suggestion that Elisha was responsible for revealing his military plans to the king of Israel. The king issued orders that spies be sent into Israel to ascertain the present residence of the prophet. Benhadad planned to spirit away the man of God so as to put an end to Elisha's betrayal of his plans to Jehoram. The returning spies reported that Elisha was residing in Dothan, a village on the edge of the plain of Esdraelon about twelve miles north of Samaria[540] (2 Kings 6:13). A strong force was dispatched to Dothan with orders to kidnap the prophet. In order to take Elisha by surprise, the Arameans marched by night and encompassed the city (2 Kings 6:14).

[540] The ease with which this expedition penetrated Israelite territory indicates that this was a time when the northern frontiers could not be effectively defended.

Perhaps the new servant of Elisha had heard the commotion outside the city walls during the night. Arising early in the morning, he discovered the city surrounded by a force which included infantry, cavalry, and even a chariot force. Faced with the prospect of capture and consequent slavery, the young servant rushed to his master to report his alarming discovery. How shall we do? he cried, i.e., is there any way we can save ourselves? (2 Kings 6:15).

Elisha was quite calm in the face of this serious threat. He did not need to survey the situation and plan strategy. He knew that God was with him, and it mattered not how many might be arrayed against him without the walls of Dothan (2 Kings 6:16). But Elisha's servant needed reassurance. Mere verbal assurance that God was nigh would not suffice for this frightened man. He needed some sort of material manifestation of the help that was readily available to the prophet. So Elisha prayed that his servant might be permitted to see that great angelic host that hovers just beyond the realm of sight and sound. The prophet's prayer was answered. The eyes of the servant were opened, and he beheld round about the hill of Dothan a heavenly force chariots and horses of fire, i.e., glowing with an unearthly brightness (2 Kings 6:17).

Rather than waiting for the Arameans to come up the slopes of Dothan to arrest him, Elisha and his servant went down to the attacking host. As they approached the enemy, Elisha prayed that God would smite the Arameans with blindness, i.e., a state of confusion and bewilderment in which they would willingly follow the directions of the prophet. God answered that prayer (2 Kings 6:18), and as a result, the enemy soldiers were so confused that they allowed Elisha to convince them that they had come the wrong way and had attacked the wrong city. If they would but follow him, the prophet suggested, he would lead them to the man they were seeking. Under this miraculous delusion, the soldiers allowed Elisha to lead them to Samaria, and into the walls of that city (2 Kings 6:19). The behavior of these soldiers is absolutely inexplicable apart from direct working of God in their mental processes.

Once the prophet had his prisoners within the walls of Samaria, he prayed that God would open their eyes, i.e., remove the bewilderment which had seized them at Dothan. When their senses returned, how shocked these soldiers must have been to discover that they were within the walls of Samaria and surrounded, no doubt, by a great throng of Israelite soldiers (2 Kings 6:20). King Jehoram, though in the past not on the most cordial terms with Elisha (cf. 2 Kings 3:11-14), addressed the prophet by the honorable title father which implied respect, deference, and submission. The king was most eager to slay these helpless invaders, but felt compelled to seek the permission of the one who had delivered them into his hand (2 Kings 6:21).

Elisha declined permission to slay these men. Whereas it may have been the custom to slay prisoners of war, these men in reality were not prisoners of war in the usual sense. If they should be slain, then the whole purpose of the miracle which had just taken place would be frustrated. The ultimate purpose of smiting these men with mental delusion and leading them to Samaria was to teach these foreigners and the king who sent them to fear the God of Israel, and to respect His people and His prophet in particular. Therefore, instead of slaying these men, the king instructed his servants to treat them hospitably and send them back to their master (2 Kings 6:23). Jehoram followed the directions of the prophet and entertained the Arameans at a great banquet after which they were given leave to return to Benhadad. As a result of this episode, the Aramean raiders, who had heretofore harassed the Israelite countryside, suspended their activities for a time, and Israel had a respite.