2 Kings 6
6
Elisha Makes an Ax Head Float
1 Some of the prophets#tn Heb “the sons of the prophets.” said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you#tn Heb “sit before you.” is too cramped#tn Heb “narrow, tight.” for us. 2 Let’s go to the Jordan. Each of us will get a log from there and we will build a meeting place for ourselves there.” He said, “Go.” 3 One of them said, “Please come along with your servants.” He replied, “All right, I’ll come.” 4 So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they started cutting down trees. 5 As one of them was felling a log, the ax head#tn Heb “iron.” dropped into the water. He shouted, “Oh no,#tn Or “ah.” my master! It was borrowed!” 6 The prophet#tn Heb “man of God” (also in v. 9). asked, “Where did it drop in?” When he showed him the spot, Elisha#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. cut off a branch, threw it in at that spot, and made the ax head float. 7 He said, “Lift it out.” So he reached out his hand and grabbed it.
Elisha Defeats an Army
8 Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his advisers, who said, “Invade#tc The verb form used here is difficult to analyze. On the basis of the form נְחִתִּים (nÿkhitim) in v. 9 from the root נָחַת (nakhat), it is probably best to emend the verb to תִּנְחְתוּ (tinkhÿtu; a Qal imperfect form from the same root). The verb נָחַת in at least two other instances carries the nuance “go down, descend” in a military context. For a defense of this view, see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 72. at such and such#sn The advisers would have mentioned a specific location, but the details are not significant to the narrator’s purpose, so he simply paraphrases here. a place.” 9 But the prophet sent this message to the king of Israel, “Make sure you don’t pass through this place because Syria is invading there.” 10 So the king of Israel sent a message to the place the prophet had pointed out, warning it#tn The vav + perfect here indicates action contemporary with the preceding main verb (“sent”). See IBHS 533-34 §32.2.3e. to be on its guard. This happened on several occasions.#tn Heb “and the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God spoke to him, and he warned it and he guarded himself there, not once and not twice.” 11 This made the king of Syria upset.#tn Heb “and the heart of the king of Syria was stirred up over this thing.” So he summoned his advisers#tn Heb “servants.” and said to them, “One of us must be helping the king of Israel.”#tn Heb “Will you not tell me who among us [is] for the king of Israel?” The sarcastic rhetorical question expresses the king’s suspicion. 12 One of his advisers said, “No, my master, O king. The prophet Elisha who lives in Israel keeps telling the king of Israel the things you say in your bedroom.” 13 The king#tn Heb “he” (also a second time in this verse); the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity. ordered, “Go, find out where he is, so I can send some men to capture him.”#tn Heb “Go and see where he [is] so I can send and take him.” The king was told, “He is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent horses and chariots there, along with a good-sized army.#tn Heb “heavy force.” They arrived during the night and surrounded the city.
15 The prophet’s#tn Heb “man of God’s.” attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha,#tn Heb “his young servant said to him.” “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” 16 He replied, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.”#tn Heb “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw that#tn Heb “and he saw, and look.” the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 As they approached him,#tn Heb “and they came down to him.” Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people#tn Or “this nation,” perhaps emphasizing the strength of the Syrian army. with blindness.”#tn On the basis of the Akkadian etymology of the word, M. Cogan and H. Tadmor (II Kings [AB], 74) translate “blinding light.” HALOT 761 s.v. סַנְוֵרִים suggests the glosses “dazzling, deception.” The Lord#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity. struck them with blindness as Elisha requested.#tn Heb “according to the word of Elisha.” 19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.” He led them to Samaria.#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.
20 When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open their eyes, so they can see.” The Lord opened their eyes and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.#tn Heb “and they saw, and look, [they were] in the middle of Samaria.” 21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Should I strike them down,#tn Heb “Should I strike them down? I will strike them down.” In the Hebrew text the first person imperfect form is repeated; the first form has the interrogative he prefixed to it; the second does not. It is likely that the second form should be omitted as dittographic or that the first should be emended to an infinitive absolute. my master?”#tn Heb “my father.” The king addresses the prophet in this way to indicate his respect. See 2 Kgs 2:12. 22 He replied, “Do not strike them down! You did not capture them with your sword or bow, so what gives you the right to strike them down?#tn Heb “Are [they] ones you captured with your sword or your bow (that) you can strike (them) down?” Give them some food and water, so they can eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he threw a big banquet#tn Or “held a great feast.” for them and they ate and drank. Then he sent them back#tn Heb “they went back.” to their master. After that no Syrian raiding parties again invaded the land of Israel.
The Lord Saves Samaria
24 Later King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled his entire army and attacked#tn Heb “went up.” and besieged Samaria.#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. 25 Samaria’s food supply ran out.#tn Heb “and there was a great famine in Samaria.” They laid siege to it so long that#tn Heb “and look, [they] were besieging it until.” a donkey’s head was selling for eighty shekels of silver#tn Heb “eighty, silver.” The unit of measurement is omitted. and a quarter of a kab#sn A kab was a unit of dry measure, equivalent to approximately one quart. of dove’s droppings#tn The consonantal text (Kethib) reads, “dove dung” (חֲרֵייוֹנִים, khareyonim), while the marginal reading (Qere) has “discharge” (דִּבְיוֹנִים, divyonim). Based on evidence from Akkadian, M. Cogan and H. Tadmor (II Kings [AB], 79) suggest that “dove’s dung” was a popular name for the inedible husks of seeds. for five shekels of silver.#tn Heb “five, silver.” The unit of measurement is omitted.
26 While the king of Israel was passing by on the city wall, a woman shouted to him, “Help us, my master, O king!” 27 He replied, “No, let the Lord help you. How can I help you? The threshing floor and winepress are empty.”#tn Heb “From where can I help you, from the threshing floor or the winepress?” The rhetorical question expresses the king’s frustration. He has no grain or wine to give to the masses. 28 Then the king asked her, “What’s your problem?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Hand over your son; we’ll eat him today and then eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. Then I said to her the next day, ‘Hand over your son and we’ll eat him.’ But she hid her son!” 30 When the king heard what the woman said, he tore his clothes. As he was passing by on the wall, the people could see he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes.#tn Heb “the people saw, and look, [there was] sackcloth against his skin underneath.” 31 Then he said, “May God judge me severely#tn Heb “So may God do to me, and so may he add.” if Elisha son of Shaphat still has his head by the end of the day!”#tn Heb “if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat stays on him today.”
32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the community leaders.#tn Heb “and the elders were sitting with him.” The king#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity. sent a messenger on ahead, but before he arrived,#tn Heb “sent a man from before him, before the messenger came to him.” Elisha#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said to the leaders,#tn Heb “elders.” “Do you realize this assassin intends to cut off my head?”#tn Heb “Do you see that this son of an assassin has sent to remove my head?” Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and lean against it. His master will certainly be right behind him.”#tn Heb “Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” 33 He was still talking to them when#tn The Hebrew text also has “look” here. the messenger approached#tn Heb “came down to him.” and said, “Look, the Lord is responsible for this disaster!#tn Heb “Look, this is a disaster from the Lord.” Why should I continue to wait for the Lord to help?”
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2 Kings 6
6
1And the children of the Prophets saide vnto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the place where we dwell with thee, is too litle for vs. 2Let vs nowe goe to Iorden, that we may take thence euery man a beame, and make vs a place to dwell in. And he answered, Goe. 3And one said, Vouchsafe, I pray thee, to go with thy seruants, and he answered, I will goe. 4So he went with them, and when they came to Iorden, they cut downe wood. 5And as one was felling of a tree, the yron fell into the water: then he cryed, and said, Alas master, it was but borowed. 6And the man of God saide, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. Then he cut downe a piece of wood, and cast in thither, and he caused the yron to swimme. 7Then he saide, Take it vp to thee. And he stretched out his hand, and tooke it. 8Then the King of Aram warred against Israel, and tooke counsell with his seruants, and said, In such and such a place shalbe my campe. 9Therefore the man of God sent vnto the King of Israel, saying, Beware thou goe not ouer to such a place: for there the Aramites are come downe. 10So the King of Israel sent to the place which the man of God tolde him, and warned him of, and saued himselfe from thence, not once, nor twise. 11And the heart of the King of Aram was troubled for this thing: therefore he called his seruants and saide vnto them, Will ye not shewe me, which of vs bewrayeth our counsel to the king of Israel? 12Then one of his seruants saide, None, my lorde, O King, but Elisha the Prophet that is in Israel, telleth the King of Israel, euen the wordes that thou speakest in thy priuie chamber. 13And he said, Goe, and espie where he is, that I may sende and fetch him. And one tolde him, saying, Beholde, he is in Dothan. 14So he sent thither horses, and charets, and a mightie hoste: and they came by night, and compassed the citie. 15And when the seruant of the man of God arose earely to goe out, beholde, an hoste compassed the citie with horses and charets. Then his seruant sayde vnto him, Alas master, howe shall we doe? 16And he answered, Feare not: for they that be with vs, are moe then they that be with them. 17Then Elisha prayed, and saide, Lord, I beseech thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the seruant, and he looked, and beholde, the mountaine was full of horses and charets of fyre round about Elisha. 18So they came downe to him, but Elisha prayed vnto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindnesse. And he smote them with blindnes, according to the worde of Elisha. 19And Elisha said vnto them, This is not the way, neither is this the citie: follow me, and I will leade you to the man whome ye seeke. But he ledde them to Samaria. 20And when they were come to Samaria, Elisha saide, Lord, open their eyes that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, and beholde, they were in the mids of Samaria. 21And the King of Israel sayde vnto Elisha when he sawe them, My father, shall I smite them, shall I smite them? 22And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: doest thou not smite them that thou hast taken with thy sworde, and with thy bowe? but set bread and water before them, that they may eate and drinke and goe to their master. 23And he made great preparation for them: and when they had eaten and drunken, he sent them away: and they went to their master. So ye bands of Aram came no more into the land of Israel. 24But afterward Ben-hadad King of Aram gathered all his hoste, and went vp, and besieged Samaria. 25So there was a great famine in Samaria: for loe, they besieged it vntill an asses head was at foure score pieces of siluer, and the fourth part of a kab of doues doung at fiue pieces of siluer. 26And as the King of Israel was going vpon the wall, there cryed a woman vnto him, saying, Helpe, my lord, O King. 27And he said, Seeing the Lord doeth not succour thee, howe shoulde I helpe thee with the barne, or with the wine presse? 28Also the King said vnto her, What ayleth thee? And she answered, This woman sayde vnto me, Giue thy sonne, that we may eate him to day, and we will eate my sonne to morowe, 29So we sod my sonne, and did eate him: and I saide to her the day after, Giue thy sonne, that we may eate him, but she hath hid her sonne. 30And when the King had heard the wordes of the woman, he rent his clothes, (and as he went vpon the wall, the people looked, and behold, he had sackecloth within vpon his flesh) 31And he saide, God doe so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the sonne of Shaphat shall stande on him this day. 32(Nowe Elisha sate in his house, and the Elders sate with him.) And the King sent a man before him: but before the messenger came to him, he saide to the Elders, See ye not howe this murtherers sonne hath sent to take away mine head? take heede when the messenger commeth, and shut the doore and handle him roughly at the doore: is not the sounde of his masters feete behinde him? 33While he yet talked with them, beholde, the messenger came downe vnto him, and saide, Behold, this euill commeth of the Lord: should I attende on the Lord any longer?
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