1 T he sons of the prophets said to Elisha, Look now, the place where we live before you is too small for us.

Now the sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future said to Elisha, “See, the place where we are living under your care is too small for us.

2 L et us go to the Jordan, and each man get there a beam; and let us make us a place there where we may dwell. And he answered, Go.

Let us go to the Jordan and each of us cut down a tree there. And let us make a place for us to live there.” So Elisha said, “Go.”

3 O ne said, Be pleased to go with your servants. He answered, I will go.

Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And Elisha answered, “I will go.”

4 S o he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.

So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.

5 B ut as one was felling his beam, the axhead fell into the water; and he cried, Alas, my master, for it was borrowed!

But as one of them was cutting a tree, the ax head fell into the water. The man cried out, “It is bad, sir! The ax belongs to another man, and I was to return it.”

6 T he man of God said, Where did it fall? When shown the place, Elisha cut off a stick and threw it in there, and the iron floated.

The man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, Elisha cut off a stick and threw it in, and the iron came to the top of the water.

7 H e said, Pick it up. And he put out his hand and took it.

He said, “Pick it up.” So his servant put out his hand and took it. Syrian Army Loses the Battle

8 W hen the king of Syria was warring against Israel, after counseling with his servants, he said, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

Now the king of Syria was fighting a war against Israel. He had a meeting with his servants, and said, “This is the place where I will be staying.”

9 T hen the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you pass not such a place, for the Syrians are coming down there.

The man of God sent news to the king of Israel, saying, “Be careful that you do not pass this place. For the Syrians are coming down there.”

10 T hen the king of Israel sent to the place of which told and warned him; and thus he protected and saved himself there repeatedly.

The king of Israel sent men to the place where the man of God said there would be danger. So he saved himself there more than once or twice.

11 T herefore the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing. He called his servants and said, Will you show me who of us is for the king of Israel?

The heart of the king of Syria was angry because of this. He called his servants and said to them, “Will you show me which one of us is helping the king of Israel?”

12 O ne of his servants said, None, my lord O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber.

And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king. Elisha, the man of God who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you say in your bedroom.”

13 H e said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him. And it was told him, He is in Dothan.

So he said, “Go and see where Elisha is, that I may send men to take him.” And he was told, “See, he is in Dothan.”

14 S o sent there horses, chariots, and a great army. They came by night and surrounded the city.

So the king of Syria sent horses and war-wagons and an army of many soldiers there. They came during the night and gathered around the city.

15 W hen the servant of the man of God rose early and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. Elisha’s servant said to him, Alas, my master! What shall we do?

The servant of the man of God got up early and went out. And he saw an army with horses and war-wagons around the city. The servant said to Elisha, “It is bad, sir! What should we do?”

16 a nswered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them.

He answered, “Do not be afraid. For those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 T hen Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes, that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw. He saw that the mountain was full of horses and war-wagons of fire all around Elisha.

18 A nd when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, Smite this people with blindness, I pray You. And God smote them with blindness, as Elisha asked.

When the Syrians came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, saying, “Make these people blind, I pray.” So the Lord made them blind, as Elisha had said.

19 E lisha said to the Syrians, This is not the way or the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. And he led them to Samaria.

Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way. This is not the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man you are looking for.” And he brought them to Samaria.

20 A nd when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw. Behold, they were in the midst of Samaria!

When they had come to Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men. Let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw. They saw they were in the center of Samaria.

21 W hen the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, My father, shall I slay them? Shall I slay them?

When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

22 a nswered, You shall not slay them. Would you slay those you have taken captive with your sword and bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and return to their master.

He answered, “Do not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken against their will with your sword and bow? Give them bread and water. Let them eat and drink and return to their owner.”

23 S o prepared great provision for them, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

So he made a big supper for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away. And they went to their owner. The Syrians sent no more small groups of soldiers into the land of Israel. Samaria’s Trouble

24 A fterward, Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered his whole army and went up and besieged Samaria,

After this, Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army and went up against Samaria.

25 A nd a great famine came to Samaria. They besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.

There was a time of no food in Samaria. The Syrian army gathered around it, until a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver. A half cup of dove’s waste sold for five pieces of silver.

26 A s the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried to him, Help, my lord, O king!

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help, my lord, O king!”

27 H e said, if he does not help you, from where can I get you help? Out of the threshing floor, or out of the winepress?

And he said, “If the Lord does not help you, from where can I help you? From the grain-floor, or from the grape-crusher?”

28 A nd the king said to her, What ails you? She answered, This woman said to me, Give me your son so we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.

Then the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, so we may eat him today. And we will eat my son tomorrow.’

29 S o we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, Give your son so we may eat him, but she had hidden her son.

So we made my son ready to eat over the fire, and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, so we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.”

30 W hen the king heard the woman’s words, he rent his clothes. As he went on upon the wall, the people looked, and behold, he wore sackcloth inside on his flesh.

When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. He was passing by on the wall, and the people looked. They saw that he wore cloth made from hair under his clothes.

31 T hen he said, May God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day!

Then he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on him today.”

32 N ow Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him. And the king sent a man from before him. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, See how this son of a murderer is sending to remove my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it fast against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

Now Elisha was sitting in his house. And the leaders were sitting with him. The king sent a man, but before the man came to him, Elisha said to the leaders, “Do you see how this son of a killer has sent to take off my head? See, when the king’s man comes, shut the door. Hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his owner’s feet behind him?”

33 A nd while Elisha was talking with them, behold, came to him. And said, This evil is from the Lord! Why should I any longer wait ?

While he was still talking with them, the king came down to him and said, “See, this trouble is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”