1 A nd the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.

Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us.

2 P lease, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.”

Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” So he said, “Go.”

3 T hen one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”

Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I shall go.”

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

So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.

5 B ut as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”

But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.”

6 S o the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.

Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float.

7 T herefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it. The Blinded Syrians Captured

He said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he put out his hand and took it. The Arameans Plot to Capture Elisha

8 N ow the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”

Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he counseled with his servants saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.”

9 A nd the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”

The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.”

10 T hen the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.

The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, more than once or twice.

11 T herefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

12 A nd one 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 bedroom.”

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 S o he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.”

So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”

14 T herefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

15 A nd when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

16 S o he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

So he answered, “ Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 A nd Elisha prayed, and said, “ Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around 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; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

18 S o when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19 N ow Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.

Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.

20 S o it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “ Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!

When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 N ow when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them? ”

Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “ My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

22 B ut he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”

He answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”

23 T hen he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. Syria Besieges Samaria in Famine

So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel. The Siege of Samaria—Cannibalism

24 A nd it happened after this that Ben-Hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.

Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria.

25 A nd there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver.

There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, 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.

26 T hen, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!”

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

27 A nd he said, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?”

He said, “ If the Lord does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”

28 T hen the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’

And the king said to her, “ What is the matter with you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’

29 S o we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.”

So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.”

30 N ow it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath he had sackcloth on his body.

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 beneath on his body.

31 T hen he said, “God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today!”

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

32 B ut Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent someone to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”

Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence; 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? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”

33 A nd while he was still talking with them, there was the messenger, coming down to him; and then the king said, “Surely this calamity is from the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”

While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, “ Behold, this evil is from the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”