1 N ow 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.

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 L et 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.”

Please let us go to the Jordan, and each man take a beam from there, and let us make us a place there, where we may live.” He answered, “Go!”

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

One said, “Please be pleased to go with your servants.” He answered, “I will go.”

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

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

5 B ut 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.”

But as one was cutting down a tree, the ax head fell into the water. Then he cried, and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.”

6 T he 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.

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

He said, “Take it.” So he put out his hand and took it.

8 N ow 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.”

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 T he 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.”

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 T he 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.

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 T he 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?”

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 A nd 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.”

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 Elisha is, that I may send men to take him.” And he was told, “See, he is in Dothan.”

He said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” He was told, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”

14 S o 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.

Therefore he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. They came by night, and surrounded the city.

15 T he 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?”

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

He answered, “Don’t be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 T hen 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.

Elisha prayed, and said, “Yahweh, please open his eyes, that he may see.” Yahweh opened the young man’s eyes; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

18 W hen 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.

When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them with blindness according to Elijah’s word.

19 T hen 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.

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 W hen 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.

When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Yahweh, open these men’s eyes, that they may see.” Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.

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

The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?”

22 H e 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.”

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, and go to their master.”

23 S o 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

He prepared great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.

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

After this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.

25 T here 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.

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

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

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

He said, “If Yahweh doesn’t help you, where could I get help for you? From of the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”

28 T hen 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.’

The king said to 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 S o 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.”

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;’ and she has hidden her son.”

30 W hen 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.

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

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 N ow 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?”

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 W hile 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?”

While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, “Behold, this evil is from Yahweh. Why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?”