2 Kings 6 ~ 2 Kings 6

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1 T he sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we live and meet 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 each man take a beam from there, and let us make us a place there, where we may live.” 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 O ne said, “Please be pleased to go with your servants.” 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. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.

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 ax head fell into the water. Then he cried, and said, “Alas, my 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 T he 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.

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

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 at war against Israel; and he took counsel 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 T he man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you 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 he 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.

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 he 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?”

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 O ne 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.”

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 H e said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” He was told, “Behold, 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, chariots, and a great army there. 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 W hen 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?”

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 H e answered, “Don’t be afraid; 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 E lisha 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.

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 W hen 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.

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 E lisha 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.

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 W hen 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.

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

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

22 H e 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.”

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 H e 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.

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 fter this, Benhadad 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 T here 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.

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 A s the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried 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 H e said, “If Yahweh doesn’t help you, where could I get help for you? From of the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”

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 he 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.’

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;’ and 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 W hen 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.

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 stays 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. 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?”

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 W hile 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?”

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?”