1
One day the company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please look, the place where we live near you is too cramped for us.
2
Let us go to the Jordan and each take a beam from there, so that we may make a place for ourselves to live.” And Elisha said, “Go.”
3
Then one of them said, “Please come with your servants.” He answered, “Very well, I will come.”
4
So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
5
And it happened, as one was felling a tree, that the iron head of the axe fell into the water. And he cried out, “Oh, my master! It was borrowed!”
6
But the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” Then the man showed him the place. And Elisha cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron head float.
7
Then he said, “Take it up.” So the man reached out his hand and took it.
8
Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. He consulted with his servants and said, “At such and such a place you must go down and set an ambush.”
9
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware, do not pass by that place, for the Arameans have gone down there to ambush you.”
10
So the king of Israel sent men to the place of which the man of God had spoken to him. Thus Elisha warned him, so that he was on his guard there, not just once or twice.
11
The heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this matter, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
12
But one of his servants said, “No, my lord the king; rather, Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words that you speak in your bedroom.”
13
The king said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send men to seize him.” Then it was reported to him, “He is in Dothan.”
14
So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army. They came by night and surrounded the city.
15
When the servant of the man of God rose early and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was surrounding the city. Then his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16
He answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17
Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes, that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18
When the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, saying, “Please blind the eyes of these men.” So He blinded them, according to Elisha’s prayer.
19
Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
20
As soon as they came to Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21
Then the king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “Shall I strike them down, my father?”
22
But he answered, “Do not strike them down. Do you usually strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set food and drink before them, that they may eat and drink, and then go back to their master.”
23
So he prepared a great feast for them, and they ate and drank. Afterward he sent them away, and they went back to their master. From that time on, the Aramean bands no longer came into the land of Israel.
24
After this Benhadad, king of Aram, gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria.
25
And there was a great famine in Samaria while they besieged it, so that a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
26
Once, as the king of Israel was walking on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord the king!”
27
He answered, “If the LORD does not help you, how can I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?”
28
Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And the woman answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’
29
So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.”
30
When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes; and as he was walking on the wall, the people could see that he had sackcloth on his body beneath.
31
Then the king said, “May God do so to me and more also, if Elisha the son of Shaphat’s head remains on him today.”
32
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king had sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger came to Elisha, Elisha had already said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold him back, so that he may not enter. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”
33
While he was still speaking with them, the king came down to him. The king said to him, “Behold, this disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”
🪓🔥🧲 Summary of 2 Kings 6 – The Floating Axe, the Aramean Attack, and God’s Power Over Fear
2 Kings 6 presents three remarkable accounts: the miracle of the floating iron axe, divine protection for Elisha from the Aramean army, and the extreme famine in Samaria. In all of them, the LORD shows His power over the laws of nature, enemies, and human suffering, while also calling His people to trust, not panic.
📌 1. The Floating Iron Axe (verses 1–7)
➡️ The prophets built a new dwelling place because their place was too cramped
➡️ While cutting down trees, a borrowed axe fell into the river
➡️ Its owner panicked because it was not his own
➡️ Elisha threw a piece of wood into the river, and the iron floated
🎯 The LORD cares even about small and practical matters — even a borrowed object
📌 2. Elisha and the Angelic Army (verses 8–23)
➡️ The king of Aram wanted to attack Israel, but his military strategy was always exposed
➡️ He learned that Elisha was giving divine information to the king of Israel
➡️ He sent a great army to capture Elisha in Dothan
➡️ Elisha’s servant was afraid, but Elisha said:
“Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
➡️ Elisha prayed that his spiritual eyes would be opened — and he saw the heavenly army with chariots of fire
➡️ Elisha prayed that the Aramean troops would be blinded, then led them to Samaria
➡️ The king of Israel wanted to kill them, but Elisha said:
“Give them food and drink, then send them back to their master.”
🎯 Love for enemies, God’s strength, and wisdom lead to victory without bloodshed
📌 3. Severe Famine and the Promise of Restoration (verses 24–33)
➡️ Benhadad, king of Aram, besieged Samaria
➡️ The famine became so severe that:
- A donkey’s head was sold for a very high price
- A mother told that they ate her child (a horrifying account)
➡️ The king of Israel blamed Elisha and wanted to kill him
➡️ Elisha said:
“Tomorrow about this time, food will be very cheap at the gate of Samaria.”
➡️ An officer doubted the prophecy
🎯 In the darkest hour, the Lord remains sovereign and will restore
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord cares about small needs, such as a borrowed axe
- Faith opens spiritual eyes to see God’s unseen protection
- Enemies can be overcome not by strength, but by wisdom and compassion
- In times of famine, faith is still needed to see prophecy as reality
- Do not rely on worldly logic, for God works above all logic
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“Are they not all ministering spirits… sent forth to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
➡️ Like the guardian angels around Elisha — we too are protected by God’s angels
“…so that you may know how great His power is for those who believe”
➡️ Elisha prayed that spiritual eyes be opened, like Paul’s prayer for the church
“Love your enemies…”
➡️ Elisha did not kill his enemies, but gave them food — a model of true love
“With God nothing is impossible”
➡️ The iron axe floated and famine was changed into abundance — proof of the Lord’s power
🕊️ “Alas, my lord! It was borrowed!” – 2 Kings 6:5
🕊️ “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” – 2 Kings 6:16
🕊️ “Open his eyes, that he may see.” – 2 Kings 6:17
🕊️ “Tomorrow about this time…” – 2 Kings 6:1
