²³ So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands^(A) from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

² Now bands of raiders^(A) from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.

² The Lord sent Babylonian,^[a](A) Aramean,^(B) Moabite and Ammonite raiders^(C) against him to destroy^(D) Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets.^(E)

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself,^(A) so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.^{(B) 32} So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan,^(C) as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(A) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(B) of the Most High,^(C) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans

⁸ Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

⁹ The man of God sent word to the king^(A) of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.”

⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

¹⁵ The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink,^(A) and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms,^(B) and returned to Samaria.^(C)