The Axe Head Recovered

Now (A)the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, (B)he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

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The Miracle of the Ax Head

One day the Guild of Prophets told Elisha, “Notice how the place where we are living is too small for us. Let’s go to the Jordan River,[a] fashion some rafters,[b] and build a place for us so we can live there.”

So he said, “Go!”

Someone asked, “Would you be willing to come with your servants?”

“I’m willing,” he replied. So he accompanied them, and when they came to the Jordan River,[c] they cut down some trees.

It happened that as one of them was felling a beam, his axe head fell into the water. He cried out, “Oh no! Master! The axe was on loan to me!”

The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he was shown the place, he cut off a branch, tossed it there, and made the iron axe head float. Then Elisha said, “Pick it up!” So the young man reached out and picked it[d] up.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 6:2 The Heb. lacks River
  2. 2 Kings 6:2 Lit. take a beam
  3. 2 Kings 6:4 The Heb. lacks River
  4. 2 Kings 6:7 The Heb. lacks it