The Floating Ax Head

The sons of the prophets(A) said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision[a] is too small for us. Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”

“Go,” he said.

Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”

“I’ll come,” he answered.

So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!”(B)

Then the man of God(C) asked, “Where did it fall?”

When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.(D) Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 6:1 Lit we are living before you

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