An Axhead Floats

The company(A) of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”

And he said, “Go.”

Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”

“I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”

The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw(B) it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man 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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Notas al pie

  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