2 Kings 6:8-23

Modern English Version

The Blinded Arameans Captured

⁸ Then the king of Aram was fighting against Israel, and he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place will be my camp.”

⁹ But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, saying, “Take care not to pass through this place, for the Arameans are marching down there.” ¹⁰ The king of Israel sent word to the place of which the man of God spoke. He warned him and was on his guard there more than once.

¹¹ The mind of the king of Aram was troubled by this, so he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me who among us sides with the king of Israel?”

¹² Then one of his servants said, “No one, my lord, O king. Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

¹³ He said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send for him and take him.” And it was told to him, “He is in Dothan.” ¹⁴ So he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. They came by night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ When a servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, a force surrounded the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What will we do?”

¹⁶ And he said, “Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than with them.”

¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

¹⁸ When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this people with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

¹⁹ Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and let me bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.

²⁰ When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men and let them see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.

²¹ The king of Israel said to Elisha when he saw them, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

²² And he said, “You shall not kill them. Did you capture with your sword and with your bow those whom you want to kill? Set bread and water before them, and let them eat and drink and then go to their master.” ²³ So he prepared for them a great banquet. When they had eaten and had drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the Aramean raiders did not enter into the land of Israel again.