2 Kings 6:8–23

The Blinded Syrians Captured

⁸Now the ^eking of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” ⁹And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” ¹⁰Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.

¹¹Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

¹²And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

¹³So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.”

And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in ^fDothan.”

¹⁴Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. ¹⁵And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

¹⁶So he answered, ^g“Do not fear, for ^hthose who are with us are more than those who are with them.” ¹⁷And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord ⁱopened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of ^jhorses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And ^kHe struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

¹⁹Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.

²⁰So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!

²¹Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My ^lfather, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

²²But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? ^mSet food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” ²³Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So ⁿthe bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.