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2 Kings Chapter 6
The Axe Head Recovered
- 2Kings 6:1 And the
sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place
where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
- 2 Let us go, we pray
thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us
make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go
ye.
- 3 And one said, Be
content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered,
I will go.
They outgrew the place where they were
staying so they had to build a bigger place. Elisha seems to be the
one who made the decisions so he gave permission to start the
building project. They ask Elisha to go with them.
- 2Kings 6:4 So he
went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down
wood.
- 5 But as one was
felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried,
and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
- 6 And the man of God
said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut
down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
- 7 Therefore said he,
Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
I can identify with the person who was
upset because the axe head fell into the water. If I borrowed
something from someone which I seldom do, I would be really upset
more so than if the tool was mine own. To borrow something of value
and not be able to return it would be really upsetting. However, there is always a way out when a person
trusts in God.
Elisha was anointed of God and didn't
seem to be overly concerned. He just solved the problem by trusting
God for another miracle. It shows too that God cares about trivial
things that we care about.
Horses and Chariots of Fire
- 2Kings 6:8 Then the
king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his
servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
- 9 And the man of God
sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not
such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
God reveals to Elisha the plans of the
king of Syria and where they were camped. He warns them to avoid the
area because they would be attacked or ambushed.
- 2Kings 6:10 And the
king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him
and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
- 11 Therefore the
heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and
he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me
which of us is for the king of Israel?
This happened more than once so the
king of Syria thought for sure he had someone betraying him and
informing the king of Israel of his battle plans.
-
2Kings 6:12 And one of his
servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet
that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that
thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
How they knew this is not told to us
but word gets around. Many have heard of Elisha and how God speaks
directily to him. Perhaps they think though that the prophet Elisha
has some kind of supernatural power within himself because if they knew God was speaking to him, they would not attempt to
fight against Israel at all. Just like some today though, there is
no fear of God and they just live how they want to not caring about
God or His word. Some deliberately rebel against God and some just
do not believe He exists. Sad.
-
2Kings 6:13 And he said, Go
and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was
told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
This is so stupid. The same God who
reveals to Israel their plans of attack can surely protect Elisha.
Many down through the years, instead of fearing God and turning to
Him, they think they can stop God by going after the messengers of
God.
- 2Kings 6:14
Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great
host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
- 15 And when the
servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth,
behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and
chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how
shall we do?
The king of Syria decides to go after
Elisha to stop him from interferring with his plans. As long as
servants of the Lord stay faithful to God, He is there and never
leaves or forsakes them. No army no matter how powerful can stand
against anyone or any group of people who have God on their side
unless God permits it to take His people home with Him but the ones
that do the killing of His people will be judged severely. We read
this in the book of Revelation. The servant of Elisha though was
frightened. That is normal. Most of us would be. He was a faithful
servant but didn't see the bigger picture. He was one who was safe
but didn't know it. Elisha was able to see what the servant couldn't
see.
- 2Kings 6:16 And he
answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they
that be with them.
- 17 And Elisha
prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may
see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw:
and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of
fire round about Elisha.
Elisha had compassion on the fear his
servant had and asked the Lord to allow his servant to see clearly
who was surrounding the Syrian army. This is so awesome to read
about. Chariots of fire surrounded them. No way any earthy army
could beat that.
- 2Kings 6:18 And when
they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said,
Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote
them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
- 19 And Elisha said
unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow
me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led
them to Samaria.
Elisah is showing mercy to the army of
the king of Syria. God blinded their eyes and Elisha led them to
Samaria where the king of Israel could have smitten them all.
- 2Kings 6:20 And it
came to pass, when they were come into 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, behold, they were
in the midst of Samaria.
- 21 And the king of
Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I
smite them? shall I smite them?
- 22 And he answered,
Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou
hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread
and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to
their master.
- 23 And he prepared
great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he
sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of
Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
I wish all wars could end like this one
with no blood shed. There is no reason why we can't live in peace.
Usually armies suffer the loss of many lives when it is the leaders
of the countries that start the wars and do not abide in their own
land but want to take over other countries. Sometimes a country and
it's people may be so evil God sends judgment, but many times it is
greed and the desire to control that cause the wars. Innocent people
suffer on both sides while the leaders usually sit in safe places
and do not send their own children into danger but sends those under
their authority. Of course there are cases when armies have to
defend their own country against invasion.
Ben-hadad's Siege of Samaria
- 2Kings 6:24 And it
came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered
all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
- 25 And there was a
great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an
ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the
fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
- 26 And as the king
of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto
him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
- 27 And he said, If
the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the
barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
- 28 And the king said
unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said
unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will
eat my son to morrow.
- 29 So we boiled my
son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give
thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
- 30 And it came to
pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent
his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people
looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
These famines were caused by God's
removing His protecting hand. Moses wrote of times like these that
famines would come and be so great they were eat their own children.
- Leviticus 26:27
And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk
contrary unto me;
- 28 Then I will
walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will
chastise you seven times for your sins.
- 29 And ye shall
eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters
shall ye eat.
- 30 And I will
destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast
your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall
abhor you.
- 31 And I will
make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto
desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.
- 32 And I will
bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell
therein shall be astonished at it.
- 33 And I will
scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after
you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
This is also in Deuteronomy chapter 28
which God had Moses write to them. It shows blessings will be to
them if they obey His word and curses coming if they do not.
Oh how we need God. Not just for food
and provisions but for His presence in our lives. We need to walk
with Him and live for Him not just for material blessings but
because He is God. He cares about us. He wants to grant us eternal
life and a life where He can walk with us. Through faith in Jesus we
can be in His presence. In eternity, physically and now through the
indwelling Holy Spirit given to us when we believe in Jesus. Jesus
died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we too can rise and
be given a new body that can never die.
- 2 Kings 6:31 Then he
said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the
son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
The king blames Elisha and assumes he can
just get rid of Elisha and their problems will be solved.
- 32 But Elisha sat in
his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man
from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to
the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take
away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door,
and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's
feet behind him?
- 33 And while he yet
talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and
he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait
for the LORD any longer?
A messenger was coming to take the life of
Elisha but he will not succeed. King Jehoram followed behind. In the
next chapter we will see that the famine will end and the king will
see it but not be able to partake of it. They do not succeed in
harming Elisha. Since Elisha predicted the famine it seems as if he
was blamed for it coming instead of realizing it was God that sent
it because of their sins. DC
2 Kings Chapter 7
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