Elisha Leads a Blind Army
(2 Kings 6:8-23)
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There was a time when the king of Syria warred against Israel, and made arrangements to have his camp in a certain place. But the man of God (Elisha) sent word to the king of Israel saying "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians have come down here." And the king of Israel sent people to the place which the man of God (Elisha) warned him of, and saved himself more than one time.
Because of this, the heart of the king of Syria was very troubled, and he called his servants, and said to them "Show me which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel." And one of his servants said "None, my lord O king, but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, he tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom" And so the king said "Go and spy where he is, so I may bring him here" And the king was told that Elisha was in a place called Dothan.
And so the king sent to Dothan horses, and chariots, and a great many people: and they came at night, and surrounded the city. And when Elisha's servant got up early in the morning, he saw a great many people surrounding the city with horses and chariots, and he said to Elisha "Alas, my master! what shall we do?"
And Elisha said "Fear not: for they that are with us are more than they that are with them." 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 to his amazement the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around about Elisha.
And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said "Lord I pray, strike these people with blindness." And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said to them "This is not the way, and this is not the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man that you seek." But he led them to Samaria. And it came to pass, when they came 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 to their amazement, they were in the middle of Samaria.
And the king of Israel said to Elisha when he saw them, "My father, shall I kill them? shall I kill them?" And Elisha answered "You shall not kill them. would you kill those that you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them so they may eat and drink, and go to their master."
And so he prepared much food for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria didn't come any more to the land of Israel.
Memory Verse: 2 Kings 6:16 "Fear not: for they that are with us are more than they that are with them."
Questions:
1 How did Elisha warn the king of Israel when the king of Syria camped in a
certain place?
2 What did the king of Syria do when he learned that Elisha was warning the king
of Israel?
3 What did Elisha say to his servant when they saw the horses and chariots?
4 What prayer did Elisha pray for the army?
5 Where did Elisha lead the army?
6 What did Elisha say when the king wanted to kill the army?
Answers:
1 Elisha told him not to go to the certain place because the Syrians were there.
2 He sent horses and chariots and a great many men by night to surround Dothan.
3 He said "Fear not: for they that are with us are more than they are with
them."
4 He prayed that the army would be struck blind
5 He led them to Samaria
6 He said not to kill them, but to feed them bread and water and then he let
them go.
Vicki C. Gross/Jan'04