Read the Passage: 2 Kings 6:8–7:20

Capture of Syrians (6:8–23)

This passage records a time period during which the plans of the king of Syria were being regularly thwarted by God. This narrative reports that the Syrians were in the habit of sending raiding parties into Israel in order to plunder various cities. Yet, on each of these incursions the Israelites were prepared to repel the Syrian attack. These verses explain that this was the result of the prophet Elisha informing King Jehoram, well in advance of each attack, “Beware . . . for the Syrians are coming down there” (2 Kings 6:9). The text notes that this occurred “not just once or twice” (2 Kings 6:10). Of course, this frustrated the Syrian army, which led Ben-Hadad to ask, “Which of us is for the king of Israel?” (2 Kings 6:11). It seems the king of Syria suspected that there was a traitor in their midst, yet their real problem was that they were fighting against God, not against man (cf. Acts 5:39; 9:5).

When Ben-Hadad was informed that Elisha was disclosing his plans to Jehoram, he sent an army to Dothan to capture the prophet. This decision seems absurd, for if Elisha had the ability to tell the king of Israel the secrets that Ben-Hadad spoke in his bedroom (cf. 2 Kings 6:12), then surely he’d be aware of a Syrian scheme to capture him. Nevertheless, the king of Syria “sent horses and chariots and a great army” (2 Kings 6:14) to surround Dothan and to take Elisha as a prisoner. This large army was seen by Elisha’s servant, which understandably caused him anxiety. Yet, Elisha prayed that God might open the eyes of his servant to see the Lord’s army that surrounded them. This invites questions about the presence of unseen angels in the world. Psalm 34:7 teaches, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (cf. Ps. 68:17; 91:9–13; Heb. 1:14).

Next, Elisha miraculously escaped the Syrian army, as he prayed to God, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness” (2 Kings 6:18). This blindness was a type of mental fog or dullness that allowed Elisha to single-handedly lead the entire army away from Dothan and into the city of Samaria. Observe that a similar type of judicial blindness was inflicted on the men of Sodom (cf. Gen. 19:11), on Paul on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 9:8), on Elymas the sorcerer (cf. Acts 13:11), and on those who reject the gospel (cf. Deut. 28:28; Isa. 6:9–10). After Elisha had led the Syrian army away from Dothan, he prayed and God opened their eyes so that they could see they were inside the capital city of Samaria. While this surely confused the Syrians, it also confused Jehoram, for he was unsure what to do. Elisha told king Jehoram to take care of the Syrian army and to let them return home.

Prophecy of Elisha (6:24–7:2)

2 Kings 6:24–7:2 records a later occasion when the Syrian army besieged Samaria. This siege is somewhat surprising, for Israel’s earlier kind treatment of the Syrian army had led to a temporary end to the Syrians’ marauding raids (cf. 2 Kings 6:23). Furthermore, more than twenty years earlier Ben-Hadad had besieged Samaria, but was defeated with a very great slaughter (cf. 1 Kings 20:1–22). Nevertheless, this passage reports that Samaria was under siege again, and that a great famine had developed. When Jehoram learned about an instance of cannibalism in Samaria, he rashly swore to take the life of Elisha. It is likely that this murderous oath was tied Elisha’s earlier counsel of mercy toward the Syrians. Next, when Jehoram tried to confront Elisha about the famine, Elisha prophesied that within twenty-four hours there would be an abundance of food within Samaria.

Freeing of Samaria (7:3–20)

2 Kings 7:3–20 narrates the fulfillment of Elisha’s prophecy concerning the end of the famine in Samaria. This passage reports that four lepers residing outside the gate of Samaria decided to surrender to the Syrian army. They reasoned that if they remained as they were, they would surely die. Thus, they had nothing to lose by surrendering to the Syrian army. These lepers were surprised, however, for when they arrived at the Syrian camp, they found it intact but otherwise completely abandoned. The text records that God deceived the Syrians by causing them to hear the sound of a large approaching army. The Syrians believed the Israelites had hired a foreign army to attack them, so they fled. After the lepers had satiated themselves and hidden some treasure, they sent word to Jehoram that the Syrian army camp was empty. This resulted in a fulfillment of Elisha’s prophecy.

Application Questions:

1. Why does God allow evil and unjust rulers, even permitting wicked leaders to prosper at times?
2. If Jehoram was evil (cf. 2 Kings 3:2), why did God send Elisha to inform him about the Syrians’ plans?
3. Are you comforted by the idea that God uses the armies of heaven to protect His people from evil?
4. Why does God command believers to treat their enemies with kindness (cf. Prov. 25:21–22; Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27–28)?
5. Why did the lepers not fear the Syrians, but they did fear God’s judgment if they remained silent?