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.
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 showed 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.
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.
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 show me which of us is for the king of Israel?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Chapter 6 of the book of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible continues the narrative of the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. It focuses on the reign of King Jehoram of Judah and the prophet Elisha. This chapter is filled with significant events and miracles that showcase the power of God and the consequences of disobeying His commandments. The main themes of this chapter include the consequences of sin, faithfulness to God, and the power of God to provide and protect His people.
The chapter begins by highlighting the consequences of sin through the story of the widow who was left with a debt by her late husband. She comes to Elisha for help, and he tells her to gather empty vessels and pour the little oil she has into them. Miraculously, the oil keeps flowing until all the vessels are filled, and she is able to sell them to pay off her debt. This story serves as a reminder that sin not only affects the individual but also their loved ones. The widow's husband's sin of not paying his debt resulted in his wife and children suffering the consequences. This serves as a warning to readers to be mindful of their actions and the impact it may have on others.
The consequences of sin are further emphasized through the story of the Shunammite woman and her son. Elisha had blessed the woman with a son, but he falls ill and dies suddenly. The woman's faith is tested as she faces the loss of her only child. However, she remains faithful and seeks Elisha's help. Through God's power, Elisha is able to revive the child, showcasing the consequences of sin but also the power of repentance and faithfulness.
The theme of faithfulness to God is prevalent throughout this chapter. Despite facing trials and challenges, the characters in this chapter remain faithful to God and His commandments. The Shunammite woman's faith is evident as she refuses to leave Elisha's side until her son is revived. Similarly, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, displays faithfulness by following Elisha's instructions to heal Naaman, the Syrian commander. Gehazi is tempted by Naaman's offer of riches but ultimately chooses to remain loyal to Elisha and God.
Furthermore, the king of Israel, Jehoram, displays a lack of faithfulness to God by continuing the sinful ways of his father, Ahab. He does not heed Elisha's warning about the Syrian attack and instead blames Elisha for the situation. This serves as a reminder that faithfulness to God is necessary for His protection and provision.
The final theme in this chapter is the power of God to provide and protect His people. This is evident through the various miracles performed by Elisha. The story of the widow and her overflowing oil showcases God's ability to provide for His people in times of need. Similarly, the revival of the Shunammite woman's son displays God's power to protect and bring life even in the face of death.
The story of Naaman, the Syrian commander, further emphasizes this theme. Naaman, who was afflicted with leprosy, comes to Elisha for healing. Elisha instructs him to wash in the Jordan River seven times, and he is miraculously healed. This story showcases God's power to provide and heal, regardless of nationality or social status. It also serves as a reminder that God's ways are not always logical or expected, but His power is undeniable.
Chapter 6 of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible holds great significance and meaning for readers. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God. It also showcases the power of God to provide and protect His people, even in the face of trials and challenges. This chapter highlights the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the consequences of straying from His ways. It also serves as a reminder that God's power and provision are available to all who seek Him, regardless of their circumstances.
Overall, chapter 6 of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible is a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and His desire for His people to remain faithful to Him. It showcases His power to provide and protect, even in the midst of difficult situations. This chapter serves as a testament to the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God and the consequences of sin. It is a powerful reminder of God's love and mercy, and His desire for His people to turn to Him in all circumstances.
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