2 Kings 6

And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, Behold now, the place where we live before you is too narrow for us.

Let us go now as far as the Jordan, and let each man take from there one beam, and let us make for ourselves a place there to live there. And he said, Go.

And one of them said, Be pleased to come with your servants. And he said, I will go.

And he went with them; and they came to the Jordan and were cutting the timber.

And behold, as one was felling a beam, the iron axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, Alas, my lord, and it was borrowed!

And the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. And he broke off a stick and threw it in there, and the iron floated up.

And he said, Lift it up for yourself. And he stretched out his hand and took it.

Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel, and he took counsel with his servants, saying, At this certain place, Elmoni, I will encamp.

And Elisha sent to the king of Israel, saying, Take care not to pass by this place, for Syria is hiding there.

And the king of Israel sent to the place that Elisha told him of, and he guarded himself from there, not once nor twice.

And the soul of the king of Syria was stirred over this matter, and he called his servants and said to them, Will you not tell me who is betraying me to the king of Israel?

And one of his servants said, Not so, my lord O king; but Elisha the prophet who is in Israel tells the king of Israel all the words that you speak in the chamber of your bedroom.

And he said, Go and see where he is, and I will send and take him. And they told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothaim.

And he sent there horses and chariots and a mighty force; and they came by night and surrounded the city.

And the attendant of Elisha rose early to get up and went out, and behold, a force was surrounding the city, with horses and chariots. And the servant said to him, Alas, my lord, what shall we do?

And Elisha said, Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.

And Elisha prayed and said, O Lord, open the eyes of the servant, and let him see. And the Lord opened his eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses, and there was a chariot of fire round about Elisha.

And they came down to him, and Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, Strike this nation, I pray, with blindness. And he struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.

And Elisha said to them, This is not the city, and this is not the way. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. And he led them to Samaria.

And it came about, when they entered Samaria, that Elisha said, Open now, O Lord, their eyes, and let them see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

And the king of Israel, when he saw them, said, Shall I strike them down, my father?

And he said, You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you took captive with your sword and your bow? Set bread and water before them, and let them eat and drink and go away to their lord.

And he set before them a great feast, and they ate and drank; and he sent them away, and they went to their lord. And the raiding bands of Syria no longer came into the land of Israel.

And it came about after these things that the son of Ader, king of Syria, gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria.

And there was a great famine in Samaria, and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was worth fifty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a kab of dove's dung five shekels of silver.

And the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, and a woman cried out to him, saying, Save me, my lord O king.

And he said to her, May the Lord not save you! From where shall I save you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?

And the king said to her, What is the matter with you? And the woman said, This woman said to me, Give your son, and we will eat him today, and my son, and we will eat him tomorrow.

So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the second day I said to her, Give your son, and let us eat him. But she hid her son.

And it came about, when the king of Israel heard the words of the woman, that he tore his garments; and he was passing by upon the wall, and the people saw the sackcloth upon his flesh underneath.

And he said, May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha shall stand upon him today.

Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man ahead of him; but before the messenger came to him, he himself said to the elders, Do you see that this son of the murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and press him back in the door. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?

While he was still speaking with them, behold, a messenger came down to him and said, Behold, this evil is from the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?