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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Kings 6 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_kings/6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_kings/6-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 2 Kings 6</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_kings/5.htm" title="2 Kings 5">◄</a> 2 Kings 6 <a href="../2_kings/7.htm" title="2 Kings 7">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/2_kings/6.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">The Miracle of the Ax Head</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>One day the Guild of Prophets told Elisha, “Notice how the place where we are living is too small for us. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Let’s go to the Jordan River,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:2 The Heb. lacks River">a</a></span> fashion some rafters,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:2 Lit. take a beam">b</a></span> and build a place for us so we can live there.”</p> <p class="reg">So he said, “Go!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Someone asked, “Would you be willing to come with your servants?”</p> <p class="reg">“I’m willing,” he replied. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>So he accompanied them, and when they came to the Jordan River,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:4 The Heb. lacks River">c</a></span> they cut down some trees.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>It happened that as one of them was felling a beam, his axe head fell into the water. He cried out, “Oh no! Master! The axe was on loan to me!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he was shown the place, he cut off a branch, tossed it there, and made the iron axe head float. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then Elisha said, “Pick it up!” So the young man reached out and picked it<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:7 The Heb. lacks it">d</a></span> up.</p> <p class="heading">The Arameans Attack</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Eventually the king of Aram went to war against Israel, taking counsel with his advisors and concluding, “In such and such a place I’ll build my encampment.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>So the man of God sent a message<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:9 The Heb. lacks a message">e</a></span> to the king of Israel, warning him, “Keep an eye on that area, because the Arameans are going to be there!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>The king of Israel confirmed the matter<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:10 Lit. Israel sent">f</a></span> about which the man of God had warned him. Having been forewarned, he was able to protect himself there on more than one or two occasions.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>The king of Aram flew into a rage over this, so he called in his advisors and asked them, “Will you please tell me which of us has joined the king of Israel?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>“No, your majesty,” one of his servants said. “Elisha the prophet, who lives in Israel, tells the king of Israel what you talk about in your bedroom!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>So the king<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:13 Lit. So he">g</a></span> ordered, “Go and discover where he is, so I may send men<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:13 The Heb. lacks men">h</a></span> to take him into custody.”</p> <p class="reg">Later somebody told him, “Look! He’s in Dothan!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>So the king of Aram<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:14 Lit. So he">i</a></span> sent out horses, chariots, and an elite force, and they arrived during the night and surrounded the city. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Meanwhile, the attendant to the man of God got up early in the morning and went outside, and there were the elite forces, surrounding the city, accompanied by horses and chariots! So Elisha’s attendant cried out to him, “Oh no! Master! What will we do!?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Elisha<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:16 Lit. He">j</a></span> replied, “Stop being afraid, because there are more with us than with them!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Then Elisha prayed, asking the LORD, “Please make him able to really see!” And so when the LORD enabled the young man to see, he looked, and there was the mountain, filled with horses and fiery chariots surrounding Elisha!</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>When the army approached him, Elisha spoke to the LORD, asking him, “LORD, I’m asking you please to afflict this group of people with blindness!” So he afflicted them with blindness, just as Elisha had asked.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Then Elisha told the army, “This isn’t the way, and this isn’t the city! Follow me, and I’ll bring you to the man you’re seeking. Then he led them to Samaria. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>When they arrived in Samaria, Elisha asked the LORD, “Enable them to see again.” So the LORD did so, and there they were—right in the middle of Samaria!</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>When the king of Israel saw Elisha, he asked him, “Shall I execute them, my father?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>But he replied, “No! You’re not to kill them! Would you execute those whom you’ve taken captive at the point of a sword or with your bow? Give them food and water so they can eat and drink. Then send them back to their master!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>So he prepared a large festival for them, and when they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them back to their master, and marauding gangs of Arameans never came into the territory of Israel again.</p> <p class="heading">Ben-hadad Attacks Samaria</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Some time later, King Ben-hadad from Aram mustered his army, invaded the land,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:24 The Heb. lacks the land">k</a></span> and attacked Samaria <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>until there was a great famine throughout Samaria. The siege lasted until a donkey’s head cost<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:25 The Heb. lacks sold">l</a></span> 80 silver coins<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:25 The exact weight or denomination of silver coin is unspecified.">m</a></span> and one quarter of a unit<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:25 Lit. a kab; a unit of dry weight in volume about 1.5 quarts">n</a></span> of dove’s dung cost<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:25 The Heb. lacks cost">o</a></span> five silver coins.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:25 The exact weight or denomination of silver coin is unspecified.">p</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>While the king of Israel was walking along the city<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:26 The Heb. lacks city">q</a></span> wall, a woman cried out to him. “Help me, your majesty!”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:26 Lit me, my lord the king">r</a></span> she said.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>He replied, “No! Since the LORD won’t give you victory, how will I be able to deliver you? From the threshing floor? From the wine press?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Then the king asked her, “What’s bothering<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:28 The Heb. lacks bothering">s</a></span> you?”</p> <p class="reg">She said, “This woman told me, ‘Give up your son, and we’ll eat him today, and we’ll eat your son tomorrow.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day, I told her, ‘Give me your son so we can eat him!’ But she has hidden her son!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>When the king heard what the woman said, he ripped his garments as he continued walking along the city<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:30 The Heb. lacks city">t</a></span> wall. As the people watched, all of a sudden they noticed he was wearing sackcloth underneath his clothes, inside next to his flesh! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>He said, “May God do to me—and more also!—if the head of Shaphat’s son Elisha remains on his shoulders<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:31 Lit. on him">u</a></span> today!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Meanwhile, Elisha was sitting in his house, along with the elders, when the king<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:32 Lit. when he">v</a></span> sent a man to kill him,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:32 The Heb. lacks to kill him">w</a></span> but before the messenger arrived, Elisha<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:32 Lit. he">x</a></span> told the elders, “Are you watching how this descendant of murderers has ordered my head be cut off? Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and hold it to shut them out! Don’t you hear the sound of his master’s feet right behind him?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/6-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>While he was still talking with them, the messenger arrived to see him and delivered the king’s message to Elisha,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="6:33 Lit. and told him">y</a></span> “Look! This evil has come from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD anymore?”</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 6:2 The Heb. lacks <i>River</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 6:2 Lit. <i>take a beam</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 6:4 The Heb. lacks <i>River</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 6:7 The Heb. lacks <i>it</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 6:9 The Heb. lacks <i>a message</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 6:10 Lit. <i>Israel sent</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 6:13 Lit. <i>So he</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 6:13 The Heb. lacks <i>men</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 6:14 Lit. <i>So he</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 6:16 Lit. <i>He</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 6:24 The Heb. lacks <i>the land</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 6:25 The Heb. lacks <i>sold</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 6:25 The exact weight or denomination of silver coin is unspecified.<br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 6:25 Lit. <i>a kab</i>; a unit of dry weight in volume about 1.5 quarts<br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 6:25 The Heb. lacks <i>cost</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 6:25 The exact weight or denomination of silver coin is unspecified.<br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 6:26 The Heb. lacks <i>city</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 6:26 Lit <i>me, my lord the king</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 6:28 The Heb. lacks <i>bothering</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 6:30 The Heb. lacks <i>city</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 6:31 Lit. <i>on him</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 6:32 Lit. <i>when he</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 6:32 The Heb. lacks <i>to kill him</i><br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 6:32 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 6:33 Lit. <i>and told him</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_kings/5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_kings/7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_kings/6-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>