Melachim II - Chapter 6

1. And the disciples of the prophets said to Elisha, "Behold now the place where we are sitting before you is too narrow for us.

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

3. And one said, "Please be willing to go with your servants." And he said, "I will go."

4. And he went with them, and they came to the Jordan, and cut down the trees.

5. One was casting down the beam, and with the axe blade it fell into the water. He cried out and said, "Alas, master, it is borrowed!"

6. And the man of God said to him, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the spot, and he cut off a piece of wood and threw it there, and the axe blade floated.

7. And he said, "Pick it up for yourself." And he stretched out his hand and took it.

8. And the king of Aram was waging war with Israel; and he held council with his servants, saying, "In a hidden, secret place I will encamp."

9. And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware of passing this place, for there the Arameans are encamped."

10. And the king of Israel sent to the place concerning which the man of God had told him and cautioned him, and he took precautions there, not once and not twice.

11. And the king of Aram was greatly disturbed about this matter, and he summoned his servants and said to them, "Will you not tell me who of ours [reveals my secrets] to the king of Israel?"

12. And one of his servants said, "No, my master, the King, but Elisha the prophet who is in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."

13. And he said, "Go and see where he is, and I will send and take him." And it was told to him saying, "Behold he is in Dothan."

14. And he sent there horses and chariots and a great army; and they came at night and surrounded the city.

15. And the man of God arose early and went out, and behold an army with horses and chariots was surrounding the city. And his attendant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"

16. And he said, "Have no fear, for those who are with us are more numerous than those who are with them."

17. And Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes and let him see." And the Lord opened the lad's eyes and he saw, and behold the mountain was full of fiery horses and chariots around Elisha.

18. And they came down to him, and Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, "Please strike this people with blindness; and He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19. And Elisha said to them, "Neither is this the way nor is this the city. Follow me and I will lead you to the man you seek." And he led them to Samaria.

20. And it was when they came to Samaria, that Elisha said, "O Lord, open these people's eyes that they may see." And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold they were in Samaria.

21. Now the king of Israel said to Elisha when he saw them, "Shall I slay them, my lord?"

22. And he said, "You shall not slay. Do you slay those you have captured with your sword and with your bow? Set food and water for them and let them eat and drink and go to their masters.

23. And he prepared for them a lavish feast, and they ate and drank, and he sent them away and they went to their masters; and Aramean troops no longer continued to invade the land of Israel.

24. And it was after this, that Ben-Hadad the king of Aram, mustered all his camp; and he went up and besieged Samaria.

25. Now there was a severe famine in Samaria, and behold they were besieging it, until a donkey's head sold for eighty silver pieces and a quarter of a kab of doves' dung sold for five silver pieces.

26. And the king of Israel was passing on the wall, when a woman cried out to him, saying, "Save [me] my lord the king!"

27. And he said, "If the Lord will not save you, whence shall I save you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?"

28. And the king said to her, "What troubles you?" And she said, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son and let us eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'

29. And we cooked my son and ate him. And I said to her the next day 'Give up your son and let us eat him.' But she hid her son."

30. And it was when the king heard the woman's words that he rent his garments while he was passing on the wall, and the people saw, and behold there was sackcloth on his flesh underneath.

31. And he said, "So shall God do to me and so shall He continue, if Elisha the son of Shaphat's head remain on him today."

32. And Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him: and he sent a man from before him. When the messenger had not yet arrived, he said to the elders, "Have you seen that this son of a murderer has sent to remove my head? See that when the messenger comes that you close the door and you shall hold the door fast against him. Surely, the sound of his master's footsteps will follow him."

33. While he was still speaking with them, behold the messenger was coming down to him. And he said, "Behold, this calamity is from the Lord. What more can I hope for from the Lord?"