The Syrian Army Blinded

Illustration of The Syrian Army Blinded
An army sent to capture one prophet is led blind into the enemy capital - then fed a feast and sent home. The raids stopped.

The king of Syria, furious that Elisha kept revealing his battle plans to Israel, sent horses, chariots, and a great host by night to surround Dothan and take one prophet. Elisha's young servant rose early, saw the encircling army, and despaired - drawing Elisha's timeless answer: 'Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.' At Elisha's prayer, the LORD opened the young man's eyes to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire; at his second prayer, the LORD smote the Syrian army with blindness. Elisha then led the sightless host straight into Samaria, and when their eyes were opened inside the enemy capital, he forbade killing them - instead commanding bread and water, a great feast, and release. The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

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Details

Category
Deliverance
Testament
Old Testament
Performed by
God through Elisha

Key Chapters

2 Kings 6 The Floating Axe Head 6 min read

Key Passages

Chariots of Fire and Blinded Eyes

2 Kings 6:15-20

A15nd 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.

A Feast Instead of a Slaughter

2 Kings 6:21-23

A21nd 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.

Explore Related

Characters

Elisha Elisha served as a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the ninth century BC, succeeding Elijahโ€ฆ Joram (Jehoram of Israel) Joram, son of Ahab and Jezebel, reigned over Israel for twelve years during the height of Elisha'sโ€ฆ Ben-hadad, King of Syria Ben-hadad was the royal name borne by the kings of Syria (Aram) at Damascus who were Israel's chiefโ€ฆ

Places

Dothan Dothan is an ancient city in the hill country of Samaria, referenced in the Old Testament as the settingโ€ฆ Samaria Samaria was the central region of ancient Israel situated between Judea to the south and Galilee to theโ€ฆ

Themes

Redemption To redeem means to buy back. From Boaz purchasing Ruth's inheritance to Christ purchasing his people withโ€ฆ Faith Without faith it is impossible to please God. From Abraham leaving everything for an unknown land to aโ€ฆ Sovereignty of God The Lord reigns. From Joseph's slavery to Daniel's lions' den, Scripture reveals a God who works all thingsโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

The same chapter contains both prayers: eyes opened to see chariots of fire, and eyes shut to see nothing - sight itself is the miracle's whole vocabulary.

2

Elisha's feast for the captured raiders anticipates Romans 12 by nine centuries: 'if thine enemy hunger, feed him' - and the raids stopped.

3

Dothan, where the army was blinded, is the same place Joseph's brothers sold him - a valley that twice saw God turn ambush into providence.