2 Kings 6

All 33 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us."
2. 2"Please let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can cut a beam and build a new place to live." Elisha replied, "Go ahead."
3. 3One of them said, "Please be willing to come with us." He answered, "I will go."
4. 4So he went with them. When they reached the Jordan, they began cutting down trees.
5. 5But as one of them was chopping a beam, the iron axe head flew off and fell into the water. He cried out, "Oh no, master! It was borrowed!"
6. 6The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" The man showed him the spot. Elisha cut a stick, threw it into the water, and the iron axe head floated to the surface.
7. 7"Pick it up," Elisha said. So the man reached out and grabbed it.
8. 8Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He met with his officers and said, "I'm going to set up camp at such and such a place."
9. 9But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Be careful not to go near that area, because the Syrians are heading there."
10. 10So the king of Israel sent to the place the man of God had told him about and warned him about, and he kept himself safe there more than once or twice.
11. 11So the heart of the king of Syria was deeply troubled about this. He called his servants and said to them, "Won't you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?"
12. 12One of his officers said, "None of us, my lord. It's Elisha, the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your own bedroom."
13. 13The king ordered, "Go find out where he is so I can send men to capture him." The report came back: "He's in Dothan."
14. 14So the king sent horses, chariots, and a massive army. They arrived at night and surrounded the city.
15. 15Early the next morning, the servant of the man of God went outside and saw the army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. He said, 'Alas, my master! What shall we do?'
16. 16Elisha answered, "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us outnumber those who are with them."
17. 17Then Elisha prayed, "LORD, please open his eyes so he can see." The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18. 18As they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, saying, "Strike this people with blindness." And the LORD struck them with blindness according to Elisha's word.
19. 19Then Elisha told them, "This isn't the right road, and this isn't the right city. Follow me, and I'll take you to the man you're looking for." But he led them straight to Samaria.
20. 20Once they were inside Samaria, Elisha prayed, "LORD, open their eyes so they can see." The LORD opened their eyes, and they realized they were standing in the middle of Samaria.
21. 21When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?"
22. 22And he answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have captured with your sword and bow? Give them bread and water so they may eat and drink, and then go back to their master."
23. 23So the king prepared a great provision for them. After they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
24. 24Some time later, King Benhadad of Syria assembled his entire army, marched against Samaria, and laid siege to it.
25. 25There was a great famine in Samaria. They besieged it until a donkey's head sold for 80 pieces of silver, and a quarter cab of dove's dung sold for 5 pieces of silver.
26. 26One day, as the king of Israel was walking along the city wall, a woman cried out to him, "Help me, my lord the king!"
27. 27He replied, "If the LORD won't help you, how can I help you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?"
28. 28Then the king asked, "What's wrong?" She answered, "This woman made a deal with me: 'Give up your son so we can eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son.'"
29. 29"So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Now give up your son so we can eat him,' but she has hidden her son."
30. 30When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his clothes. As he walked along the wall, the people saw that he had sackcloth underneath on his body.
31. 31He said, "May God do the same to me and more if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today."
32. 32Meanwhile, Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders. The king had sent a messenger ahead, but before the man arrived, Elisha told the elders, "Do you see what this son of a murderer is doing? He's sent someone to cut off my head! When the messenger gets here, shut the door and hold it against him. His master's footsteps are right behind him."
33. 33While Elisha was still speaking, the messenger arrived and said, "This disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"