2 Kings 6 Commentary: Miraculous Provision and Divine Protection Through Elisha’s Ministry

The Floating Ax Head Miracle

The chapter opens with the sons of the prophets approaching Elisha about their cramped living quarters. These were young men training under Elisha’s guidance in prophetic ministry. Their current dwelling place had become too small for their growing community. The prophet Elisha gave them permission to go to the Jordan River and each cut down a tree to build a new place to live.

One of the young prophets asked Elisha to come with them. Elisha agreed to accompany them on their building project. This shows Elisha’s pastoral care and involvement in the practical needs of those under his spiritual leadership. The prophet was not distant from everyday concerns but participated in common labor alongside his students.

While cutting wood by the Jordan River, disaster struck one of the young men. The iron ax head flew off the handle and fell into the water. This was particularly distressing because the ax was borrowed. In ancient times, iron tools were valuable and not easily replaced. The young man cried out to Elisha, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed!”

Elisha asked where the ax head had fallen. When the man showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Miraculously, the iron ax head floated to the surface. Iron does not naturally float, making this a clear supernatural intervention. Elisha told the man to pick it up, and he reached out and took it.

This miracle demonstrates God’s care for everyday problems and honest labor. The miracle also shows divine concern for integrity and keeping promises to others. The young prophet was distressed about returning the borrowed tool, and God honored this honest concern.

The Syrian Army Surrounded by God’s Protection

The king of Syria was making war against Israel. He would hold councils with his servants to decide where to set up camp for ambush attacks. However, Elisha the man of God kept sending warnings to the king of Israel, telling him not to pass by certain places because the Syrians were planning to ambush there.

This happened repeatedly, and the Syrian king became very troubled. He suspected someone in his inner circle was betraying their military plans to Israel. The king called his servants together and demanded to know who among them was secretly helping the enemy.

One of the king’s servants explained the real situation. He told the king that none of them were traitors. Instead, Elisha the prophet in Israel was revealing their secret plans to Israel’s king. The servant said that Elisha knew even the words the Syrian king spoke in his bedroom.

The Syrian king decided to capture Elisha. He sent spies to find out where the prophet was located. They reported that Elisha was in Dothan. The king dispatched horses, chariots, and a great army to surround the city at night.

Elisha’s Servant Sees God’s Army

When Elisha’s servant got up early in the morning, he went outside and saw the Syrian army surrounding the city with horses and chariots. The servant ran back to Elisha in great fear and asked what they should do.

Elisha told his servant not to be afraid. The prophet explained that those who were with them were more than those who were with their enemies. This statement must have seemed impossible to the servant, who could see only the two of them against an entire army.

Elisha prayed and asked God to open his servant’s eyes so he could see spiritual reality. The Lord answered this prayer immediately. The servant’s spiritual vision was opened, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

This revelation shows that God’s protection is always present around His servants, even when it cannot be seen with physical eyes. The heavenly army was real and powerful, far greater than any earthly military force. Faith sees beyond visible circumstances to spiritual truth.

The Blinded Syrian Army

As the Syrian army came down toward Elisha, the prophet prayed to God. He asked the Lord to strike the enemy soldiers with blindness. God answered this prayer and afflicted the entire army with blindness. They could not see where they were going or recognize their surroundings.

Elisha then went out to the confused and helpless army. He told them they were on the wrong road and in the wrong city. The prophet offered to lead them to the man they were seeking. This was technically true, since he was indeed leading them to Elisha, though they did not realize he was Elisha.

Elisha led the entire blind army from Dothan to Samaria, the capital city of Israel. Once they were inside the city, Elisha prayed again. He asked God to open their eyes so they could see. When their sight was restored, the Syrian soldiers found themselves surrounded by their enemies in the heart of Israel’s capital.

The king of Israel saw the trapped enemy army and asked Elisha if he should kill them. The king called Elisha “my father,” showing respect for the prophet’s spiritual authority. He was eager to destroy these enemies who had been delivered into his hands.

Mercy Instead of Vengeance

Elisha told the king of Israel not to kill the Syrian soldiers. The prophet pointed out that these were not prisoners taken in regular battle with sword and bow. They had been delivered by God’s supernatural intervention. Elisha instructed the king to provide food and water for the enemy soldiers, then send them back to their master.

The king of Israel obeyed Elisha’s instructions. He prepared a great feast for the Syrian army. After the soldiers had eaten and drunk, he sent them away to return to their own land. This act of unexpected kindness and mercy had a powerful effect.

The Syrian raiders stopped coming into the land of Israel after this experience. They had been shown both God’s power and Israel’s mercy. This combination was more effective than military victory would have been in stopping their attacks.

The Siege of Samaria and Terrible Famine

After these events, Ben-Hadad king of Syria gathered his entire army and went up to besiege Samaria. The siege created a severe famine in the city. Food became so scarce that prices reached impossible levels. A donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a small portion of dove’s dung cost five shekels.

The famine became so desperate that people resorted to cannibalism. As the king of Israel was walking on the city wall, a woman cried out to him for help. When the king asked what was wrong, she told him a horrifying story.

She and another woman had made an agreement to eat their children to survive. They had cooked and eaten her son on the first day. But when she asked for the other woman’s son on the second day, that woman had hidden him.

The King’s Rage Against Elisha

When the king of Israel heard this terrible account, he tore his clothes in grief and anguish. As he walked on the wall, the people could see that he was wearing sackcloth underneath his royal robes. He had been privately mourning and seeking God about the desperate situation.

However, the king’s grief turned to anger against Elisha. He blamed the prophet for the suffering and swore an oath that Elisha would die that day. The king sent a messenger ahead to arrest Elisha, then followed personally to ensure the prophet’s execution.

Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders when these events unfolded. The prophet knew by revelation that the king had sent someone to kill him. Elisha told the elders to shut the door and hold it closed against the messenger, because the king himself was following close behind.

While Elisha was still speaking to the elders, the king arrived. He expressed his despair and questioned why he should continue waiting for help from the Lord. The king had apparently been seeking God about the famine but felt that divine help was not coming fast enough.

Theological Themes and Significance

God’s sovereignty over nature appears throughout this chapter. The floating ax head defied natural laws to demonstrate divine power over the physical world. The blindness and sight of the Syrian army showed God’s control over human perception and circumstances.

Divine protection for God’s servants is a major theme. Elisha was supernaturally protected from enemies who sought to capture him. The heavenly army surrounding Dothan revealed that believers are never alone or defenseless when serving God faithfully.

God’s knowledge extends to all human affairs and secret plans. The Syrian king’s private military councils were known to God and revealed to His prophet. No human scheme can be hidden from divine omniscience.

Mercy and forgiveness prove more powerful than revenge in changing hearts. The kind treatment of the Syrian army accomplished what military victory could not achieve. This principle anticipates New Testament teachings about overcoming evil with good.

Testing and trials come even to faithful servants of God. The famine in Samaria created extreme suffering that tested everyone’s faith. Even kings and prophets faced seemingly impossible situations that required complete dependence on God.

Human leaders often blame spiritual leaders when difficulties arise. The king’s anger toward Elisha reflected a common tendency to fault God’s messengers when circumstances become painful.

Practical Lessons for Modern Believers

Honest concern for others’ property pleases God. The young prophet’s distress over the borrowed ax shows the importance of integrity in all relationships. God cares about keeping promises and returning what belongs to others.

Prayer opens spiritual eyes to see God’s protection and provision. Elisha’s prayer for his servant reminds believers to ask for spiritual insight beyond physical circumstances. Faith perceives realities that natural vision cannot detect.

God’s power extends to everyday problems and concerns. The floating ax head shows that no difficulty is too small for divine attention. Believers can bring practical needs to God with confidence.

Mercy toward enemies reflects God’s character more than vengeance does. The treatment of the Syrian army demonstrates how kindness can accomplish more than force in changing relationships and stopping conflict.

Spiritual leaders should remain calm and confident during crises. Elisha’s peaceful response to military threats and royal anger shows how faith stabilizes emotions and thinking during stressful situations.

Waiting on God’s timing requires patience during extended trials. The king’s impatience with divine deliverance from famine shows how suffering can test faith and lead to premature conclusions about God’s care.

Prayer should be the first response to threatening circumstances. Elisha consistently turned to prayer when faced with challenges, whether practical problems or military dangers.

Cross References

The miracle of the floating ax head connects to other instances where God suspended natural laws for His servants (Exodus 14:21-22, Joshua 10:12-14, Daniel 3:19-27).

The revelation of God’s army to Elisha’s servant parallels other biblical accounts of angelic protection (Psalm 34:7, Psalm 91:11, Hebrews 1:14, Matthew 26:53).

The Syrian army’s blindness recalls the blindness that struck the men of Sodom (Genesis 19:11) and the temporary blindness of Saul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:8-9).

Elisha’s instruction to show mercy to captured enemies reflects principles later taught by Jesus (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-36, Romans 12:20-21).

The severe famine in Samaria echoes other biblical famines that tested God’s people (Genesis 41:53-57, Ruth 1:1, 1 Kings 17:1-7).

The king’s anger toward God’s prophet follows a pattern seen with other rulers who blamed messengers for unwelcome circumstances (1 Kings 18:17, Jeremiah 37:13-16, Amos 7:10-13).

God’s knowledge of secret plans connects to biblical teachings about divine omniscience (Psalm 139:1-6, Isaiah 46:9-10, Hebrews 4:13).