📖 2 Kings — Chapter 6 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Kings 6:1 And Rthe sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
2 Kings 6:2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, Rand take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
2 Kings 6:3 And one said, RBe content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
2 Kings 6:4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, Rthey cut down wood.
2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the RTaxe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
2 Kings 6:6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And Rhe cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
2 Kings 6:7 Therefore said he, RTake it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
2 Kings 6:8 Then Rthe king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my Tcamp.
2 Kings 6:9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, RBeware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
2 Kings 6:10 And the king of Israel Rsent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
2 Kings 6:11 RTherefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
2 Kings 6:12 And one of his servants said, TNone, my lord, O king: but RElisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
2 Kings 6:13 And he said, Go and Rspy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
2 Kings 6:14 Therefore Rsent he thither horses, and chariots, and a Tgreat host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
2 Kings 6:15 And when Tthe 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, RAlas, my master! how shall we do?
2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, RFear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha Rprayed, 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.
2 Kings 6:18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, RSmite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
2 Kings 6:19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: RTfollow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
2 Kings 6:20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, Ropen 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.
2 Kings 6:21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, RMy father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
2 Kings 6:22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: Rwouldest 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.
2 Kings 6:23 And Rhe 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.
2 Kings 6:24 And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria Rgathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
2 Kings 6:25 And there was Ra great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.
2 Kings 6:26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, RHelp, my lord, O king.
2 Kings 6:27 And he said, TIf the LORD do not help thee, Rwhence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
2 Kings 6:28 And the king said unto her, RWhat aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
2 Kings 6:29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the Tnext day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and Rshe hath hid her son.
2 Kings 6:30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that Rhe rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
2 Kings 6:31 Then he said, RGod do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
2 Kings 6:32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but Rere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?
2 Kings 6:33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, Rthis evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 6:1–7 — A borrowed axe head is recovered
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
While the prophetic community builds near Jordan, a borrowed axe head falls into the water. The worker’s distress concerns responsibility for someone else’s property. Through Elisha the iron floats and is recovered. The account notices a practical trouble within shared work.
Key Truth: Take care of what others entrust to you.
Check What You Remember
1. Beside which river did they build? (2 Kings 6:2)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:2 (KJV).
2. What fell into the water? (2 Kings 6:5)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:5 (KJV).
3. Why was the worker especially distressed? (2 Kings 6:5)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 6:8–23 — Elisha’s protection and mercy toward captives
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Elisha warns Israel about Syrian plans. At Dothan his servant’s eyes are opened to the surrounding fiery host. The blinded attackers are led to Samaria, where Elisha forbids killing them and orders a meal before release. God’s protection leads here to mercy rather than revenge.
Key Truth: Power over an opponent can be used to show restraint and care.
Check What You Remember
1. In which city was Elisha surrounded? (2 Kings 6:13)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:13 (KJV).
2. What did Elisha ask God to open? (2 Kings 6:17)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:17 (KJV).
3. What did he tell the king to give the captives? (2 Kings 6:22)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:22 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 6:24–33 — A siege brings devastating hunger
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
A later Syrian siege creates famine and terrible suffering in Samaria, including a woman’s account of cannibalism. The king tears his clothes, then threatens Elisha. The horrors describe a desperate city; they are not actions Scripture commends. Grief and anger at calamity do not justify scapegoating a messenger.
Key Truth: See the victims of a crisis instead of seeking a convenient person to blame.
Check What You Remember
1. Who besieged Samaria? (2 Kings 6:24)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:24 (KJV).
2. What did the king tear? (2 Kings 6:30)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:30 (KJV).
3. Which prophet did he threaten? (2 Kings 6:31)
Find it in 2 Kings 6:31 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Romans 12:20 — Paul instructs believers to feed a hungry enemy.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where could restraint and practical kindness interrupt hostility? Consider also how to care for people suffering in a crisis without rushing to blame.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What shows Elisha’s involvement in the building work?
2. What does Elisha ask before recovering the iron?
3. What contrast does Elisha give his frightened servant?
4. How does Elisha respond to the king’s desire to smite the captives?
5. What does the siege reveal beneath the king’s outward clothing?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation