File:Elisha at Dothan 001.jpg

Summary
Elisha at Dothan. 2 Kings 6:8 - 6:18

6:8. The king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying: In such and such a place, let us lay an ambush.

6:9. The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: Beware that you pass not to such a place: for the Syrians are there in ambush.

6:10. The king of Israel, sent to the place which the man of God had told him, and prevented him, and looked well to himself there not once nor twice.

'''6:11. The heart of the king of Syria, was troubled for this thing. Calling together his servants, he said: Why do you not tell me who it is that betrays me to the king of Israel?'''

6:12. One of his servants said: No one, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet, that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel all the words, that you speak in your privy chamber.

'''6:13. He said to them: Go, and see where he is: that I may send and take him. They told him: saying: Behold he is in Dothan.'''

6:14. Therefore, he sent horses, and chariots, and the strength of an army there: and they came by night, and beset the city.

6:15. The servant of the man of God, rising early went out, and saw an army round about the city, and horses and chariots: and he told him, saying: Alas, alas, alas, my lord, what shall we do?

6:16. But he answered: Fear not: for there are more with us than with them.



'''6:17. Elisha prayed, and said: Lord, open his eyes, that he may see. The Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses, and chariots of fire round about Elisha.'''

6:18. The enemies came down to him: but Elisha prayed to the Lord, saying: Strike, I beseech you, this people with blindness: and the Lord struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.

Blindness. . .The blindness here spoken of was of a particular kind, which hindered them from seeing the objects that were really before them; and represented other different objects to their imagination: so that they no longer perceived the city of Dothan, nor were able to know the person of Elisha; but were easily led by him, whom they took to be another man, to Samaria. So that he truly told them, this is not the way, neither is this the city, etc., because he spoke with relation to the way and to the city, which was represented to them.

Elisha at Dothan; as in 2 Kings 6:8 - 6:18 Date: 1898