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Answer
Dothan was a city in central Israel, about 12 miles north of Samaria in the hills of Gilboa. Today, it is known as Tell-Dothan, situated on the southern plains of Jezreel. The name Dothan means “two wells,” and both wells still exist.
Dothan is first mentioned in Genesis 37:17 as the place near where Joseph was mistreated by his brothers. Initially, they planned to kill Joseph, but Reuben convinced them to throw him into a cistern instead. Because Dothan was on the caravan route from Egypt to Syria, Judah later proposed that they sell Joseph to Ishmaelite traders (Genesis 37:19-20, 26-27). The brothers agreed. Therefore, Dothan is the place where young Joseph abandoned everything familiar to him and became a slave in Egypt «And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.», (Genesis 37:36). The modern name of one of the wells in Dothan reflects the event: it’s called Jubb Yusuf, which means “the pit of Joseph.”
Dothan is mentioned again in the historical narrative as Elisha’s home «And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. », (2 Kings 6:13). It was in Dothan that God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant so that he could see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding them «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. », (2 Kings 6:17).
7). Elisha had warned the king of Israel that the king of Aram was planning to attack Israel. However, when the king of Aram discovered Elisha’s actions, he tried to capture the prophet. When Elisha’s servant saw the Arameans advancing against them, he became fearful. Nevertheless, Elisha reassured him not to fear because “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha then prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” The Lord answered by opening the servant’s eyes, “and he looked and saw the hills filled with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).
As the Aramean army drew near, Elisha prayed for the Lord to strike them with blindness «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. », (2 Kings 6:18). The Lord once again answered, and the army was struck with blindness. Elisha then guided them from Dothan to Samaria, the capital of Israel, before asking the Lord to restore their sight. In Samaria, the king of Israel contemplated killing the captured soldiers, but Elisha advised him to provide a meal for them instead. After the feast, the Arameans returned to their master, and Aram stopped raiding Israel. Subsequently, Elisha returned to his residence in Dothan.
