2 Kings 6 - Easy To Read Version

¹ The group of prophets [59] said to Elisha, “We are staying in that place over there. But it is too small for us.

² Let’s go to the Jordan River {and cut some wood}. Each of us will get a log and we will build us a place to live there.”

³ One person said, “Please go with us.”

⁴ So Elisha went with the group of prophets. [60] When they arrived at the Jordan River, they began to cut down some trees.

⁵ But when one man was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead slipped from the handle and fell into the water. The man shouted, “Oh, master! I borrowed that axe!”

⁶ The man of God [61] (Elisha) said, “Where did it fall?”

⁷ Elisha said, “Pick up the axhead.” Then the man reached out and took the axhead.

⁸ The king of Aram was making war against Israel. He had a council meeting with his army officers. He said, “Hide in this place {and attack the Israelites when they come by}.”

⁹ But the man of God [62] (Elisha) sent a message to the king of Israel. Elisha said, “Be careful! Don’t go by that place! The Aramean soldiers are hiding there!”

¹⁰ The king of Israel sent {a message to his men at} the place that the man of God [63] (Elisha) warned him about. And the king of Israel saved quite a few men. [64]

¹¹ The king of Aram was very upset about this. The king of Aram called his army officers and said to them, “Tell me who is {spying} for the king of Israel.”

¹² One of the officers of the king of Aram said, “My lord and king, not one of us is a spy! Elisha, the prophet from Israel, can tell the king of Israel {many secret things— even} the words that you speak in your bedroom!”

¹³ The king of Aram said, “Find Elisha and I will send men to catch him!”

¹⁴ Then the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, [65] and a large army to Dothan. They arrived at night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ Elisha’s servant got up early that morning. The servant went outside, and he saw an army with horses and chariots all around the city!

¹⁶ Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid! The army that fights for us is larger than the army {that fights for Aram}!”

¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, I ask you, open my servant’s eyes so he can see.”

¹⁸ These horses and chariots [67] of fire came down to Elisha. Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “I pray that you will cause these people to become blind.”

¹⁹ Elisha said to the Aramean army, “This is not the right way. This is not the right city. Follow me. I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” Then Elisha led the Aramean army to Samaria. [68]

²⁰ When they arrived at Samaria, [69] Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.”

²¹ The king of Israel saw the Aramean army. The king of Israel said to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

²² Elisha answered, “No, don’t kill them. You would not kill people that you captured in war with your sword and with your bow {and arrows}. Give the Aramean army some bread and water. Let them eat and drink. Then let them go home to their master.”

²³ The king of Israel prepared much food for the Aramean army. The Aramean army ate and drank. Then the king of Israel sent the Aramean army back home. The Aramean army went home to their master. The Arameans did not send any more soldiers into the land of Israel to make raids.

²⁴ After this happened, Ben Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went to surround and attack the city Samaria.

²⁵ {The soldiers would not let people bring food into the city.} So there was a time of terrible hunger in Samaria. It was so bad in Samaria that a donkey’s head was sold for 80 pieces of silver. And one pint [70] of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver.

²⁶ The king of Israel was walking on the wall around the city. A woman shouted out to him. The woman said, “My lord and king, please help me!”

²⁷ The king of Israel said, “If the Lord does not help you, how can I help you? {I have nothing to give to you—there is no grain} from the threshing floor [71] or {wine} from the winepress.”

²⁸ Then the king of Israel said to the woman, “What is your trouble?”

²⁹ So we boiled my son and ate him. Then the next day, I said to this woman, ‘Give me your son so we can {kill him and} eat him.’ But she has hidden her son!”

³⁰ When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes {to show he was upset}. As the king passed by on the wall, the people saw the king was wearing under his clothes the rough cloth {that showed he was sad and upset}.

³¹ The king said, “May God punish me if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat is still on his body at the end of this day!”

³² The king sent a messenger to Elisha. Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders (leaders) were sitting with him. Before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Look, that son of a murderer {(the king of Israel) is sending men to cut off my head! When the messenger arrives, shut the door! Hold the door and don’t let him in! I hear the sound of his master’s feet coming behind him!”