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!”