Elisha was a prophet of the Israelites (an ancient Hebrew nation) who was mentored by Elijah who was a renowned Hebrew prophet whose name means "Yahweh is my God".  Syria was warring against Israel and the King of Syria held a counsel with his servants to tell them where his camp will be. A man of God told the King of Israel not to pass the place where the Syrians were coming down and went to a place where the man of God told him to go to save himself from the Syrians.

• ​2 Kings 6:8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
• 2 Kings 6:9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
• 2 Kings 6:10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

​The King of Syria was troubled by this and he called his servants because he wanted to know which of them were in favor of the King of Israel. His servants told them it was not any of them but in fact was Elisha, the prophet who told the King of Israel his secrets.

• 2 Kings 6:11 Therefore 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, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

​This upset the King of Syria and he sent spies to find out where Elisha the prophet was staying. The spies told the King that Elisha was in Dothan (a city in Israel about 12 miles North of Samaria). The King of Syria sent an army of men with  horses and chariots to the city where Elisha the prophet was and they surrounded the city during the night.

• 2 Kings 6:13 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 6:14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

​Elisha's servant woke up earth and went out and that is when he saw the army which surrounded the city and the servant was afraid and asked Elisha the prophet, "Alas, my master! How shall we do? Elisha was not afraid and told his servant, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them". The servant could not see anyone with them other than Elisha and himself and he was very afraid.

• 2 Kings 6:15 And when the 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, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
• 2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

​Elisha prayed to the Lord and asked the Lord to open his servants eyes so he could see the mountain which was full of horses and chariots of fire all surrounding Elisha to protect him.

• 2 Kings 6:17 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.

​When the King of Syria's army came down to Elisha and the servant, Elisha prayed to the Lord and asked him to smite the army with blindness and the Lord did as Elisha asked. The army against them was blind instantly. So Elisha went to the blind army and told them they were going the wrong way and had them follow him, telling them that he would take them to the man they were looking for (which was himself) and he led them to Samaria.

• 2 Kings 6:18 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 6:19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

​After they arrived in Samaria, Elisha asked the Lord to open the eyes of the men so they could see and the Lord opened their eyes and they realized they were in the midst of Samaria where the King of Israel was. The King of Israel wanted to kill them but Elisha showed mercy for the men and told the King of Israel not to smite them but to feed them bread and water and to send them back to the King of Syria.

• 2 Kings 6:20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open 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, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
• 2 Kings 6:22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest 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.​

The King of Israel did as Elisha the prophet said and prepared a great meal for them. After they ate and drank he sent them back to the King of Syria and the bands of Syria never came back to the land of Israel.

• 2 Kings 6:23 And he 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.

Elisha showed both faith in the Lord, even asked the Lord to show his servant the army the Lord had there to protect him even though the servant could not see them until the Lord showed him after Elisha asked him too.  The Lord struck the Syrian army with blindness at Elisha’s request. Elisha had faith that the Lord would do as he asked. Elisha could see what his servant could not see. After the Lord struck the army with blindness Elisha could have killed them all if he had wanted to or he could have let the King of Israel have them killed, they were blind and helpless but Elisha showed mercy toward men who had come to capture him or worse, kill him and had the King feed them and send them back to their own King. Can you imagine how the King of Syria must have felt when his men returned and told him they had been struck blind and then were given food and drink before being sent home? They had to have realized right then that Elisha’s God was the one true God and they had to have feared that kind of power which is why they never returned. Elisha’s servant must have been completely amazed at this clear demonstration of power. Why would the Lord just do as Elisha asked? The Lord knew already before the King of Syria’s army got there what they planned to do and the Lord was already prepared so when Elisha prayed and asked, the Lord did as he asked because Elisha had faith and Elisha believed that the Lord would protect him.  Elisha had devoted his entire life to the Lord. We also want miracles in our lives but first we must devote our life to the Lord and then we must ask, believe and have faith that the Lord will.

Print Elisha's Example of Faith & Mercy

More Bible Studies About Faith