6:24
However, hostilities against Israel did not stop. The king of Aram laid siege against Samaria, causing a great famine in the city. Conditions became very severe, even to the point of people eating their children. There was a dispute between two women. The king was distraught, but thought that killing Elisha would help matters. Elisha knew what was in the king’s mind
6:15-17
Elisha’s servant saw the surrounding army the next morning and was terrified. Elisha was not afraid and reassured his servant, saying “those who are with us and more than those who are with them”, (cf 1 John 4:4). He also prayed to the Lord asking Him to open the servant’s eyes to the truth of the situation. We also need our eyes opened. The Lord did this and the servant saw “the hills full of horses and chariots of fire”.
6:18-23
Elisha asked the Lord to strike the enemy with blindness, and He did. Elisha then led them to Samaria. Once in the city Elisha asked the Lord to open their eyes, and He did so. The king of ISrael was keen to kill them, but Elisha dissuaded him from doing so. Instead he fed and watered them, then sent them away. They then stopped raiding Israel.
6:15-17
Elisha’s servant saw the surrounding army the next morning and was terrified. Elisha was not afraid and reassured his servant, saying “those who are with us and more than those who are with them”, (cf 1 John 4:4). He also prayed to the Lord asking Him to open the servant’s eyes to the truth of the situation. We also need our eyes opened. The Lord did this and the servant saw “the hills full of horses and chariots of fire”.
6:18-23
Elisha asked the Lord to strike the enemy with blindness, and He did. Elisha then led them to Samaria. Once in the city Elisha asked the Lord to open their eyes, and He did so. The king of ISrael was keen to kill them, but Elisha dissuaded him from doing so. Instead he fed and watered them, then sent them away. They then stopped raiding Israel.
6:1-7
The chapter begins with a rather strange incident, a floating axe head. At one level the incident seems rather trivial. The company of prophets wants to build a meeting place. One of them was cutting down a tree with an axe, and the axe-head fell into the water. To make matters worse the axe was borrowed. We can imagine how the man felt. However, Elisha manages to make the axe (made of iron, so it should not float!), float, and the man’s problem is solved. God can get involved in things we consider to be beneath him, and when we consider it to be our fault. O the man got his axe head back.
6:8-14
Next we get an incident which seems more fitting of the Lord.The king of Aram was at war with Israel, but was greatly frustrated, for the king of Israel always seemed to be aware of his plans. It was as if he had a spy in the camp, and this is what the king of Aram thought was happening. However, what was actually happening was that God revealed the king's plans to Elisha. Some of the officers knew of Elisha and told the king that Elisha was the problem. So the king sent men to find and capture Elisha. Chariots and horses and a strong force were sent to get Elisha. They surrounded the city where Elisha was staying.
5:11-18
Naaman was rather put out, expecting more personal attention and perhaps something more dramatic. So he went off in a huff. However, his servants spoke sense to him, overcoming his pride. So Naaman did as Elisha had said and he was healed. So Naaman was now grateful and recognised the greatness of God. He wanted to give Elisha a gift, but Elisha refused. So Naaman wanted to take earth back so he could worship the Lord in Jordan. He also sought forgiveness, for his duties in Jordan would require him to partake in idol worship. Elisha tells him to go in peace.
5:19-27
While Elisha had refused a gift, Gehazi thought this was a wasted opportunity, so went chasing after Naaman and got two talents of silver. However, despite Gehazi’s lying, Elisha knew what he had been up to, and so Gehazi was afflicted with leprosy. Servants are significant in this tale, but the Jewish servant comes out of it the worst.
Chapter 5
5:1-6
We now come to quite a well known incident, the healing of Naaman from leprosy. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Aram. He was very well thought of, but had leprosy.
A young girl had been taken captive. She probably wondered why this had happened to her, but it was to play an important part in events. She knew of the prophet Elisha and told her mistress, saying that he could heal Naaman. This fact reached the king and he told Naaman to go and see Elisha, and sent a letter to the king of Israel.
5:7-10
The king of Israel was dismayed on receiving the letter, for how could he heal Naaman, and failing to do so would land him in trouble. However, Elisha, the man of God, heard about it and contacted the king, wanting to know why he was so distressed, he asked the king to send Naman to him.. The king sent Naaman to Elisha. Elisha told Naaman to wash himself in the Jordan seven times.
4:42-44
The final miracle is the feeding of a hundred with twenty loaves of bread. There are some similarities to the feeding miracles of Jesus. When a man of God is around, miracles can happen
