Elisha and the Blinded Arameans

Illustration of Elisha and the Blinded Arameans

In the biblical account from 2 Kings 6, the Aramean king sent a large military force to capture the prophet Elisha in Dothan after Elisha repeatedly warned Israel's ruler about Aramean ambush plans through divine insight. God struck the entire army with blindness in response to Elisha's prayer, enabling the prophet to lead the disoriented soldiers into the heart of Samaria, Israel's capital. There, Elisha prayed once more to restore their vision, revealing their encirclement by Israelite troops and prompting the king to consider their execution. Instead, Elisha advocated mercy by feeding the captives and releasing them, which halted further Aramean raids and demonstrated God's sovereign protection, the power of prayer, and the preference for compassion over retaliation in Scripture.

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Details

Era
Divided Kingdom
Category
Divided Kingdom
Participants
Elisha vs. Aramean Army
Outcome
Entire army captured without a fight
Divine Intervention
Yes

Key Passages

The Battle

2 Kings 6:15-23

A15nd 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?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 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. 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. 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. 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. 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 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. 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.

Related

Characters

Did You Know?

1

Elisha's servant panicked at the surrounding army until God opened his eyes to see angelic forces.

2

Elisha prayed for the enemy army to be blinded. Then led them into Samaria.

3

Instead of killing the captured army, Elisha fed them a feast and sent them home. Ending the raids.