The ministry of Elisha did have its deep influence upon Israel, despite the corruption in the nation. Perhaps one of the most pleasing evidences of this appears in the growing number of “the sons of the prophets.” On a previous occasion (chapter 4:43), we found about 100 men assembled at Gilgal to listen to the instruction of Elisha, and there were similar communities at Bethel and Jericho. But one of these communities was so prosperous that their meeting-place no longer sufficed for their growing numbers. This led to the proposal of constructing another and larger place for their use by the banks of the Jordan River. As the men were engaged in cutting down timber, the borrowed axe-head of one of the workers suddenly became detached and fell into the water. His exclamation of distress was addressed to Elisha, who threw a stick into the water – miraculously causing the iron to float, enabling the man to reach in and grab it. The Lord gave His people the ministry of His prophets Elijah and Elisha, in order that this great truth might be presented to them in a vivid manner: namely, that Jehovah was the living and the true God, Who is always present with His children. As the man retrieved the lost axe-head from the water, it would teach him many lessons – not the least of which would be the constant care and provision of Elisha’s God, which extends even to the smallest and humblest need.

The sacred text informs us that King Ben-hadad of Syria “was warring against Israel” – indicating a state of chronic warfare and marauding expeditions, rather than regular campaigns. In his consultations with his servants concerning which places to occupy, there seems to have been a scheme to lay an ambush for the capture of Israel’s king, Jehoram. But each time, Elisha sent timely warning to Jehoram; and the king was wise enough to avoid the localities indicated. This happened at least three times, and the Syrian king suspected a traitor among his counselors. Upon hearing that Elisha the prophet was responsible for his plans being disclosed to Jehoram, Ben-hadad sent a whole army of soldiers to Dothan to capture the solitary unarmed prophet!

Elisha knew about these preparations on the part of Ben-hadad. He knew that the town had been surrounded by the Syrians during the night, so that – to the eye of man – there seemed to be no way of escape. But he rested quietly, for he also knew that “he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4). However, the next morning, when Elisha’s servant saw the town surrounded by the Syrian army, his heart failed him; and he turned to his master with a despairing inquiry as to what they were to do! Clearly, there seemed to be no possibility of escape from the imminent danger.

In answer to the prayer of Elisha, the eyes of his young servant were spiritually opened; and he beheld the heights which overlooked Dothan, full of horses and chariots of fire! Truly had Elisha said, “Fear not, for they with us are more than they that are with them!” This was not only the Divine answer to the Syrian challenge; but it was also the revelation of the ever-present, watchful help of Him Whose angel “encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Ps. 34:7). In view of this heavenly guard, there could be no hesitation on the part of Elisha and his servant. The two went down to the Syrian soldiers. At the prayer of Elisha, they were smitten by the Lord with blindness; and the prophet invited them to follow him to the man whom they were seeking. His intention was to show the Syrians that his God could not be contended with in such a manner as they thought, nor could His purposes be frustrated. And the people of Israel would have practical proof that Jehovah was the living God, when Elisha brought his blinded pursuers as his willing prisoners into Samaria!

It must have been an amazing sight to both the Syrians and Israelites, when – in answer to the prophet’s prayer – the Lord once more opened the eyes of the enemy-soldiers, and they found themselves in Samaria! With eagerness and spiritual dullness, Jehoram would have slaughtered these captives of the Lord; but with uprightness and large-hearted generosity, the prophet almost indignantly rebuked the king’s spurious zeal. The Lord had not brought these blinded men there as His own captives, just to give the king of Israel an easy and cruel triumph. Elisha commanded to give the Syrian soldiers a great meal and dismiss them to their master so that they might report how Jehovah made them captives of His prophet, and how they were mercifully entertained and released. Truly, there are many lessons in this narrative of the unseen but certain presence of our God and of His help when our spiritual enemies surround us, just as the Syrians surrounded Elisha in Dothan.

Ben-hadad once more laid siege to Samaria. And the city was reduced to such straits that the humblest kind of food fetched a price which – in ordinary times – would have been extravagant for the most abundant supply of daintiest fare. One day, while making rounds on the top of the city wall, King Jehoram’s attention was arrested by the cry for help from a frenzied woman, who told him a terrible story of the great extremes to which she and the people were driven. But sadly, the sudden outburst of the king’s anger against Elisha, and his rash vow of his death, indicate that – instead of repenting – he connected the misery of Samaria with the prophet, even though he had so recently experienced personal deliverances through Elisha!

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