Elisha Captures the Blinded Arameans

Now the king of Aram was at war against Israel. After consulting with his servants, he said,“My camp [will be] in such and such a place.”

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Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel:“Be careful not to pass by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”

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So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out vvv Time and again [Elisha] warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 11 For this reason the king of Aram became enraged and called his servants to demand of them,“Tell me which one of us [is] on the side of the king of Israel?”

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But one of his servants replied,“No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom

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So the king said,“Go and see where he [is], that I may send men to capture him.”

On receiving the report“Elisha is in Dothan,” 14 [the king of Aram] sent horses, chariots, and a great army They went there by night and surrounded the city.

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When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha,“Oh, my master, what are we to do?”

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“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered,“for those who [are] with us [are] more than those who [are] with them.”

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Then Elisha prayed,“O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.”

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

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As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD“Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.

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And Elisha told them,“This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

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When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said,“O LORD, open the eyes of these [men] that they may see.”

Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.

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And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha,“My father, shall I kill [them]? Shall I kill [them]?”

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“Do not kill them,” he replied.“{Would} you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”

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So [the king] prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again

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