2 Kings 6:17-20

6:17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw that 1  the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 6:18 As they approached him, 2  Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people 3  with blindness.” 4  The Lord 5  struck them with blindness as Elisha requested. 6  6:19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.” He led them to Samaria. 7 

6:20 When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open their eyes, so they can see.” The Lord opened their eyes and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria. 8 

1 tn Heb “and he saw, and look.”

2 tn Heb “and they came down to him.”

3 tn Or “this nation,” perhaps emphasizing the strength of the Syrian army.

4 tn On the basis of the Akkadian etymology of the word, M. Cogan and H. Tadmor (II Kings [AB], 74) translate “blinding light.” HALOT 761 s.v. סַנְוֵרִים suggests the glosses “dazzling, deception.”

5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

6 tn Heb “according to the word of Elisha.”

7 map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.

8 tn Heb “and they saw, and look, [they were] in the middle of Samaria.”