2 Kings 6:13-19

6:13 The king 1  ordered, “Go, find out where he is, so I can send some men to capture him.” 2  The king was told, “He is in Dothan.” 6:14 So he sent horses and chariots there, along with a good-sized army. 3  They arrived during the night and surrounded the city.

6:15 The prophet’s 4  attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha, 5  “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” 6:16 He replied, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.” 6  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 7  the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 6:18 As they approached him, 8  Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people 9  with blindness.” 10  The Lord 11  struck them with blindness as Elisha requested. 12  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. 13 

1 tn Heb “he” (also a second time in this verse); the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

2 tn Heb “Go and see where he [is] so I can send and take him.”

3 tn Heb “heavy force.”

4 tn Heb “man of God’s.”

5 tn Heb “his young servant said to him.”

6 tn Heb “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

7 tn Heb “and he saw, and look.”

8 tn Heb “and they came down to him.”

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

10 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.”

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

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

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