2 Kings 6:21-23

6:21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Should I strike them down, 1  my master?” 2  6:22 He replied, “Do not strike them down! You did not capture them with your sword or bow, so what gives you the right to strike them down? 3  Give them some food and water, so they can eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 6:23 So he threw a big banquet 4  for them and they ate and drank. Then he sent them back 5  to their master. After that no Syrian raiding parties again invaded the land of Israel.

1 tn Heb “Should I strike them down? I will strike them down.” In the Hebrew text the first person imperfect form is repeated; the first form has the interrogative he prefixed to it; the second does not. It is likely that the second form should be omitted as dittographic or that the first should be emended to an infinitive absolute.

2 tn Heb “my father.” The king addresses the prophet in this way to indicate his respect. See 2 Kgs 2:12.

3 tn Heb “Are [they] ones you captured with your sword or your bow (that) you can strike (them) down?”

4 tn Or “held a great feast.”

5 tn Heb “they went back.”