2 Kings 6 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 And the children of the Prophets saide vnto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the place where we dwell with thee, is too litle for vs.
1 The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we live and meet with you is too small for us.
2 Let vs nowe goe to Iorden, that we may take thence euery man a beame, and make vs a place to dwell in. And he answered, Goe.
2 Please let us go to the Jordan, and each man take a beam from there, and let’s make us a place there, where we may live.” He answered, “Go!”
3 And one said, Vouchsafe, I pray thee, to go with thy seruants, and he answered, I will goe.
3 One said, “Please be pleased to go with your servants.” He answered, “I will go.”
4 So he went with them, and when they came to Iorden, they cut downe wood.
4 So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.
5 And as one was felling of a tree, the yron fell into the water: then he cryed, and said, Alas master, it was but borowed.
5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the ax head fell into the water. Then he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.”
6 And the man of God saide, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. Then he cut downe a piece of wood, and cast in thither, and he caused the yron to swimme.
6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” He showed him the place. He cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float.
7 Then he saide, Take it vp to thee. And he stretched out his hand, and tooke it.
7 He said, “Take it.” So he put out his hand and took it.
8 Then the King of Aram warred against Israel, and tooke counsell with his seruants, and said, In such and such a place shalbe my campe.
8 Now the king of Syria was at war against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”
9 Therefore the man of God sent vnto the King of Israel, saying, Beware thou goe not ouer to such a place: for there the Aramites are come downe.
9 The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”
10 So the King of Israel sent to the place which the man of God tolde him, and warned him of, and saued himselfe from thence, not once, nor twise.
10 The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once or twice.
11 And the heart of the King of Aram was troubled for this thing: therefore he called his seruants and saide vnto them, Will ye not shewe me, which of vs bewrayeth our counsel to the king of Israel?
11 The king of Syria’s heart was very troubled about this. He called his servants, and said to them, “Won’t you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
12 Then one of his seruants saide, None, my lorde, O King, but Elisha the Prophet that is in Israel, telleth the King of Israel, euen the wordes that thou speakest in thy priuie chamber.
12 One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
13 And he said, Goe, and espie where he is, that I may sende and fetch him. And one tolde him, saying, Beholde, he is in Dothan.
13 He said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” He was told, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”
14 So he sent thither horses, and charets, and a mightie hoste: and they came by night, and compassed the citie.
14 Therefore he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. They came by night and surrounded the city.
15 And when the seruant of the man of God arose earely to goe out, beholde, an hoste compassed the citie with horses and charets. Then his seruant sayde vnto him, Alas master, howe shall we doe?
15 When the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. His servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 And he answered, Feare not: for they that be with vs, are moe then they that be with them.
16 He answered, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 Then Elisha prayed, and saide, Lord, I beseech thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the seruant, and he looked, and beholde, the mountaine was full of horses and charets of fyre round about Elisha.
17 Elisha prayed, and said, “Yahweh, please open his eyes, that he may see.” Yahweh opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.
18 So they came downe to him, but Elisha prayed vnto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindnesse. And he smote them with blindnes, according to the worde of Elisha.
18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s word.
19 And Elisha said vnto them, This is not the way, neither is this the citie: follow me, and I will leade you to the man whome ye seeke. But he ledde them to Samaria.
19 Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” He led them to Samaria.
20 And when they were come to Samaria, Elisha saide, Lord, open their eyes that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, and beholde, they were in the mids of Samaria.
20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Yahweh, open these men’s eyes, that they may see.” Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.
21 And the King of Israel sayde vnto Elisha when he sawe them, My father, shall I smite them, shall I smite them?
21 The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?”
22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: doest thou not smite them that thou hast taken with thy sworde, and with thy bowe? but set bread and water before them, that they may eate and drinke and goe to their master.
22 He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, then go to their master.”
23 And he made great preparation for them: and when they had eaten and drunken, he sent them away: and they went to their master. So ye bands of Aram came no more into the land of Israel.
23 He prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
24 But afterward Ben-hadad King of Aram gathered all his hoste, and went vp, and besieged Samaria.
24 After this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.
25 So there was a great famine in Samaria: for loe, they besieged it vntill an asses head was at foure score pieces of siluer, and the fourth part of a kab of doues doung at fiue pieces of siluer.
25 There was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.
26 And as the King of Israel was going vpon the wall, there cryed a woman vnto him, saying, Helpe, my lord, O King.
26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!”
27 And he said, Seeing the Lord doeth not succour thee, howe shoulde I helpe thee with the barne, or with the wine presse?
27 He said, “If Yahweh doesn’t help you, where could I get help for you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”
28 Also the King said vnto her, What ayleth thee? And she answered, This woman sayde vnto me, Giue thy sonne, that we may eate him to day, and we will eate my sonne to morowe,
28 Then the king asked her, “What is your problem?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’
29 So we sod my sonne, and did eate him: and I saide to her the day after, Giue thy sonne, that we may eate him, but she hath hid her sonne.
29 So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him;’ and she has hidden her son.”
30 And when the King had heard the wordes of the woman, he rent his clothes, (and as he went vpon the wall, the people looked, and behold, he had sackecloth within vpon his flesh)
30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. Now he was passing by on the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body.
31 And he saide, God doe so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the sonne of Shaphat shall stande on him this day.
31 Then he said, “God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on him today.”
32 (Nowe Elisha sate in his house, and the Elders sate with him.) And the King sent a man before him: but before the messenger came to him, he saide to the Elders, See ye not howe this murtherers sonne hath sent to take away mine head? take heede when the messenger commeth, and shut the doore and handle him roughly at the doore: is not the sounde of his masters feete behinde him?
32 But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Then the king sent a man from before him; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”
33 While he yet talked with them, beholde, the messenger came downe vnto him, and saide, Behold, this euill commeth of the Lord: should I attende on the Lord any longer?
33 While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, “Behold, this evil is from Yahweh. Why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ben-hadad
King of Aram who besieged Samaria with thirty-two kings, was spared and made a treaty by Ahab, later besieged Samaria again, and was smothered by Hazael while sick.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 20:1; 1 Kings 20:34; 2 Kings 6:24
Cross references (33)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Kings 2:3; Isaiah 54:2–3; 1 Samuel 19:20; 1 Kings 20:35; Joshua 17:14
- 2 1 Corinthians 9:6; 1 Timothy 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; Acts 18:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:8
- 3 Judges 4:8; 2 Kings 5:23; Judges 19:6; Job 6:28
- 4 Deuteronomy 19:5; Deuteronomy 29:11
- 5 2 Kings 6:15; Ecclesiastes 10:10; Revelation 18:10; 2 Kings 3:10; Psalm 37:21
- 6 2 Kings 2:21; Mark 8:23–25; Exodus 15:25; 2 Kings 4:41; Mark 7:33–34
- 7 2 Kings 4:36; 2 Kings 4:7; Exodus 4:4; Luke 7:15; Acts 9:41
- 8 2 Kings 6:24; Proverbs 20:18; Proverbs 21:30; 1 Kings 22:31; Job 5:12–13
- 9 Amos 3:7; 2 Kings 4:27; Revelation 1:1; 2 Kings 6:12; 1 Kings 20:13
- 10 Amos 7:1–6; 2 Kings 5:14; Acts 27:24; Hebrews 11:7; Exodus 9:20–21
- 11 1 Samuel 22:8; Isaiah 57:20–21; Psalm 48:4–5; 1 Samuel 28:21; Job 18:7–11
- 12 Daniel 2:28–30; Amos 3:7; Daniel 2:22–23; 2 Kings 6:9–10; Ecclesiastes 10:20
- 13 Genesis 37:17; John 11:47–53; Acts 23:12–27; Psalm 37:12–14; Psalm 37:32–33
- 14 2 Kings 18:17; Matthew 26:55; 1 Samuel 24:2; John 18:3–6; 1 Samuel 23:26
- 15 Matthew 8:26; 2 Chronicles 20:12; Exodus 24:13; Psalm 53:5; 2 Kings 6:5
- 16 Romans 8:31; Isaiah 41:10–14; 1 John 4:4; 2 Chronicles 32:7–8; Acts 18:9–10
- 17 Psalm 68:17; Psalm 34:7; Zechariah 6:1–7; Hebrews 1:14; Acts 26:18
- 18 Acts 13:11; John 12:40; Genesis 19:11; Job 5:14; John 9:39
- 19 2 Samuel 16:18–19; Mark 8:34; Matthew 16:24; Luke 24:16; Luke 9:23
- 20 2 Kings 6:17; Luke 24:31; Luke 16:23; Judges 20:40–42
- 21 2 Kings 5:13; 2 Kings 8:9; 2 Kings 2:12; 1 Samuel 24:19; 1 Samuel 24:4
- 22 Genesis 48:22; Romans 12:20–21; Hosea 2:18; Deuteronomy 20:11–16; 2 Chronicles 28:8–15
- 23 2 Kings 5:2; 2 Kings 24:2; Luke 6:35; 2 Kings 6:8–9; Luke 10:29–37
- 24 1 Kings 20:1; 2 Kings 17:5; 1 Kings 22:31; Ecclesiastes 9:14; Deuteronomy 28:52
- 25 Jeremiah 52:6; Jeremiah 14:18; 2 Kings 6:28–29; Jeremiah 14:13–15; Jeremiah 32:24
- 26 2 Samuel 14:4; Isaiah 10:3; Luke 18:3; Acts 21:28
- 27 Psalm 118:8–9; Psalm 124:1–3; Psalm 146:3; Psalm 62:8; Jeremiah 17:5
- 28 2 Samuel 14:5; Leviticus 26:29; Judges 18:23; Lamentations 4:10; Luke 23:29
- 29 Deuteronomy 28:53; Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:57; 1 Kings 3:26; Isaiah 66:13
- 30 1 Kings 21:27; Isaiah 58:5–7; 2 Kings 5:7; 2 Kings 19:1
- 31 Ruth 1:17; 1 Kings 19:2; Acts 23:12–13; Jeremiah 38:4; 1 Kings 2:23
- 32 Ezekiel 14:1; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 20:1; 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:13–14
- 33 Job 2:9; Isaiah 8:21; Isaiah 50:10; Psalm 37:9; Job 1:21
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
And he cut down a tree, and cast it in there, and the iron floated." This was a sign that souls should be borne aloft (anagoges psuchon) through the instrumentality of wood, upon which He suffered who can lead those souls aloft that follow His ascension.