New American Standard Bible 1995
2 Kings 6
The Axe Head Recovered
1Nowthe sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֖יםha.ne.vi.'ImH5030saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֑ע'e.li.Sha'H477, “Beholdהִנֵּֽה־hi.neh-H2009nowנָ֣אna'H4994,the placeהַמָּק֗וֹםha.ma.KomH4725beforeלְפָנֶ֖יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440you whereאֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁ֛ם'a.Sher shamH834H8033we are livingיֹשְׁבִ֥יםyo.she.VimH3427is tooמִמֶּֽנּוּ׃mi.Me.nuH4480limitedצַ֥רtzarH6862for us.
2Pleaseנָּ֣אna'H4994let us goנֵֽלְכָה־ne.le.khah-H1980to the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ןhai.yar.DenH3383and eachאִ֚ישׁ'ishH376of us takeוְנִקְחָ֤הve.nik.ChahH3947from thereמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033a beamקוֹרָ֣הko.RahH6982,and let us makeוְנַעֲשֶׂה־ve.na.'a.seh-H6213a placeמָק֖וֹםma.KomH4725thereשָׁ֛םshamH8033for ourselves whereשָׁ֑םShamH8033we may liveלָשֶׁ֣בֶתla.She.vetH3427.”So he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Goלֵֽכוּ׃Le.khuH1980.”
5But as oneהָֽאֶחָד֙ha.'e.ChadH259was fellingמַפִּ֣ילma.PilH5307a beamהַקּוֹרָ֔הha.ko.RahH6982,the axeH1270headH1270fellנָפַ֣לna.FalH5307into the waterהַמָּ֑יִםha.Ma.yimH4325;and he criedוַיִּצְעַ֥קvai.yitz.'AkH6817out and saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Alasאֲהָ֥הּ'a.HahH162,my masterאֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.NiH113!For it was borrowedשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7592.”
6Then the manאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whereאָ֣נָה'A.nahH575did it fallנָפָ֑לna.FalH5307?”And when he showedוַיַּרְאֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yar.'E.huH7200him the placeהַמָּק֔וֹםha.ma.KomH4725,he cutH7094offH7094a stickעֵץ֙'etzH6086and threwוַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־vai.yash.lekh-H7993itin thereשָׁ֔מָּהSha.mahH8033,and made the ironהַבַּרְזֶֽל׃ha.bar.ZelH1270floatוַיָּ֖צֶףvai.Ya.tzefH6687.
The Arameans Plot to Capture Elisha
8Now the kingוּמֶ֣לֶךְu.Me.lekhH4428of Aramאֲרָ֔ם'a.RamH758was warringנִלְחָ֖םnil.ChamH3898against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478; and hecounseledוַיִּוָּעַץ֙vai.yi.va.'AtzH3289with his servantsעֲבָדָ֣יו'a.va.DavH5650sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, “In suchפְּלֹנִ֥יpe.lo.NiH6423and suchאַלְמֹנִ֖י'al.mo.NiH492a placeמְק֛וֹםme.KomH4725shall be my campתַּחֲנֹתִֽי׃ta.cha.no.TiH8466.”
9The manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֗יםha.'E.lo.HimH430sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֞חvai.yish.LachH7971wordto the kingמֶ֤לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Bewareהִשָּׁ֕מֶרhi.Sha.merH8104that you do not passמֵעֲבֹ֖רme.'a.VorH5674thisהַזֶּ֑הha.ZehH2088placeהַמָּק֣וֹםha.ma.KomH4725,for the Arameansאֲרָ֥ם'a.RamH758are comingH5185downH5185thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033.”
10The kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֞חvai.yish.LachH7971to the placeהַמָּק֞וֹםha.ma.KomH4725about whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the manאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֛יםha.'E.lo.HimH430had toldאָֽמַר־'a.mar-H559him; thus he warnedוְהִזְהִיר֖וֹve.hiz.hi.roH2094him, so that he guardedוְנִשְׁמַ֣רve.nish.MarH8104himself thereשָׁ֑םShamH8033,more than onceאַחַ֖ת'a.ChatH259or twiceשְׁתָּֽיִם׃she.Ta.yimH8147.
11Now the heartלֵ֣בlevH3820of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Aramאֲרָ֔ם'a.RamH758was enragedוַיִּסָּעֵר֙vai.yi.sa.'ErH5590overעַל־'al-H5921thisהַזֶּ֑הha.ZehH2088thingהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697;and he calledוַיִּקְרָ֤אvai.yik.Ra'H7121his servantsעֲבָדָיו֙'a.va.DavH5650and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Will you tellתַּגִּ֣ידוּta.Gi.duH5046me whichמִ֥יmiH4310of us is for the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478?”
12Oneאַחַ֣ד'a.ChadH259of his servantsמֵֽעֲבָדָ֔יוme.'a.va.DavH5650saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Noל֖וֹאLo'H3808,my lordאֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.NiH113,O kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428;but Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֤ע'e.li.Sha'H477,the prophetהַנָּבִיא֙ha.na.Vi'H5030whoH834is in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,tellsיַגִּיד֙ya.GidH5046the kingלְמֶ֣לֶךְle.Me.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478the wordsהַ֨דְּבָרִ֔יםha.de.va.RimH1697that you speakתְּדַבֵּ֖רte.da.BerH1696in your bedroomבַּחֲדַ֥ר מִשְׁכָּבֶֽךָ׃ba.cha.Dar mish.ka.Ve.khaH2315H4904.”
13So he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Goלְכ֤וּle.KhuH1980and seeוּרְאוּ֙u.re.'UH7200whereאֵיכֹ֣ה'ei.KhohH351he is, that I may sendוְאֶשְׁלַ֖חve.'esh.LachH7971and takeוְאֶקָּחֵ֑הוּve.'e.ka.Che.huH3947him.” And it was toldוַיֻּגַּד־vai.yu.gad-H5046him, sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559, “Beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009, he is inDothanבְדֹתָֽן׃ve.do.TanH1886.”
14He sentוַיִּשְׁלַח־vai.yish.lach-H7971horsesסוּסִ֥יםsu.SimH5483and chariotsוְרֶ֖כֶבve.Re.khevH7393and a greatכָּבֵ֑דka.VedH3515armyוְחַ֣יִלve.Cha.yilH2428thereשָׁ֛מָּהSha.mahH8033,and they cameוַיָּבֹ֣אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935by nightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915and surroundedוַיַּקִּ֖פוּvai.ya.Ki.fuH5362the cityהָעִֽיר׃ha.'IrH5892.
15Now when the attendantמְשָׁרֵ֨תme.sha.RetH8334of the manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֮ha.'E.lo.HimH430had risenלָקוּם֒la.KumH6965earlyוַ֠יַּשְׁכֵּםVai.yash.kemH7925and goneוַיֵּצֵ֕אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out, beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009,an armyחַ֛יִלCha.yilH2428with horsesוְס֣וּסve.SusH5483and chariotsוָרָ֑כֶבva.Ra.khevH7393was circlingסוֹבֵ֥בso.VevH5437the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892.And his servantנַעֲר֥וֹna.'a.RoH5288saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Alasאֲהָ֥הּ'a.HahH162,my masterאֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.NiH113!WhatH351shall we doנַֽעֲשֶֽׂה׃Na.'a.SehH6213?”
17Then Elishaאֱלִישָׁע֙'e.li.Sha'H477prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֤לvai.yit.pa.LelH6419and saidוַיֹּאמַ֔רvai.yo.MarH559, “O Lordיְהוָ֕הYah.wehH3068,I prayנָ֥אna'H4994,openפְּקַח־pe.kach-H6491his eyesעֵינָ֖יו'ei.NavH5869that he may seeוְיִרְאֶ֑הve.yir.'EhH7200.”And the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068openedוַיִּפְקַ֤חvai.yif.KachH6491the servant’sהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288eyesעֵינֵ֣י'ei.NeiH5869and he sawוַיַּ֗רְאvai.Yar'H7200;and beholdוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009,the mountainהָהָ֜רha.HarH2022was fullמָלֵ֨אma.Le'H4390ofhorsesסוּסִ֥יםsu.SimH5483and chariotsוְרֶ֛כֶבve.Re.khevH7393of fireאֵ֖שׁ'eshH784allH5439aroundH5439Elishaאֱלִישָֽׁע׃'e.li.Sha'H477.
18When they cameH3381downוַיֵּרְדוּ֮vai.ye.re.DuH3381to him, Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֤ע'e.li.Sha'H477prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨לvai.yit.pa.LelH6419to the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068and saidוַיֹּאמַ֔רvai.yo.MarH559, “Strikeהַךְ־hakh-H5221thisהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088peopleהַגּוֹי־ha.goy-H1471with blindnessבַּסַּנְוֵרִ֑יםba.san.ve.RimH5575,I prayנָ֥אna'H4994.” So Hestruckוַיַּכֵּ֥םvai.ya.KemH5221them with blindnessבַּסַּנְוֵרִ֖יםba.san.ve.RimH5575according to the wordכִּדְבַ֥רkid.VarH1697of Elishaאֱלִישָֽׁע׃'e.li.Sha'H477.
19Then Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֗ע'e.li.Sha'H477saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Thisזֶ֣הzehH2088is not the wayהַדֶּרֶךְ֮ha.de.reKhH1870,norH3808is thisזֹ֣הzohH2090the cityהָעִיר֒ha.'IrH5892;followלְכ֣וּ אַחֲרַ֔יle.Khu 'a.cha.RaiH1980H310me and I will bringוְאוֹלִ֣יכָהve.'o.Li.khahH1980you to the manהָאִ֖ישׁha.'IshH376whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you seekתְּבַקֵּשׁ֑וּןte.va.ke.ShunH1245.”And he broughtוַיֹּ֥לֶךְvai.Yo.lekhH1980them to Samariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃sho.me.Ro.nahH8111.
20When they had comeכְּבֹאָ֣םke.vo.'AmH935into Samariaשֹׁמְרוֹן֒sho.me.rOnH8111,Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֔ע'e.li.Sha'H477saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “OLordיְהוָ֕הYah.wehH3068,openפְּקַ֥חpe.KachH6491the eyesעֵינֵֽי־'ei.nei-H5869of theseאֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehH428men,that they may seeוְיִרְא֑וּve.yir.'UH7200.”So the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068openedוַיִּפְקַ֤חvai.yif.KachH6491their eyesעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם'ei.nei.HemH5869and they sawוַיִּרְא֕וּvai.yir.'UH7200;and beholdוְהִנֵּ֖הve.hi.NehH2009,they were in the midstבְּת֥וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of Samariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃sho.me.RonH8111.
22Heansweredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “You shall notkillתַכֶּ֔הta.KehH5221them. Would youkillמַכֶּ֑הma.KehH5221those you have takenשָׁבִ֛יתָsha.Vi.taH7617captiveH7628with your swordבְּחַרְבְּךָ֥be.char.be.KhaH2719and with your bowוּֽבְקַשְׁתְּךָ֖u.ve.kash.te.ChaH7198?Setשִׂים֩simH7760breadלֶ֨חֶםLe.chemH3899and waterוָמַ֜יִםva.Ma.yimH4325beforeלִפְנֵיהֶ֗םlif.nei.HemH6440them, that they may eatוְיֹֽאכְלוּ֙ve.yo.khe.LuH398and drinkוְיִשְׁתּ֔וּve.yish.TuH8354and goוְיֵלְכ֖וּve.ye.le.KhuH1980to their masterאֲדֹנֵיהֶֽם׃'a.do.nei.HemH113.”
23So he preparedH3738a greatגְדוֹלָ֗הge.do.LahH1419feastכֵּרָ֣הke.RahH3740for them; and when they had eatenוַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙vai.yo.khe.LuH398and drunkוַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּvai.yish.TuH8354he sentH7971them awayH7971,and they wentוַיֵּלְכ֖וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980to their masterאֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֑ם'a.do.nei.HemH113. Andthe maraudingגְּדוּדֵ֣יge.du.DeiH1416bandsH1416of Arameansאֲרָ֔ם'a.RamH758didH3254not comeלָב֖וֹאla.Vo'H935againעוֹד֙'OdH5750H3254into the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478.
The Siege of Samaria--Cannibalism
24Now it cameוַֽיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961about afterאַחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-H310thisכֵ֔ןKhenH3651, thatBen-hadadH1130kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Aramאֲרָ֖ם'a.RamH758gatheredוַיִּקְבֹּ֛ץvai.yik.BotzH6908allכָּל־kol-H3605his armyמַחֲנֵ֑הוּma.cha.Ne.huH4264and wentוַיַּ֕עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927up and besiegedוַיָּ֖צַר עַל־vai.Ya.tzar 'al-H6696H5921Samariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃sho.me.RonH8111.
25There was a greatגָּדוֹל֙ga.dOlH1419famineרָעָ֤בra.'AvH7458in Samariaבְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹןbe.Sho.me.RonH8111;and beholdוְהִנֵּ֖הve.hi.NehH2009,they besiegedצָרִ֣ים עָלֶ֑יהָtza.Rim 'a.Lei.haH6696H5921it, untilעַ֣ד'adH5704a donkey’sחֲמוֹר֙cha.mOrH2543headרֹאשׁ־rosh-H7218was soldH1961for eightyבִּשְׁמֹנִ֣יםbish.mo.NimH8084shekelsof silverכֶּ֔סֶףKe.sefH3701,and a fourthוְרֹ֛בַעve.Roa'H7255of akabהַקַּ֥בha.KavH6894of dove’sH3123dungדִּבְיוֹנִ֖יםcha.rei.yo.nimH1686for fiveבַּחֲמִשָּׁה־ba.cha.mi.shah-H2568shekelsof silverכָֽסֶף׃Kha.sefH3701.
26As the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478was passingעֹבֵ֖ר'o.VerH5674by on the wallהַחֹמָ֑הha.cho.MahH2346a womanוְאִשָּׁ֗הve.'i.ShahH802criedצָעֲקָ֤הtza.'a.KahH6817out to him, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Helpהוֹשִׁ֖יעָהho.Shi.'ahH3467,my lordאֲדֹנִ֥י'a.do.NiH113,O kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428!”
28And the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּֽאמֶר־vai.yo.mer-H559to her, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100is the matter with you?” And sheansweredוַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merH559, “ThisH2088womanהָאִשָּׁ֨הha.'i.ShahH802saidאָמְרָ֣ה'a.me.RahH559to me, ‘Giveתְּנִ֤יte.NiH5414your sonבְּנֵךְ֙be.neKhH1121that we may eatוְנֹאכְלֶ֣נּוּve.no.khe.Le.nuH398him todayהַיּ֔וֹםhai.YomH3117,and we will eatנֹאכַ֥לno.KhalH398my sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121tomorrowמָחָֽר׃ma.CharH4279.’
29So we boiledוַנְּבַשֵּׁ֥לva.ne.va.ShelH1310my sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121and ateוַנֹּֽאכְלֵ֑הוּva.no.khe.Le.huH398him; and I saidוָאֹמַ֨רva.'o.MarH559to her on the nextהָאַחֵ֗רha.'a.CherH312dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117, ‘Giveתְּנִ֤יte.NiH5414your sonבְּנֵךְ֙be.neKhH1121,that we may eatוְנֹ֣אכְלֶ֔נּוּve.No.khe.Le.nuH398him’; but she has hiddenוַתַּחְבִּ֖אva.tach.Bi'H2244her sonבְּנָֽהּ׃be.NahH1121.”
30When the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428heardכִשְׁמֹ֨עַkhish.Mo.a'H8085the wordsדִּבְרֵ֤יdiv.ReiH1697of the womanהָֽאִשָּׁה֙ha.'i.ShahH802,he toreוַיִּקְרַ֣עvai.yik.Ra'H7167his clothesבְּגָדָ֔יוbe.ga.DavH899--now he was passingעֹבֵ֣ר'o.VerH5674by on the wallהַחֹמָ֑הha.cho.MahH2346--and the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971lookedוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009,he had sackclothהַשַּׂ֛קha.SakH8242beneathמִבָּֽיִת׃mi.Ba.yitH1004on hisbodyבְּשָׂר֖וֹbe.sa.RoH1320.
31Then he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “MayGodאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430doיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213soכֹּֽה־koh-H3541to me and moreיוֹסִ֑ףyo.SifH3254alsoוְכֹ֣הve.KhohH3541,ifאִֽם־'im-H518the headרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218of Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֧ע'e.li.Sha'H477the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Shaphatשָׁפָ֛טsha.FatH8202remainsיַעֲמֹ֞דya.'a.ModH5975on him todayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117.”
32Now Elishaוֶאֱלִישָׁע֙ve.'e.li.Sha'H477was sittingיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427in his houseבְּבֵית֔וֹbe.vei.ToH1004, andthe eldersוְהַזְּקֵנִ֖יםve.ha.ze.ke.NimH2205were sittingיֹשְׁבִ֣יםyo.she.VimH3427with him. And the kingsentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376from his presenceמִלְּפָנָ֗יוmi.le.fa.NavH6440;but beforeבְּטֶ֣רֶםbe.Te.remH2962the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֨ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397cameיָבֹא֩ya.Vo'H935to him, he saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559to the eldersהַזְּקֵנִ֗יםha.ze.ke.NimH2205, “Do youseeהַרְּאִיתֶם֙ha.re.'i.TemH7200howכִּֽי־ki-H3588thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of a murdererהַֽמְרַצֵּ֤חַham.ra.Tze.achH7523has sentשָׁלַ֞חsha.LachH7971to takeH5493awayH5493my headרֹאשִׁ֔יro.ShiH7218?Lookרְא֣וּ׀re.'UH7200,when the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֗ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397comesכְּבֹ֣אke.Vo'H935,shutסִגְר֤וּsig.RuH5462the doorהַדֶּ֙לֶת֙ha.De.letH1817andholdH3905the doorבַּדֶּ֔לֶתba.De.letH1817shutH3905against him. Is not the soundק֛וֹלKolH6963of his master’sאֲדֹנָ֖יו'a.do.NavH113feetרַגְלֵ֥יrag.LeiH7272behindאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310him?”
33While he was stillH5750talkingמְדַבֵּ֣רme.da.BerH1696with them, beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009,the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֖ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397cameH3381downיֹרֵ֣דyo.RedH3381to him and he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Beholdהִנֵּֽה־hi.neh-H2009,thisH2088evilH7463is from the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;whyמָֽה־mah-H4100should I waitאוֹחִ֥יל'o.ChilH3176for the Lordלַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068anyH5750longerH5750?”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries