Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Kings 6

a log … a place to live: The forest areas of the Jordan Valley near Jericho and Gilgal offered various types of wood for building (see 2 Kings 2:1, 4).

The Hebrew text shows that the ax head was made of iron, which was valuable when few iron tools existed. Since it was borrowed, losing it was even more distressing.

Elisha knew the Aramean king's attack plans, so he could warn Joram of danger. Healing Naaman (2 Kings 5:1–19) seemed to improve relations between Elisha and Joram (see 3:13–14).

• When the king of Aram found out that Elisha could warn the king of Israel ahead of time, he ordered his men to capture the prophet.

• Dothan was about ten miles north of Samaria. Archaeologists have confirmed the city existed during this time.

We do not know the name of Elisha's worried servant. He likely replaced Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27).

Elisha prayed to the Lord to help the young man see the angels protecting the city. Angels play a role in world events (Psalm 34:7; Daniel 10:20–11:1; Hebrews 1:7).

My father: Elisha used this respectful term when talking to Elijah (2 Kings 2:12), just as Naaman’s servant did with his master (2 Kings 5:13).

great feast: The Israelites treated the Arameans kindly, so the Arameans stopped raiding Israel. However, this peace was only temporary.

The famine was so severe that people ate and sold normally forbidden foods at high prices. For example, donkey meat was forbidden in the laws about unclean foods (Leviticus 11:1–7). Dove's dung might have been a type of wild vegetable, but during sieges, people sometimes ate dung (Isaiah 36:12). The dove's dung might also have been used as fuel.

Cannibalism (the act of eating human flesh) in extreme times was part of God’s warning of judgment for unfaithfulness and disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:53, 57). It also happened during the siege that led to Jerusalem's fall (Lamentations 4:9–10).

• When Joram heard about cannibalism in the city, he tore his clothes in despair.

• He wore burlap under his robe against his skin as a sign of mourning.

the head of Elisha … on his shoulders: Decapitating enemies was common (2 Kings 10:6–8; 1 Samuel 17:51; 31:9; 2 Samuel 4:7–8, 12; 20:22; Matthew 14:11) in the ancient Near East. Joram thought the problem arose because Elisha had spared Ben-hadad’s troops earlier (2 Kings 6:22–23). Ben-hadad had also been pursuing Elisha (2 Kings 6:13), putting the entire city at risk.

Elisha knew Joram was sending someone to kill him, and the king was close behind.

• the king said: This might mean the messenger was delivering the king's exact words.

• Since the siege's suffering seemed to come from the Lord, Joram thought praying for rescue was pointless.