Study notes

2 Kings 6

Introducing 2 KingsWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:1–8:15 Section

The story of Israel recorded in 1 Kings is continued in 2 Kings.

The nation of Israel had divided into the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. The northern kingdom was called Israel and the southern kingdom was called Judah.

In the northern kingdom, Elijah spoke messages from God against King Ahaziah. Both Ahaziah and Joram worshipped false gods like Jeroboam and Ahab had done.

Before God took Elijah to heaven, Elisha asked for a double share of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha wasn’t talking about the spiritual part of Elijah. He was talking about the power of the Holy Spirit in Elijah’s life and work. This was how Elisha showed that he wanted to serve God as a faithful prophet.

Like Elijah, Elisha served families in Israel and served the groups of prophets. He also served the leaders of Israel and of other nations. Elisha helped a woman from Shunem with her son and with her land. He helped the prophets with problems like debt, lost items and having enough food. He helped soldiers and officials from Aram. God did many miracles through Elisha. One of these was to heal Naaman of his skin disease. This showed Naaman that Israel’s God is the true God.

God protected Elisha from Aram’s soldiers by making them blind. Then Elisha protected Aram’s soldiers. Elisha had Israel’s king feed the soldiers instead of killing them. Elisha was very sad when he gave a message to an Aramean officer named Hazael. Later Hazael would do many evil things against the Israelites. Elisha served Israel’s king by warning him of where Aram’s army was going to attack. He also served the king by prophesying about how God would take care of the Israelites.

Elisha prophesied about this when Joram, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom attacked Moab. God rescued the armies by sending water in the desert. Elisha also prophesied when the Israelites in Samaria were about to die of hunger. He made it clear that God would rescue the city by the next morning. God did this by making Aram’s army hear the noise of chariots and horses. The noise scared them and they ran away.

God used chariots and horses made of fire to protect Elisha. These were spiritual beings and people could only see them if God allowed them to. They were one way that God took care of his people (God’s people).

6:1–2

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).

6:5

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.

6:8–10

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).

6:11–14

  • 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.

6:15

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

6:21

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).

6:23

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

6:24–25

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.

6:26–29

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).

6:30

  • 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.

6:32

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

6:33

  • 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.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources