Elisha’s guidance of the Aramean army into Samaria illustrates that God’s power can confound enemies and work for good in seemingly hopeless situations.
Elisha, who prophesied in Israel during the 9th century BC after the ministry of Elijah, found himself approached by the Aramean army near the city of Dothan. Instead of allowing them to capture him, Scripture tells us: “Then Elisha said to them, ‘This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.’ And he brought them to Samaria.” (2 Kings 6:19). In this moment, God granted Elisha not only the wisdom but also the miraculous ability to lead the very soldiers sent to seize him. By declaring, “This is not the way, nor is this the city,” Elisha used both divine strategy and misdirection, demonstrating that the LORD protects His people and confounds those who trust in their own power.
Elisha’s apparent deception was not an act of malice. Rather, it served a larger divine plan to reveal God’s supremacy and mercy. The prophet guided the Aramean army into Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria was founded by King Omri around 885 BC and served as a hub of political and religious life for the northern tribes (it would later be destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC).Though the city saw much idolatry at various times, here it becomes a stage where God’s sovereignty and Elisha’s compassion are on display. By bringing the hostile forces into the very place they least believed they would be, Elisha showed that the LORD can turn any situation into an occasion of deliverance, reminding us of God’s power to protect His own.
In bringing the Aramean soldiers into Samaria, Elisha ultimately orchestrated an outcome of grace rather than destruction. The prophet asked the king of Israel not to slaughter the blinded soldiers, but to feed them and send them home in peace—a demonstration of divine mercy that astonished both the Israelites and their enemies. In this singular verse, therefore, we glimpse God’s might, Elisha’s prophetic calling, and the possibility of showing kindness to those who oppose us, all culminating in a vivid display of the LORD’s desire for reconciliation.
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2 Kings 6:19 meaning
Elisha, who prophesied in Israel during the 9th century BC after the ministry of Elijah, found himself approached by the Aramean army near the city of Dothan. Instead of allowing them to capture him, Scripture tells us: “Then Elisha said to them, ‘This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.’ And he brought them to Samaria.” (2 Kings 6:19). In this moment, God granted Elisha not only the wisdom but also the miraculous ability to lead the very soldiers sent to seize him. By declaring, “This is not the way, nor is this the city,” Elisha used both divine strategy and misdirection, demonstrating that the LORD protects His people and confounds those who trust in their own power.
Elisha’s apparent deception was not an act of malice. Rather, it served a larger divine plan to reveal God’s supremacy and mercy. The prophet guided the Aramean army into Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria was founded by King Omri around 885 BC and served as a hub of political and religious life for the northern tribes (it would later be destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC).Though the city saw much idolatry at various times, here it becomes a stage where God’s sovereignty and Elisha’s compassion are on display. By bringing the hostile forces into the very place they least believed they would be, Elisha showed that the LORD can turn any situation into an occasion of deliverance, reminding us of God’s power to protect His own.
In bringing the Aramean soldiers into Samaria, Elisha ultimately orchestrated an outcome of grace rather than destruction. The prophet asked the king of Israel not to slaughter the blinded soldiers, but to feed them and send them home in peace—a demonstration of divine mercy that astonished both the Israelites and their enemies. In this singular verse, therefore, we glimpse God’s might, Elisha’s prophetic calling, and the possibility of showing kindness to those who oppose us, all culminating in a vivid display of the LORD’s desire for reconciliation.