The king hesitates between revenge and deference to God’s prophet.
In this passage, we witness the king of Israel’s reaction to an astonishing situation. As the verse states, “Then the king of Israel when he saw them said to Elisha, ‘My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?’” (v.21). The king of Israel at this time is most likely King Joram (also spelled Jehoram), who reigned in the northern kingdom of Israel from around 852-841 BC. Elisha, a prophet of God who ministered during the ninth century BC, has just led the Aramean army, blinded through divine intervention, into the heart of Israel’s territory near Samaria. Samaria served as the capital of the northern kingdom, strategically located in a hilly region that offered both protection and a vantage point over the surrounding areas.
The repetition of “Shall I kill them?” in “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” (v.21) underscores the intensity of the king’s urge to exact immediate judgment. The king even addresses Elisha respectfully as “my father,” indicating the prophet’s revered status. This moment poignantly contrasts military might with the prophet’s calling to demonstrate God’s ways, foreshadowing that Elisha will counsel a course of mercy instead of violence. The king’s eagerness to end the lives of his captured enemies echoes common practice in ancient warfare, where certain conquest traditions allowed victorious kings to exact vengeance on opposing forces. Yet in this single verse, the king refers to Elisha for guidance, revealing how deeply the prophet’s influence shaped Israel’s moral choices. Later, we see that Elisha’s command echoes a principle fulfilled in the teachings of Jesus, who teaches to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” in Matthew 5:44, showing that God’s gracious dealings with enemies go beyond temporal victories.
Elisha’s intervention in this part of Israel’s history highlights God’s desire for repentance and mercy, and demonstrates that trusting the Lord is more significant than sheer force of arms.
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2 Kings 6:21 meaning
In this passage, we witness the king of Israel’s reaction to an astonishing situation. As the verse states, “Then the king of Israel when he saw them said to Elisha, ‘My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?’” (v.21). The king of Israel at this time is most likely King Joram (also spelled Jehoram), who reigned in the northern kingdom of Israel from around 852-841 BC. Elisha, a prophet of God who ministered during the ninth century BC, has just led the Aramean army, blinded through divine intervention, into the heart of Israel’s territory near Samaria. Samaria served as the capital of the northern kingdom, strategically located in a hilly region that offered both protection and a vantage point over the surrounding areas.
The repetition of “Shall I kill them?” in “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” (v.21) underscores the intensity of the king’s urge to exact immediate judgment. The king even addresses Elisha respectfully as “my father,” indicating the prophet’s revered status. This moment poignantly contrasts military might with the prophet’s calling to demonstrate God’s ways, foreshadowing that Elisha will counsel a course of mercy instead of violence. The king’s eagerness to end the lives of his captured enemies echoes common practice in ancient warfare, where certain conquest traditions allowed victorious kings to exact vengeance on opposing forces. Yet in this single verse, the king refers to Elisha for guidance, revealing how deeply the prophet’s influence shaped Israel’s moral choices. Later, we see that Elisha’s command echoes a principle fulfilled in the teachings of Jesus, who teaches to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” in Matthew 5:44, showing that God’s gracious dealings with enemies go beyond temporal victories.
Elisha’s intervention in this part of Israel’s history highlights God’s desire for repentance and mercy, and demonstrates that trusting the Lord is more significant than sheer force of arms.