2 Kings 6:1-7, 14-23

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• Floating axe; changes in visual perception caused by God.

Details and/or Comments

• Two passages that describe miraculous events, or "works of power" done by God.

• The first instance (the floating axe head) was most likely not a providential act of God, but something that went beyond known laws of nature... done by the One who created those laws.

• The second instance (changes in visual perception) could have been a combination of factors.

Scripture

2 Kings 6:1-7, 14-23

Miracle of a floating axe head

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
2Ki 6:1 The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, See now, the place where we dwell before you is too small for us. 2Ki 6:2 Let us go, please, to the Jordan, and every man a beam from there, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. He answered, Go! 2Ki 6:3 One said, "Please be pleased to go with your servants." He answered, "I will go." 2Ki 6:4 So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.	Cutting wood to make a larger building.
2Ki 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, my master! for it was borrowed. 2Ki 6:6 The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" He showed him the place. He cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float. 2Ki 6:7 He said, "Take it." So he put out his hand and took it.	Axe head is lost in the river; then made to float! Miraculous Events

A miracle – changes in visual perception!

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
2Ki 6:14 Therefore he [king of Syria] sent horses, and chariots there [to the city of Dothan], and a great army: and they came by night, and surrounded the city.	The King of Syria attacks Dothan, attempting to capture Elisha. (It was a time of war; and Elijah kept informing the king of Israel about where the king of Syria was planning to attack.)
2Ki 6:15 When the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. His servant said to him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 2Ki 6:16 He answered, Don't be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. 2Ki 6:17 Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, Please open his eyes, that he may see. Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.	The servant panics, but is made to see God's chariots of protection. Miraculous Events The miracle wasn't the presence of the heavenly beings; for they are there anyway. Rather, it was the ability for the servant to visually see (or recognize) them. Heavenly Beings
2Ki 6:18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, Please smite this people with blindness. He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.	In contrast, the Syrians are made blind, even though they could see. This blindness was one of perception. They could still see people, trees, buildings... and could still follow Elisha (verse 19). Their blindness was an inability to recognize or understand the significance of what they were looking at. This could have been a providential work of God. (Even today, such things do sometimes happen. People sometimes don't recognize where they are, etc. In this passage, the "miracle" of it would be in the timing of the events.) Providence
2Ki 6:19 Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. He led them to Samaria. 2Ki 6:20 It happened, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Yahweh, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.	They couldn't tell where they were, until God reopened their eyes, i.e., gave them the ability to recognize it.
2Ki 6:21 The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I strike them? shall I strike them? 2Ki 6:22 He answered, You shall not strike them: would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 2Ki 6:23 He prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.