The axe head
The company of prophets said to Elisha: As you can see, the place where we meet with you is getting too cramped. Let us go down to the Jordan. Each of us can get a log there, and we'll build ourselves a place to meet. Elisha said: Go ahead. One of them said: Please come with your servants. Elisha answered: All right, I'll come. So he went with them. When they reached the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. As one man was cutting a tree, the iron axe head flew into the water. He cried: Oh no, master! It was borrowed! The man of God asked: Where did it fall? The man showed him the spot. Elisha cut a stick, threw it in there, and the iron floated. Elisha said: Grab it. The man reached out and took it.
And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha: Look now — the place where we live with you is too small for us. Let's go to the Jordan now, please, and take from there every man a beam, and let's make ourselves a place there to live in. And he answered: Go. And one said: Be pleased, please, and go with your servants. And he answered: I'll go. So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water. And he cried out: Oh no, my master. Because it was borrowed. And the man of God said: Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick and threw it in there. And the iron floated. So he said: Take it up. And he put out his hand and took it.
And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
The company of prophets said to Elisha: As you can see, the place where we meet with you is getting too cramped.
And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha: Look now — the place where we live with you is too small for us.
And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
Let us go down to the Jordan. Each of us can get a log there, and we'll build ourselves a place to meet. Elisha said: Go ahead.
Let's go to the Jordan now, please, and take from there every man a beam, and let's make ourselves a place there to live in. And he answered: Go.
Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
One of them said: Please come with your servants. Elisha answered: All right, I'll come.
And one said: Be pleased, please, and go with your servants. And he answered: I'll go.
And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
So he went with them. When they reached the Jordan, they began cutting down trees.
So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.
So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
As one man was cutting a tree, the iron axe head flew into the water. He cried: Oh no, master! It was borrowed!
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water. And he cried out: Oh no, my master. Because it was borrowed.
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
The man of God asked: Where did it fall? The man showed him the spot. Elisha cut a stick, threw it in there, and the iron floated.
And the man of God said: Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick and threw it in there. And the iron floated.
And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
Elisha said: Grab it. The man reached out and took it.
So he said: Take it up. And he put out his hand and took it.
Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
Horses of fire
Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He met with his officers and told them where he planned to set up camp. The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: Watch yourself around that place, because the Syrians are heading down there. The king of Israel sent men to check the place the man of God had warned him about. Elisha warned him repeatedly, and the king kept out of danger there. This drove the king of Syria mad. He called his officers and demanded: Which one of you is on Israel's side? Who keeps telling their king what we're doing? One of his officers answered: None of us, my lord the king. It's Elisha, the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel even the things you say in your bedroom. The king said: Go and find out where he is, so I can send men to grab him. He was told: He's in Dothan. So the king sent horses, chariots and a large force there. They arrived during the night and surrounded the city. Early the next morning, the servant of the man of God went outside and saw troops, horses and chariots surrounding the city. He cried: Oh no, master! What are we going to do? Elisha answered: Don't be afraid. There are more with us than there are with them. Then Elisha prayed: Lord, open his eyes so he can see. The Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw the mountain around Elisha full of horses and chariots of fire. As the Syrians came down towards him, Elisha prayed to the Lord: Please strike this army with blindness. The Lord struck them with blindness, just as Elisha asked. Elisha told them: This isn't the road, and this isn't the city. Follow me and I'll take you to the man you're looking for. Then he led them into Samaria. When they entered Samaria, Elisha prayed: Lord, open these men's eyes so they can see. The Lord opened their eyes, and there they were, right in the middle of Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha: My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them? Elisha answered: Don't kill them. Would you kill prisoners you had captured with your own sword and bow? Put food and water in front of them, let them eat and drink, then send them back to their master. So the king prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they returned to their master. After that, Syrian raiding parties stopped coming into Israel's land.
Then the king of Aram made war against Israel and took counsel with his servants: My camp will be in such and such a place. And the man of God sent to the king of Israel: Watch out that you don't go past that place. Because the Arameans have come down there. And the king of Israel sent to the place the man of God told him and warned him of, and he kept himself safe there, not once or twice. So the heart of the king of Aram was badly troubled about this thing. And he called his servants and said to them: Won't you show me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said: Nobody, my lord king. But Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words you speak in your bedroom. And he said: Go and spy where he is, so I can send and get him. And he was told: Look — he's in Dothan. So he sent horses there and chariots and a great army. And they came by night and surrounded the town. And when the servant of the man of God had got up early and gone out, there was an army surrounding the town, both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him: Oh no, my master. What'll we do? And he answered: Don't be frightened. Because the ones with us are more than the ones with them. And Elisha prayed: Lord, open his eyes, please, so he can see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And look — the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord: Strike these people with blindness, please. And he struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said to them: This isn't the way, and this isn't the town. Follow me, and I'll bring you to the man you look for. But he led them to Samaria. And when they'd come into Samaria, Elisha said: Lord, open the eyes of these men, so they can see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw. And look — they were in the middle of Samaria. And the king of Israel said to Elisha when he saw them: My father, should I strike them? Should I strike them? And he answered: Don't strike them. Would you strike the ones you've taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water in front of them, so they can eat and drink and go to their master. And he got a great feast ready for them. And when they'd eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Aram didn't come into the land of Israel any more.
Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He met with his officers and told them where he planned to set up camp.
Then the king of Aram made war against Israel and took counsel with his servants: My camp will be in such and such a place.
Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: Watch yourself around that place, because the Syrians are heading down there.
And the man of God sent to the king of Israel: Watch out that you don't go past that place. Because the Arameans have come down there.
And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
The king of Israel sent men to check the place the man of God had warned him about. Elisha warned him repeatedly, and the king kept out of danger there.
And the king of Israel sent to the place the man of God told him and warned him of, and he kept himself safe there, not once or twice.
And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
This drove the king of Syria mad. He called his officers and demanded: Which one of you is on Israel's side? Who keeps telling their king what we're doing?
So the heart of the king of Aram was badly troubled about this thing. And he called his servants and said to them: Won't you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
One of his officers answered: None of us, my lord the king. It's Elisha, the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel even the things you say in your bedroom.
And one of his servants said: Nobody, my lord king. But Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words you speak in your bedroom.
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
The king said: Go and find out where he is, so I can send men to grab him. He was told: He's in Dothan.
And he said: Go and spy where he is, so I can send and get him. And he was told: Look — he's in Dothan.
And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
So the king sent horses, chariots and a large force there. They arrived during the night and surrounded the city.
So he sent horses there and chariots and a great army. And they came by night and surrounded the town.
Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
Early the next morning, the servant of the man of God went outside and saw troops, horses and chariots surrounding the city. He cried: Oh no, master! What are we going to do?
And when the servant of the man of God had got up early and gone out, there was an army surrounding the town, both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him: Oh no, my master. What'll we do?
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
Elisha answered: Don't be afraid. There are more with us than there are with them.
And he answered: Don't be frightened. Because the ones with us are more than the ones with them.
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
Then Elisha prayed: Lord, open his eyes so he can see. The Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw the mountain around Elisha full of horses and chariots of fire.
And Elisha prayed: Lord, open his eyes, please, so he can see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And look — the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round Elisha.
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
As the Syrians came down towards him, Elisha prayed to the Lord: Please strike this army with blindness. The Lord struck them with blindness, just as Elisha asked.
And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord: Strike these people with blindness, please. And he struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Elisha told them: This isn't the road, and this isn't the city. Follow me and I'll take you to the man you're looking for. Then he led them into Samaria.
And Elisha said to them: This isn't the way, and this isn't the town. Follow me, and I'll bring you to the man you look for. But he led them to Samaria.
And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
When they entered Samaria, Elisha prayed: Lord, open these men's eyes so they can see. The Lord opened their eyes, and there they were, right in the middle of Samaria.
And when they'd come into Samaria, Elisha said: Lord, open the eyes of these men, so they can see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw. And look — they were in the middle of Samaria.
And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha: My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?
And the king of Israel said to Elisha when he saw them: My father, should I strike them? Should I strike them?
And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
Elisha answered: Don't kill them. Would you kill prisoners you had captured with your own sword and bow? Put food and water in front of them, let them eat and drink, then send them back to their master.
And he answered: Don't strike them. Would you strike the ones you've taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water in front of them, so they can eat and drink and go to their master.
And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
So the king prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they returned to their master. After that, Syrian raiding parties stopped coming into Israel's land.
And he got a great feast ready for them. And when they'd eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Aram didn't come into the land of Israel any more.
And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
The siege of Samaria
Some time later Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered his entire army, marched up and laid siege to Samaria. The siege caused a severe famine in Samaria. It became so desperate that a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a quarter of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. As the king of Israel walked along the city wall, a woman called out to him: Help me, my lord the king! He answered: If the Lord won't help you, where am I meant to get help from — the threshing floor or the winepress? Then the king asked: What's wrong? She said: This woman told me, Give up your son so we can eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son. So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, Give up your son so we can eat him. But she had hidden him. When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his robes. As he walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing coarse mourning cloth underneath. The king said: May God deal with me, ever so severely, if Elisha son of Shaphat still has his head on his shoulders by the end of today. Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders sitting beside him. The king sent a man ahead, but before the messenger arrived Elisha told the elders: See how this murderer's son has sent someone to cut off my head? When the messenger arrives, shut the door and hold it closed against him. Can't you hear his master's footsteps coming behind him? While Elisha was still speaking, the king arrived and said: This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I keep waiting for the Lord any longer?
And after this Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and laid siege to Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria. And look — they laid siege to it till a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a small measure of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. And as the king of Israel was going past on the wall, a woman cried out to him: Help, my lord king. And he said: If the Lord doesn't help you, where can I help you from? Out of the threshing floor or out of the winepress? And the king said to her: What's the matter with you? And she answered: This woman said to me: Give your son, so we can eat him today, and we'll eat my son tomorrow. So we cooked my son and ate him. And I said to her the next day: Give your son, so we can eat him. And she's hidden her son. And when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And he went past on the wall, and the people looked, and there was sackcloth on his flesh underneath. Then he said: God do that to me and more, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat stays on him today. But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him. And the king sent a man from in front of him. But before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders: Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Watch, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold him fast at the door. Isn't the sound of his master's feet behind him? And while he was still talking with them, look — the messenger came down to him. And he said: Look — this trouble is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?
And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day. But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him? And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
Some time later Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered his entire army, marched up and laid siege to Samaria.
And after this Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and laid siege to Samaria.
And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
The siege caused a severe famine in Samaria. It became so desperate that a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a quarter of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
And there was a great famine in Samaria. And look — they laid siege to it till a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a small measure of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.
As the king of Israel walked along the city wall, a woman called out to him: Help me, my lord the king!
And as the king of Israel was going past on the wall, a woman cried out to him: Help, my lord king.
And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
He answered: If the Lord won't help you, where am I meant to get help from — the threshing floor or the winepress?
And he said: If the Lord doesn't help you, where can I help you from? Out of the threshing floor or out of the winepress?
And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
Then the king asked: What's wrong? She said: This woman told me, Give up your son so we can eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son.
And the king said to her: What's the matter with you? And she answered: This woman said to me: Give your son, so we can eat him today, and we'll eat my son tomorrow.
And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, Give up your son so we can eat him. But she had hidden him.
So we cooked my son and ate him. And I said to her the next day: Give your son, so we can eat him. And she's hidden her son.
So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his robes. As he walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing coarse mourning cloth underneath.
And when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And he went past on the wall, and the people looked, and there was sackcloth on his flesh underneath.
And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
The king said: May God deal with me, ever so severely, if Elisha son of Shaphat still has his head on his shoulders by the end of today.
Then he said: God do that to me and more, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat stays on him today.
Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders sitting beside him. The king sent a man ahead, but before the messenger arrived Elisha told the elders: See how this murderer's son has sent someone to cut off my head? When the messenger arrives, shut the door and hold it closed against him. Can't you hear his master's footsteps coming behind him?
But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him. And the king sent a man from in front of him. But before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders: Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Watch, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold him fast at the door. Isn't the sound of his master's feet behind him?
But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?
While Elisha was still speaking, the king arrived and said: This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I keep waiting for the Lord any longer?
And while he was still talking with them, look — the messenger came down to him. And he said: Look — this trouble is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?
And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?