1. And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell before thee is too strait for us.
2. 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.
3. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
4. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
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.
6. 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 made the iron to swim.
7. And he said, Take it up to thee. So he put out his hand, and took it.
8. Now the king of Syria warred against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9. 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 coming down.
10. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11. And 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?
12. And one of his servants said, Nay, 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.
13. And he said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.