5. But as one of them was cutting down a beam, the axe-head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, “Ah, my master! It was borrowed.”
6. Then the man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it there, and made the ax head float.
7. Then he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
8. Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel. He consulted with his officers, saying, “In such and such a place will be my camp.”
9. But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, saying, “Be careful not to pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.”
10. So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God told him and warned him about, and so he was on his guard there—more than once or twice.
11. His heart upset over this matter, the king of Aram summoned his officers and said to them, “Tell me, which one of us is on the king of Israel’s side?”
12. But one of his officers said, “No, my lord the king. Rather, Elisha the prophet who is in Israel keeps telling the king of Israel the very words that you speak in your bedroom!”
13. So he said, “Go, see where he is, so I may send and seize him.” Then it was reported to him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”
14. So he sent horses, chariots and a great army there. They arrived at night and surrounded the city.
15. Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was surrounding the city. So his attendant said to him, “Alas, my master! What are we going to do?”
16. “Fear not,” he replied, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17. Then Elisha prayed and said, “Adonai, please open his eyes that he may see.” Then Adonai opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18. When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Adonai and said, “Please strike this people with blinding light.” So He struck them with blinding light according to the word of Elisha.
19. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the road, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man whom you seek.” So he led them to Samaria.
20. Upon their arrival in Samaria, Elisha said, “Adonai, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So Adonai opened their eyes, and they could see—behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.
21. When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “Shall I surely strike them down, Avi?”
22. “Don’t strike them down,” he replied. “Would you strike down those whom you have captured with your own sword and bow? Set before them bread and water that they may eat and drink and go back to their master.”