Elisha's Knowledge of Syrian Ambush Plans
The prophet Elisha possessed divine knowledge that allowed him to discern the secret military strategies of the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad, during a period of conflict with Israel [6, 7, 11]. This supernatural insight enabled Elisha to warn the king of Israel, Jehoram, about Syrian ambush plans, thereby thwarting their attacks on multiple occasions [7, 9, 10].
The biblical account in 2 Kings 6:8-12 describes how the king of Syria "warred against Israel" and would consult with his servants to determine places for ambush [7]. However, each time the Syrian king planned an attack, Elisha would send word to the king of Israel, advising him to avoid specific locations because the Syrians were lying in wait there [6]. As a result, the king of Israel was able to take precautionary measures, anticipating and defeating the enemy's movements [7].
This repeated frustration led the Syrian king to suspect treachery among his own servants [1]. He convened his officials, demanding to know who among them was betraying his secret counsels to the king of Israel [1]. One of his servants then informed him, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom" (2 Kings 6:12). This statement highlights the extraordinary nature of Elisha's prophetic gift, indicating that his knowledge extended even to the most private deliberations of the Syrian king [1, 6].
Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jews, corroborates this account, noting that Ben-Hadad was "wroth with his own servants, as if they had betrayed his ambushment to Joram" [1]. He further states that Ben-Hadad threatened to put them to death, believing they were the betrayers of his secret counsels, as he had entrusted the secret to none but them [1].
Elisha's ability to know the Syrian king's raiding strategies suggests an improved relationship between Elisha and King Jehoram, possibly following the healing of Naaman, a Syrian commander, by Elisha [11]. This prophetic service to the king of Israel demonstrates that Elisha's gifts were not only for the benefit of the "sons of the prophets" but also for the wider community and the nation's security [6].
Upon learning that Elisha was the source of the intelligence, the king of Syria determined to capture him [8, 9]. He sent a "great host" to Dothan, where Elisha was residing, intending to seize him [8, 9]. This large military deployment suggests the Syrian king's desperation and his belief that capturing Elisha would end his intelligence leaks [8]. However, Elisha, with divine intervention, caused the Syrian army to be struck with blindness and then led them into Samaria, the capital of Israel, before their sight was restored [9, 10]. This event further underscored Elisha's supernatural capabilities and God's protection over His prophet.
Elisha, whose name means "God his salvation," was the successor to Elijah and was known for performing numerous miracles [2, 3]. His prophetic ministry was marked by divine intervention in both national and individual affairs, often demonstrating God's power over natural elements and human conflicts [2, 3, 4, 5]. The incident with the Syrian ambush plans is one such example, illustrating God's active involvement in protecting His people through His prophet.
Sources
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 4, section 2: place, for that therein were some Syrians lying in ambush to kill him. So the king did as the prophet exhorted him, and avoided his going a hunting. And when Benhadad missed of the success of his lying in ambush, he was wroth with his own servants, as if they had betrayed his ambushment to Joram; and he sent for them, and said they were the betrayers of his secret counsels; and he threatened that he would put them to death, since such their practice was evident, because he had intrusted this secret to none but them, and yet it wa”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Elisha — God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:16-19). His name first occurs in the command given to Elijah to anoint him as his successor (1 Kings 19:16). This was the only one of the three commands then given to Elijah which he accomplished. On his way from Sinai to Damascus he found Elisha at his native place engaged in the labours of the field, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen. He went over to him, threw over his shoulders his rough mantle, and at once adopted him as a son, and investe”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Elisha — (God his salvation), son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah; the attendant and disciple of Elijan, and subsequently his successor as prophet of the kingdom of Israel. The earliest mention of his name is in the command to Elijah in the cave at Horeb. (1 Kings 19:16,17) (B.C. about 900.) Elijah sets forth to obey the command, and comes upon his successor engaged in ploughing. He crosses to him and throws over his shoulders the rough mantle--a token at once of investiture with the prophet's office and of adoption as a son. Elisha delayed merely to give the farewell kiss”
- 2 Kings “He said, “Open the window eastward”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” and he shot. He said, “Yahweh’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed them.” -- 2 Kings 13:17”
- II Kings “II Kings 13:17 (Rotherham) — and said—Open the lattice eastward. And he opened it. Then said Elisha—Shoot! And he shot. Then he said,—The arrow of victory by Yahweh, yea the arrow of victory over Syria, therefore shalt thou smite Syria in Aphek, till it be consumed.”
- 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 6:8: Here we have Elisha, with his spirit of prophecy, serving the king, as before helping the sons of the prophets; for that, as other gifts, is given to every man to profit withal; and, whatever abilities any man has of doing good, he is by them made a debtor both to the wise and unwise. Observe here, I. How the king of Israel was informed by Elisha of all the designs and motions of his enemy, the king of Syria, more effectually than he could have been by the most vigilant and faithful spies. If the king of Syria, in a secret council of war, determined in which place”
- 2 Kings (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Kings 6:8: DISCLOSES THE KING OF SYRIA'S COUNSEL. (Kg2 6:8-17) the king of Syria warred against Israel--This seems to have been a sort of guerrilla warfare, carried on by predatory inroads on different parts of the country. Elisha apprised King Jehoram of the secret purpose of the enemy; so, by adopting precautionary measures, he was always enabled to anticipate and defeat their attacks. The frequency of his disappointments having led the Syrian king to suspect some of his servants of carrying on a treacherous correspondence with the enemy, he was informed about”
- 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 6:13: Here is, 1. The great force which the king of Syria sent to seize Elisha. He found out where he was, at Dothan (Kg2 6:13), which was not far from Samaria; thither he sent a great host, who were to come upon him by night, and to bring him dead or alive, Kg2 6:14. Perhaps he had heard that when only one captain and his fifty men were sent to take Elijah they were baffled in the attempt, and therefore he sent an army against Elisha, as if the fire from heaven that consumed fifty men could not as easily consume 50,000. Naaman could tell him that Elisha dwelt not in a”
- 2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 6 (introduction): The sons of the prophets wish to enlarge their dwelling-place, and go to the banks of Jordan to cut down wood, when one of them drops his axe into the water, which Elisha causes to swim, Kg2 6:1-7. Elisha, understanding all the secret designs of the king of Syria against Israel, informs the king of Israel of them, Kg2 6:8-10. The king of Syria, finding that Elisha had thus penetrated his secrets and frustrated his attempts, sends a great host to Dothan, to take the prophet; the Lord strikes them with blindness; and Elisha leads the whole host to Samaria”
- 2 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Kings 6 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 6 In this chapter are recorded other wonders of Elisha, as causing iron to swim, Kg2 6:1 having knowledge of the secret counsels of the king of Syria, which he disclosed to the king of Israel, Kg2 6:8 smiting the Syrian army with blindness sent to take him, and which he led into the midst of Samaria, Kg2 6:13, and the chapter is closed with an account of the siege of Samaria, and a sore famine in it, Kg2 6:24.”
- 2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 6:8: 6:8-10 Elisha’s ability to know the Aramean king’s raiding strategies allowed him to warn Joram of danger. Apparently, the healing of Naaman (5:1-19) had improved relations between Elisha and Joram (see 3:13-14).”