Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” New Living Translation “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.” English Standard Version And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” Berean Standard Bible So the king said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him.” On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan,” Berean Literal Bible And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, in Dothan.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” New American Standard Bible So he said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send men and take him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” NASB 1995 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” NASB 1977 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” Legacy Standard Bible So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” Amplified Bible So he said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send [men] and seize him.” And he was told, “He is in Dothan.” Berean Annotated Bible So the king said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him. On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan (two wells), Christian Standard Bible So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.” When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,” Holman Christian Standard Bible So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.” When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,” American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version "Find out where he is!" the king ordered. "I'll send soldiers to bring him here." They learned that Elisha was in the town of Dothan and reported it to the king. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation The king said, "Find out where he is. Then I will send men to capture him." The king was told, "He is in Dothan." Good News Translation "Find out where he is," the king ordered, "and I will capture him." When he was told that Elisha was in Dothan, International Standard Version So the king ordered, "Go and discover where he is, so I may send men to take him into custody." Later somebody told him, "Look! He's in Dothan!" NET Bible The king ordered, "Go, find out where he is, so I can send some men to capture him." The king was told, "He is in Dothan." New Heart English Bible He said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." It was told him, saying, "Look, he is in Dothan." Webster's Bible Translation And he said, Go, and spy where he is, that I may send and bring him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo the king said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him.” On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan,” World English Bible He said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” He was told, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he says, “Go and see where he [is], and I send and take him”; and it is declared to him, saying, “Behold—in Dothan.” Berean Literal Bible And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, in Dothan.” Young's Literal Translation And he saith, 'Go ye and see where he is, and I send and take him;' and it is declared to him, saying, 'Lo -- in Dothan.' Smith's Literal Translation And he will say, Go, and see where he is, and I will send and take him. And it will be announced to him, saying, Behold, in Dothan. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he said to them: Go, and see where he is: that I may send, and take him. And they told him, saying: Behold he is in Dothan. Catholic Public Domain Version And he said to them, “Go, and see where he is, so that I may send and capture him.” And they reported to him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” New American Bible He said, “Go, find out where he is, so that I may take him captive.” Informed that Elisha was in Dothan, New Revised Standard Version He said, “Go and find where he is; I will send and seize him.” He was told, “He is in Dothan.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said: “Go see where he is! I shall send and I shall take him!” And they told him and they said to him, “Behold, in Duthan!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And he said, Go, see where this man is, and I will send and take him. And they sent word to him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothaim. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Elisha Captures the Blinded Arameans…12But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” 13So the king said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him.” On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan,” 14the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city.… Cross References So the king said, 2 Kings 1:9-10 Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’” / Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. 1 Samuel 19:11-12 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. 1 Kings 22:26-27 And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, / and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’” “Go and see where he is, 1 Kings 18:10 As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you. 1 Samuel 23:23 Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.” 1 Samuel 26:4 David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived. that I may send men to capture him.” 1 Samuel 19:15 But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.” 2 Kings 10:14 Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them. 1 Samuel 24:2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. On receiving the report, 1 Samuel 23:27 Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!” 1 Kings 20:17 And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” 2 Samuel 13:21 When King David heard all this, he was furious. “Elisha is in Dothan,” Genesis 37:17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan. Genesis 37:25 And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt. Genesis 37:28 So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. Acts 9:1-2 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest / and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Treasury of Scripture 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. spy where 1 Samuel 23:22,23 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly… Psalm 10:8-10 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor… Psalm 37:12-14,32,33 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth… Genesis 37:17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. Jump to Previous Capture Declared Dothan Fetch Find News Ordered Report Seize SpyJump to Next Capture Declared Dothan Fetch Find News Ordered Report Seize Spy2 Kings 6 1. Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead8. He discloses the king of Syria's counsel 13. The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is blinded 19. Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace 24. The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children 30. The king sends to slay Elisha So the king said, This refers to the king of Aram, likely Ben-Hadad II, who was at war with Israel. His frustration with Elisha's prophetic insight into his military plans led him to take direct action. This reflects the common practice of ancient kings to personally direct military and strategic operations. “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him.” On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan,” Persons / Places / Events 1. The King of AramThe ruler who is seeking to capture Elisha. His actions reflect the ongoing conflict between Aram and Israel. 2. Elisha The prophet of God who is the target of the king's search. Elisha's prophetic insight has been thwarting the king's plans against Israel. 3. Dothan The location where Elisha is found. It is a significant place in biblical history, also mentioned in the account of Joseph. 4. The Servant of Elisha Though not directly mentioned in this verse, he plays a crucial role in the surrounding account, witnessing the miraculous protection of God. 5. The Aramean Army The forces sent by the king to capture Elisha, demonstrating the physical threat against God's prophet. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and ProtectionGod is in control, even when His people are pursued by powerful enemies. Elisha's situation reminds us that God can protect and deliver us in miraculous ways. The Power of Prayer and Faith Elisha's calmness in the face of danger is a testament to his faith. We are encouraged to trust in God's protection and seek His guidance through prayer. Spiritual Insight vs. Physical Sight The account challenges us to see beyond the physical circumstances and recognize the spiritual realities at play. Elisha's servant learns to see God's provision and protection. God's Plans Cannot Be Thwarted Despite the king's efforts, God's plans for Elisha and Israel prevail. This reassures us that God's purposes will stand, regardless of human opposition. The Role of Prophets and God's Word Elisha's role as a prophet underscores the importance of listening to and obeying God's word. Prophets were God's mouthpieces, and today, Scripture serves that role in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 6:13?2. How does 2 Kings 6:13 demonstrate God's protection over His servants? 3. What can we learn about God's omniscience from 2 Kings 6:13? 4. How does Elisha's situation in 2 Kings 6:13 connect to Psalm 91:11? 5. How can we trust God's guidance when facing adversaries, as Elisha did? 6. What steps can we take to rely on God's protection in daily life? 7. Why did the king of Aram seek to capture Elisha in 2 Kings 6:13? 8. How does 2 Kings 6:13 demonstrate God's protection over His prophets? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Kings 6:13? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 6? 11. (Genesis 37:12–17) Are there any historical records or evidence supporting Joseph’s journey to Shechem and Dothan that validate this narrative? 12. 2 Kings 6:18-20: How could Elisha strike an entire enemy force with blindness and then restore their sight? 13. How consistent is Elisha's symbolic act in 2 Kings 13:14-19 with other biblical prophecies, and does it question divine sovereignty? 14. Why does 2 Kings 23:25 suggest Josiah surpassed even David in devotion, seemingly contradicting other texts that exalt David's faithfulness? What Does 2 Kings 6:13 Mean So the king saidThe king of Aram, frustrated that Israel always seems one step ahead (2 Kings 6:11-12), speaks decisively. • His words echo earlier royal threats against God’s prophets (1 Kings 19:1-2; 2 Kings 1:9-12). • Earthly authority is on full display, yet Psalm 2:1-4 reminds us that rulers who plot against God’s plans ultimately “gnash their teeth in vain.” Go and see where he is The order sounds routine, but it exposes the king’s worldview: problems are solved by intelligence gathering, not repentance. • Similar searches fill Scripture—Saul chasing David (1 Samuel 23:14-23), Herod hunting the Christ-child (Matthew 2:13). • Each time, human reconnaissance runs up against divine omniscience (Psalm 139:7-12). Elisha already knows the king’s thoughts; God has been revealing them (2 Kings 6:12). that I may send men to capture him The aim is abduction, not dialogue. The king imagines God’s messenger can be neutralized with force. • Kings sent soldiers after Elijah, too, and fire from heaven answered (2 Kings 1:10-12). • Later, temple guards seize Jesus in Gethsemane (John 18:3-6), yet His surrender is voluntary—illustrating again that no one can lay hands on God’s servant unless God allows it (John 19:11). • Proverbs 21:30 stands over the scene: “There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel against the LORD.” On receiving the report The reconnaissance succeeds on a human level; information flows quickly back to the throne. • People may plot efficiently, but God “frustrates the plans of the peoples” (Psalm 33:10). • Verse 14 will show that the king trusts chariots and horses. Elisha will later pray, and invisible heavenly armies will surround the site (2 Kings 6:17). The contrast is deliberate. Elisha is in Dothan A tiny hill-town about twelve miles north of Samaria. The name quietly recalls Genesis 37:17, where Joseph’s brothers sold him in Dothan—yet God turned that betrayal into Israel’s salvation (Genesis 50:20). • Dothan becomes a classroom where God teaches that He alone rescues, whether from slave traders, famine, or hostile armies. • The location also places Elisha within Israel’s borders; the king’s trespass is ultimately a trespass against God’s covenant people (2 Kings 6:16). summary 2 Kings 6:13 captures a ruler’s futile attempt to silence God’s prophet. Each phrase exposes misplaced trust in human schemes and brute force, while hinting that God is already steps ahead. Like Joseph in Dothan and Jesus in Gethsemane, Elisha will prove that no one can thwart the plans of the living God. (13) Fetch.--Take.Dothan.--A contracted dual (equivalent to Dothain LXX., Dothaim). It lay on a hill, twelve Roman miles north-east of Samaria, in a narrow pass (Judith 4:5; Judith 7:3; Judith 8:3), on the caravan route from Gilead to Egypt (Genesis 37:17). The old name survives in a Tell, covered with ruins, south-west of the modern Jenin. Verse 13. - And he - i.e. Benhadad - said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him; i.e. "Send out spies to learn where Elisha is at present residing, that I may dispatch a force to the place, and get him into my power." The object was scarcely "to find out, through Elisha, what the King of Israel and other princes were plotting against him in their secret counsels" (Cassel), but simply to put a stop to Elisha's betrayal of his own plans to Jobs-ram. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. The spies were sent, and brought back word that, at the time, Elisha was residing in Dothan. Dothan, the place where Joseph was sold by his brethren to the Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:17), lay evidently not very far from Shechem (Genesis 37:14), and is placed by Eusebius about twelve miles north of Samaria. In the Book of Judith (4:6; 7:3) it is mentioned among the cities bordering the southern edge of the Plain of Esdraelon. Modern travelers (Van de Velde, Robinson) have reasonably identified it with the present Dothan, a tel, or hill, of a marked character, covered with ruins, and from the foot of which arises a copious spring, to the south-west of Jenin, between that place and Jeba, a little to the left of the great road leading from Beisan (Scythopolis) to Egypt.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So the king said,וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Go לְכ֤וּ (lə·ḵū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk and see וּרְאוּ֙ (ū·rə·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7200: To see where אֵיכֹ֣ה (’ê·ḵōh) Interrogative Strong's 351: In what manner? how? where? he [is], ה֔וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are that I may send וְאֶשְׁלַ֖ח (wə·’eš·laḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out men to capture him.” וְאֶקָּחֵ֑הוּ (wə·’eq·qā·ḥê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take On receiving the report, וַיֻּגַּד־ (way·yug·gaḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous “Elisha is in Dothan,” בְדֹתָֽן׃ (ḇə·ḏō·ṯān) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1886: Dothan -- a place North of Samaria Links 2 Kings 6:13 NIV2 Kings 6:13 NLT 2 Kings 6:13 ESV 2 Kings 6:13 NASB 2 Kings 6:13 KJV 2 Kings 6:13 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 6:13 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 6:13 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 6:13 French Bible 2 Kings 6:13 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 6:13 He said Go and see where he (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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