Bible 1
The king of Syria was stubborn. He wanted a war with Israel and planned surprise attacks.
Bible 2
But every time he planned an ambush this is what happened. The king of Syria would spread out a map, study it for a while, then decide the best place to send his troops.
Bible 3
Then he would call in his military advisors to make the final plans together.
Bible 4
Soldiers were then sent to the place where they thought the King of Israel and his army would be. But when they got there the Israelite army was not to be found. Someone must have leaked their plans to them.
Bible 5
The King of Israel knew what the Syrians were up to because the prophet Elisha had told him. ‘Don’t go to such and such a place,’ Elisha would say, ‘as the Syrians are planning an ambush there.’
Bible 6
The King of Israel knew that God was letting Elisha hear the enemy plans and avoided all the ambushes being planned. The King of Syria would plan another surprise attack …
Bible 7
But when he arrived at the spot there was no-one to fight. It was most annoying. ‘Who keeps telling the King of Israel about my plans?’ he fumed.
Bible 8
‘Not me! Not me!’ the King’s officials protested. ‘We would never betray you.’ It’s that prophet Elisha! He seems to know everything.
Bible 9
‘Does he know when I whisper in my bedroom?’ asked the startled King. ‘Apparently so,’ said the officials. ‘We have no idea how he does it.’
Bible 10
The King decided to do some spying of his own. He sent undercover agents everywhere to find out where Elisha was. They reported back to say that Elisha was living in Dothan.
Bible 11
‘Send an army and surround that town,’ the King of Syria ordered. ‘I want a ring of fighting men and chariots all around the city to make sure there is no way for the prophet to escape.’
Bible 12
So that night, under cover of darkness, a small army surrounded the city of Dothan.
Bible 13
The next morning, Elisha’s servant got up as usual to start his daily chores. He looked out of the window and was shocked to see the sun gleaming off hundreds of spears, helmets and swords.
Bible 14
The servant rushed to find Elisha. ‘Help! We are surrounded by enemy soldiers. We are going to die!’
Bible 15
Don’t be afraid,’ Elisha replied. ‘There is a much bigger army out there too and it is on our side.’ ‘Where?’asked the servant. Elisha led his servant up onto the flat roof of his house.
Bible 16
Elisha bowed his head and prayed, ‘Lord, please open my servant’s eyes.’
Bible 17
As soon as Elisha prayed the servant suddenly saw another army – a huge army – burning powerfully with fire.
Bible 18
The servant gazed in wonder at the glorious sight. He could hardly believe his eyes.
Bible 19
And then, as Elisha and his servant watched this amazing sight, the King of Syria’s army began to march up to Elisha’s house.
Elisha and the army of fire - part 1
When the King of Syria learns God is telling Elisha his battle plans, he sends an army to capture the prophet.
2 Kings 6:8-18
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