He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”
The Syrian king sent an army as if to batter down heaven itself, forgetting that Elisha had interest enough in Heaven to discover designs against him and power enough to defeat them. Foolish to imagine that a prophet who informs kings of secret counsels cannot protect himself.
AI summary
Commenting on 2 Kings 6:13-23
Benhadad gathered his full strength, still burning with enmity toward Israel despite the mercy shown his captured soldiers. He could not overcome Israel by stealth, so he came in open war and laid siege to Samaria itself.
AI summary
Men taken in open battle or surrounded without means of escape have earned their lives; these Syrians owed theirs to Providence alone. Feed them, send them home, and let them see you fear nothing and will stoop to no baseness.
AI summary