2 Kings 6:23

Contextual Overview

¹³So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.” ¹³ He said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him. It was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dotan. ¹³ 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. ¹³ 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." ¹³ The king said, "Go and find him so I can send men and catch him." The servants came back and reported, "He is in Dothan." ¹³ 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." ¹³So 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." ¹³ 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." ¹³ And he said, Goe, and espie where he is, that I may sende and fetch him. And one tolde him, saying, Beholde, he is in Dothan. ¹³So 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."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he prepared: 1 Samuel 24:17, 1 Samuel 24:18, 2 Chronicles 28:15, Proverbs 25:21, Proverbs 25:22, Matthew 5:47, Luke 6:35, Luke 10:29-37

So the bands: That is, for a considerable time. What is mentioned in the next verse was more than a year afterwards. See note on 2 Kings 6:8, 2 Kings 6:9, 2 Kings 5:2, 2 Kings 24:2

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 4:2 - captains 1 Kings 18:4 - fed them 2 Kings 13:20 - the bands

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he prepared great provision for them,.... Or a great feast, as the Targum; so obedient was he to the prophet's orders:

and when they had eaten and drank; and refreshed themselves, which they needed, having marched all night and that morning from place to place:

he sent them away; that is, the king of Israel dismissed them:

and they went to their master; the king of Syria, but without the prophet Elisha they were sent to fetch:

so the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel; not as yet, or for some time; or rather the sense is, that the Syrians came not any more in small bodies, as troops of robbers making excursions, and carrying off booty in a private manner, and by surprise; but afterwards came with a large army in an open hostile manner, as follows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jehoram did not merely follow the letter of the prophet’s direction, but understood its spirit and acted accordingly. The plundering bands which had been in the habit of ravaging the territory 2 Kings 5:2 ceased their incursions in consequence either of the miracle, or of the kind treatment which Elisha had recommended.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 6:23. He prepared great provision for them — These, on the return to their master, could tell him strange things about the power of the God of Israel, and the magnanimity of its king.

So the bands of Syria came no more — Marauding parties were no more permitted by the Syrian king to make inroads upon Israel. And it is very likely that for some considerable time after this, there was no war between these two nations. What is mentioned in the next verse was more than a year afterwards.