The King of Syria, began to look with greedy eyes upon the little kingdom of Israel, just south of his own country. He planned to attack the cities of Israel, one at a time, and steal them away from the rule of King Jehoram. So he sent his soldiers to make an attack on one of the cities.
When the soldiers came to the city they were surprized to find that Jehoram had the place strongly guarded. They went back to their King, and he sent them to attack another city. And again they found that Jehoram had a strong guard waiting to protect the city and drive them away. Several times they tried to capture cities in Israel, but every time they found that the King of Israel was ready to drive them back.
The King of Syria began to wonder how King Jehoram seemed to know so much about his plans. He believed that one of his own soldiers was helping the King of Israel, by telling him in time to prepare himself to defend his cities. And the King of Syria thought, “I must find that guilty man and punish him.” So he called all of his soldiers together and told them that one of them must be helping the King of Israel.
It is a terrible thing to be found guilty of helping the enemies of one’s own country, and when a ruler finds such a man he always punishes him severely. But none of the Syrian soldiers were being untrue to their King. One of them, however, knew who was telling Jehoram about their King’s plans, and he said, “O King, I know who your enemy is. None of us are deceiving you, but there is a prophet in Israel named Elisha, and whatever you plan to do against the kingdom of Israel he tells King Jehoram. Then Jehoram sends his soldiers to protect his cities from your attack.”
The King of Syria knew he could never fight successfully against Israel while Elisha was there to tell about his plans. So he sent men to find out where the prophet was living. Then he decided to send his whole army to take that single man and bring him back to Syria as a prisoner. The men returned and said that Elisha was staying in Dothan, and the King of Syria prepared his chariots and horses and a host of soldiers to go after him.
One morning a few days later, when the servant of Elisha rose early and went out-of-doors he was frightened to see a host of soldiers coming from every side. They were coming straight toward Dothan, and the servant guessed at once that they were Syrians and that they were coming to capture his master, Elisha. He ran into the house and cried, “Alas, my master! what shall we do?”
Elisha did not seem to be frightened at all. He answered quietly, “Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with the Syrians.” The servant could not understand. He saw only himself and his master, and he knew there were thousands of Syrians, coming from every side to take them for prisoners. Then Elisha prayed and asked God to cause the servant’s eyes to see their protectors. And the servant saw a multitude of horses and chariots of fire in the mountains to take care of Elisha. He knew God had sent them to protect his master, and he was no longer afraid.
When the Syrians came near to Dothan, Elisha asked God to cause them to become blind. And God sent blindness upon every one. Then Elisha went out to them and told them he would show them the way to the city where they wished to find the prophet. And he led them to the city of Samaria. Then he prayed that God would open their eyes again, and they looked about and saw that they were inside the walls of the city where their enemy, King Jehoram, lived. And they were afraid.
Jehoram was surprized when the prophet led such a multitude of blind men into his city. He thought Elisha had brought them to be prisoners, and he asked, “Shall I kill them?” But Elisha answered, “No. You must set bread and water before these men, for they are hungry and they must be fed. Then We must send them away.”
Jehoram was not a good man, but God caused him to respect Elisha and obey his words. He prepared a great amount of food and gave it to the Syrians, and after they had eaten he sent them back to their own land. And they did not try again to harm the good prophet.