sequent on the estimation in which the master was held, or from some other cause, their habitation had become too small — "The place in which we sit before thee is too narrow for us." The}' will therefore move to the close neighborhood of the Jordan, and cutting down beams — each man one, as M'ith curious minute- ness the text relates — make there a new dwelling- place. "\\'hy Jordan was selected is not apparent. Possibly for its distance from the distractions of Jeri- cho— possibly the spot was once sanctified by the cross- ing of Israel with the ark, or of Elijah, only a few years before. Urged by his disciples, the man of God consents to accompanj' them. When they reach the Jordan, descending to the level of the stream, they commence felling the trees (C^Ii;.;;!) of the dense belt of wood in immediate contact with the water. See Jordan. As one of them was cutting at a tree over- hanging the stream, the iron of his axe (a boiTowed tool) flew off and sank into the water. His cry soon brought the man of God to his aid. The stream of the Jordan is deep up to the very bank, especially when the water is so low as to leave the wood drj-, and is, moreover, so turljid that search would be useless. But the place at which the lost axe entered the water is shown to Elisha ; he lops off (-^Sp) a stick and casts it into the stream, and the iron appears on the surface, and is recovered by its possessor (2 Kings vi, 1-7).
(10.) Elisha is now residing at Dothan, half way on the road between Samaria and Jezreel. The incur- sions of the Syrian marauding liands (coinp. ver. 2) still continue, but apparently with greater boldness, and pushed even into places whicli the king of Israel is ac- customed to frequent (comp. Josephus, ^w^. ix, 4, 3). But their manoeuvres are not hid from the man of God, and hy his Avarnings he saves the king "not once nor twice." So baffled were the Syrians by these repeat- ed failures as to make their king suspect treachery in his own camp. But the true exjilanation is given by one of his own people — possibly one of those who had witnessed the cure wrought on Naaman, and could con- ceive no power too great to ascribe to so gifted a per- son: "Elisha, the prophet in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thj' bed- chamber." So powerful a magician must be seized without delay, and a strong party with chariots is dis- patched to c^ttect his capiiiro. They march l)y night, and before morning take up their station round the base of the eminence on which the ruins of Dothan still stand. Elisha's servant — not Gehazi, but appar- ently a new-comer, unacquainted with the powers of his master — is the first to discover the danger. But Elisha remains unmoved by his fears; and at his re- quest the e3'es of the youth are opened to lieliold the spiritual guards which are ]irotecting tliem, horses and chariots of fire filling the whole of the mountain. But this is not enough. Elisha again prays to Jehovah, and the whole of the Syrian warriors are struck lilind. He then descends, and offers to lead them to the per- son and the place which they seek. He conducts them to Samaria. There, at the prayer of the prophet, their 9\s\\t is restored, and they find themselves, not in a re- tired country village, but in the midst of the capital of Israel, and in the presence of the king and his troops. His enemies thus completely in his grasp, the king of Israel is eager to destroy them. " Shall I shiy ? shall I slay, my father?" But the end of Elisha has been answered when he has shown the Syrians ho\< futile are all their attempts against his superior power. " Thou shalt not slay. Thou mayest slay those whom thou hast taken captive in lawful fight, but not these [literally, "Are these what thou hast captured with thy sword and bow, that thou art for smiting them ?"] : feed them, and send them away to their master." Af- ter such a repulse it is not surprising that the maraud- ing forays of the Syrian troops ceased (2 Kings vi, 8- 23). See Benhadad.
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