Biblical Prophets - Bible Study Online
As some time had went by we find that the Arameanians were back at war with Israel. Ben-Hadad was still king of the Arameanians and Jehoram who was Ahab's youngest son and the last of his family dynasty was still king of Israel. We find that Ben-Hadad was planning some secret military strategies against Israel. God had sent word to prophet Elisha about these planned attacks, so he could warn the Israel king on what to look out for. Despite the history between Elisha and the Ahab family dynasty, God wanted Elisha to help them with their current situation. The reason's why is not totally clear, but we must remember that God still had a three phase judgment plan against Israel that was still in play since the days of Elijah. We know that the phase that concerned Elijah & Elisha had already came to pass. But there were still two more phases that are linked to two major family dynasties that still had to be carried out.
So we find that on numerous occasions that Elisha was constantly warning the Israel king about the planned ambush attacks that Ben-Hadad was trying to carry out against Jehoram. Each time the Israel king would be able to avoid the Arameans ambushes, so much so that Ben-Hadad became enraged and frustrated and declared that there was a traitor amongst them. "Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?" the Arameanian king would ask demanding an answer from his officers. "None of us, my lord the king, but Elisha the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king the very words you speak in your bedroom," one of his officers told Ben-Hadad. "Go, find out where he is," the Arameanian king would demand of his officers. A short while later a report had came back informing Ben-Hadad that Elisha was in Dothan. Now Dothan was a town district that was located in Palestine which wasn't very far from Syria. Knowing the reputation of Elisha being a very powerful man through the one true God, the Arameanian king sends a massive army down to Dothan to seize the prophet. When the army arrived at Dothan, it had surrounded the town. "Oh my lord, what shall we do?" the servant had asked Elisha. "Don't be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them," Elisha told his servant. "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Elisha prayed to the Lord. Then all of a sudden the Lord had indeed opened the servant's eyes and behold he saw a great army of horses and chariots of fire that covered the hills and filled the entire landscape that surrounded Elisha. The Arameanian army began to march and started approaching Elisha and his servant, "O Lord strike these people with blindness," Elisha prayed to the Lord. So God did what the prophet had asked of him and the Arameanian army became completely sightless. "This is not the road and this is not the city come with me and I will lead you to the man you are looking for," Elisha would tell them. Becoming bewildered, confounded and not knowing the voice that they heard was coming from Elisha, they followed him all the way to Samaria. After the Syrian army had entered the city of Samaria, "Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see," Elisha prayed to the Lord. Then all of a sudden the Syrian army eyesight was restored to them and they realized that they were in the city of Samaria. "Shall I kill them my father? Shall I kill them? Jehoram would ask of Elisha. "Would you kill men you have captured with your own sword or bow?" Elisha would say to the Israel king. Then Elisha told the Israel king to set some food and water before the captured men of Syria and set them free so they can return back to their lands. So Jehoram had a great feast prepared for them and they ate and they drank and when they were finished Jehoram released them. They then went back to Ben-Hadad and told him all that had happen. After the Arameanian king had heard all of thesethings, he stopped attacking Israel for that time. Start at the Beginning: Elijah the Fire Prophet 13) Elijah and the Chariot of Fire 15) Elisha - She Bears Attacking 17) The Blood Water 19) Shunammite's Son Raised From The Dead 20) Elisha and the Pot of Death 23) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 24) The Siege of the Dark Famine 26) The Shunammite's Divine Provision 27) Hazael Anointed Syrian King 29) Jehu Is Anointed King of Israel 30) The Demise of Jehoram & Ahaziah 
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