What does 2 Kings 6:18 mean?
"And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha." - 2 Kings 6:18
2 Kings 6:18 (KJV) says:
"And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha."
This verse is found in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of 2 Kings, which chronicles the history of the Israelite monarchs. It specifically occurs in a passage that describes an incident in which the prophet Elisha saves himself and his servant from the Aramean army that had come to capture them.
To provide some context, Elisha was a prominent prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the 9th century BCE. He was known for his close relationship with God and for the numerous miracles he performed. In this particular instance, the king of Aram had been waging war against Israel, but each time he made plans, Elisha, by the power of God, would reveal those plans to the king of Israel. Frustrated, the king of Aram sent a great army to capture Elisha at Dothan. When Elisha's servant saw the army, he became afraid, but Elisha prayed to God to show his servant the heavenly army that was there to protect them. God opened the eyes of Elisha's servant, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Then Elisha prayed for the army to be struck with blindness, and God granted his request.
The verse carries several important themes and lessons that are relevant for readers today. Firstly, it illustrates God's faithfulness and protection for those who trust in Him. Even when facing insurmountable odds, Elisha and his servant were kept safe by the power of God. This serves as a reminder that God is always in control and can provide supernatural protection in times of trouble.
Another important theme is the power of prayer. Elisha's immediate response to the threat of the Aramean army was to pray to God for help. This demonstrates the importance of seeking God's intervention in difficult situations and highlights the effectiveness of fervent prayer. It also emphasizes the necessity of faith in God’s ability to intervene and work miracles.
The verse also teaches about the nature of spiritual sight and blindness. Elisha's servant was initially blinded to the reality of God's protection, but his eyes were opened through Elisha's prayer. This can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual blindness that often afflicts people, preventing them from recognizing God's presence and power in their lives. Through God's grace, however, our eyes can be opened to the spiritual realities that surround us.
Symbolically, this verse represents the ongoing battle between good and evil, with God's power ultimately prevailing. The blindness inflicted on the Aramean army can be seen as a symbolic representation of the spiritual blindness that exists in those who oppose God. Just as the physical blindness was a judgment from God, spiritual blindness is a consequence of rejecting God's truth.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 6:18 is a powerful and instructive verse that showcases God's protection, the efficacy of prayer, and the spiritual realities that are often hidden from human eyes. It encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty, to seek Him in prayer, and to have faith in His ability to intervene in supernatural ways. Additionally, it serves as a cautionary reminder of the spiritual blindness that can hinder individuals from recognizing God's presence and power. As such, this verse continues to provide profound lessons and inspiration for readers today.
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2 Kings 6:18 - "And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha."
"And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha." - 2 Kings 6:18
2 Kings 18:6 - "For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses."
1 Kings 6:18 - "And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen."
2 Kings 14:18 - "And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 kings 6:24
2 Kings 1:18 - "Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
"For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses." - 2 Kings 18:6
1 Kings 2:18 - "And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king."
2 Kings 15:6 - "And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
2 Kings 8:18 - "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD."
2 Kings 18:18 - "And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder."
1 Kings 18:2 - "And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria."
2 Kings 18:15 - "And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house."
2 Kings 18:36 - "But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
1 Kings 18:6 - "So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself."
"And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" - 2 Kings 14:18
2 Kings 3:18 - "And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand."
2 Kings 18:33 - "Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?"
2 Kings 18:5 - "He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him."
2 Kings 6:16 - "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."
2 Kings 16:18 - "And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria."
2 Kings 4:18 - "¶ And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers."
2 Kings 2:18 - "And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?"
2 Kings 18:3 - "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did."
2 Kings 25:18 - "¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:"
2 Kings 3:6 - "¶ And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel."
2 Kings 18:28 - "Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:"
2 Kings 18:10 - "And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken."