The Blinded Syrians Captured
June 4, 2021
Commentary
Beginning at verse eight Syrian invasions of Israel are noted. The first incident involved marauding bands of Syrians who made border raids against the Jews (vv. 8-9). Ben-haded II, king of Aram, planned to pitch his camp on the border from which he could strike unexpectedly. God informed Elisha of the place and the prophet passed this information on to the king of Israel. Ben-hadad was enraged by his continual failure to surprise the Israelites and concluded that one of his men was a traitor and tipped off the enemy (v. 10). An officer assured the king that there were no traitors in the camp, but that Elisha had supernatural knowledge of all his plans (vv. 11-12). The king ordered that he be located and captured. He was located in Dothan, about 12 miles from Samaria (v. 13).
As a result, a considerable force gathered at Dothan to capture Elisha (v. 14). Assembling under the cover of darkness, the army was discovered by Elisha’s servant. This servant warned the prophet of what he believed was impending doom(v. 15). Elisha merely prayed that his servant might have his eyes opened and see what the prophet saw. Early the next morning the servant was surprised to see that the whole city was filled with angels ready to do God’s bidding (vv. 16-17). Elisha asked God to strike the Syrians with blindness and his request was granted (v. 18). Then he led them into the Israelite capital, Samaria, where their eyes were opened (v. 19). Joram, the king, realizing that Elisha was in control asked if they should take advantage of this situation and kill these prisoners. Elisha said no but instead they should put on a banquet for those who had been captured (vv. 20-23).
Application
No matter now wicked and sinful the people of this world become, God has the future all planned and I don’t need to be concerned about the outcome, as it is all in His hands.
Isaiah 63:1– 6 (NET)
1 Who is this who comes from Edom, dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? Who is this one wearing royal attire, who marches confidently because of his great strength? “It is I, the one who announces vindication, and who is able to deliver!”
2 Why are your clothes red? Why do you look like someone who has stomped on grapes in a vat?
3 “I have stomped grapes in the winepress all by myself; no one from the nations joined me. I stomped on them in my anger; I trampled them down in my rage. Their juice splashed on my garments, and stained all my clothes.
4 For I looked forward to the day of vengeance, and then payback time arrived.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help; I was shocked because there was no one offering support. So my right arm accomplished deliverance; my raging anger drove me on.
6 I trampled nations in my anger; I made them drunk in my rage; I splashed their blood on the ground.”
Illustration: Terrorist Bombing of Marine Barracks in Beirut
One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. A few days after the tragedy, I recall coming across an extraordinary story. Marine Corps Commandant Paul X Kelly, visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt, Germany, hospital. Among them was Corporal Jeffrey Lee Nashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had so many tubes running in and out of his body that a witness said he looked more like a machine than a man; yet he survived. As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and racked with pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote a brief note and passed it back to the Commandant. On the slip of paper were but two words-"Semper Fi” the Latin motto of the Marines meaning “forever faithful.” (Children at Risk, J. Dobson & Gary Bauer, Word, 1990)