2 Kings 6:22
20 When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.
21 And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”
23 So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.
24 Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”
- KJV
- And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
- WEB
- He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, then go to their master.”
- ASV
- And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
- DARBY
- And he said, Thou shalt not smite [them]: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
- BLB
- And he answered, “You shall not strike. Those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow, would you kill? Set food and water before their faces, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”
- ÅB
- Han svarte: Du skal ikke hugge dem ned; hugger du vel ned dem som du gjør til fanger med ditt sverd og din bue[^1]? Sett brød og vann for dem, så de kan spise og drikke og så vende tilbake til sin herre!
- OTB
- Men han sa, "Du skal ikke drepe dem. Ville du drepe dem du har tatt til fange med ditt sverd og din bue? Sett brød og vann foran dem, så de kan spise og drikke og vende tilbake til sin herre."
- B1930
- Han svarte: Du skal ikke hugge dem ned; hugger du vel ned dem som du gjør til fanger med ditt sverd og din bue? Sett brød og vann for dem, så de kan ete og drikke og så vende tilbake til sin herre! / < du dreper ikke engang krigsfanger, langt mindre bør du da drepe disse.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 48:22
And to you, as one who is above your brothers, I give the ridge of land that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”
Read in contextRomans 12:20–21
On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Read in contextHosea 2:18
On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and weapons of war in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 20:11–16
If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.
Read in context2 Chronicles 28:8–15
Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.
Read in contextProverbs 25:21–22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Read in contextPsalms 44:6
For I do not trust in my bow, nor does my sword save me.
Read in contextHosea 1:7
Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”
Read in context