And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, "Smite [{152}] this people, I pray thee, with blindness." And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek." And he led them to Samaria.
And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes of these men that they may see."
And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. And the king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, "My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?"
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."
And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
How the City of Samaria Was Sorely Besieged, and How It Was Wonderfully Delivered.
And it came to pass that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and after they had besieged it for a long time, so that the city was in desperate straits, Elisha said, "Hear ye the word of the Lord: thus saith the Lord, 'To-morrow about this time shall a[{153}] measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'"
Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, "Behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might this thing be?"
And he said, "Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof."