1. And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell before thee is too strait for us.
2. Let us go, we pray thee, to the Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he said, Go.
3. And one said, Consent, I pray thee, to go with thy servants. And he said, I will go.
4. And he went with them. And they came to the Jordan and cut down the trees.
5. And it came to pass as one was felling a beam, that the iron fell into the water; and he cried and said, Alas, master, and it was borrowed!
6. And the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and made the iron to swim.
7. And he said, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand and took it.
8. And the king of Syria warred against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9. And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place, for thither the Syrians are come down.
10. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and he was on his guard there. That took place not once, nor twice.
11. And the heart of the king of Syria was troubled because of this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12. And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13. And he said, Go and see where he is, and I will send and fetch him. And it was told him saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14. And he sent thither horses and chariots, and a great host, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15. And when the attendant of the man of God rose early and went forth, behold, an army surrounded the city, with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16. And he said, Fear not, for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.