DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 August 26
Image 1: Crepuscule (After 1852)
Auguste Ravier (1814-1895)
Precursor of Impressionism Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
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Image 2: The Famine in Samaria (c. 1865)
Gustav Dore (1832-1883)
Romanticism Style
Dore's English Bible (1866)
Image Source: King James Bible Online
Explanation: 2 Kings 6 describes two key incidents in the life and ministry of Elisha: the account of the lost ax head, and the account of the Syrian invasions of Israel. Both of these show deliverance by spiritual means where physical means failed. The first painting shows a river scene by a forest, suggestive of the opening account of the chapter below, in which the sons of the prophets were cutting wood. The second illustration shows the closing scene of the chapter, the famine in Samaria. [Kings of Judah and Israel Chart]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 7].
As the sons of the prophets were cutting wood near the Jordan in preparation for building larger quarters, an iron ax head fell into the water; and the worker called to Elisha and said, "Alas, master! for it was borrowed." Elisha then cut a stick and threw it in the spot where the ax head sank. And the ax head floated to the top of the water; and the worker was able to recover it (1-7). Around that time the king of Syria made incursions into Israel; but the king of Israel was able to avoid him because the LORD revealed these movements to Elisha who then warned the king (8-10). This troubled the king of Syria because he thought he had a traitor in his midst. But one of his servants told him that Elisha knew even the words that he spoke in his bedchamber. So the king of Syria found out that Elisha was in Dothan; and he sent a large army there by night and surrounded the city (11-14). The next morning Elisha's servant saw the host and was distressed. But Elisha told him that their helpers outnumbered the Syrian host; and he prayed that the LORD would open the eyes his servant. And the young man saw a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire. And, in contrast to his prayer for his servant, Elisha prayed that the Syrians would be smitten with blindness. And, when the LORD did so, Elisha led the Syrian army away from Dothan and took them into the capital city of Samaria (15-19). When they were in the city, Elisha asked the LORD to open their eyes; and they saw where they were. And the king of Israel began, in an excited manner, to ask Elisha if he should kill them. But Elisha told him to treat them as prisoners of war, feed them, and send them to their master. And the king did so. So the Syrians did not return to Israel (20-23). However, afterward, under Benhadad, the Syrians besieged Samaria; and a great famine engulfed the city. It was so severe that two women agreed to eat their sons, the one on one day, and the other on the next. However, one of the women, after helping to consume her neighbor's son, pleaded with the king to make the other women deliver up her son, whom she had hidden. When the king heard this he tore his clothes; and he had sackcloth underneath. He then threatened to take off the head of Elisha (24-31). But Elisha told the elders who were sitting with him to seize the messenger who was, even then, approaching to carry out his execution. The message from the king was this: "This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?". It was a question which was about to be answered in a surprising manner, as detailed in the next chapter (32-33).
2 Kings 6
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto 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 saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto 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, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. 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.
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.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
20 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.
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
22 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.
23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
24 And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
27 And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
28 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?
33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
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