Introduction
Naaman, the Syrian general whom the Israelite prophet Elisha cured of leprosy, had not been long back home in Syria when his King was at war with his southern neighbour.
NOT long after the affair with Naaman, Ben Hahad II, King of Syria, was at war with Israel.
To his annoyance, news of his troop movements kept getting back to Joram, the King of Israel. He suspected a mole among his generals, but they pointed the finger at Elisha, the Israelite prophet.
Rumour had it, they said, that somehow Elisha knew every word the King spoke, even in his bedchamber. So Ben Hadad sent a strong force to the city of Dothan, where Elisha was known to be.
One morning, Elisha and his servant went out of the city into the hills. Suddenly, his servant cried “Look! Horsemen! There are horsemen and chariots all around us!”
Elisha did not seem concerned. “Do not be afraid” he said. “Those that are with us are more than those that are with them.”
The boy gaped; he could see only Syrians. So Elisha prayed: “Lord, open his eyes, and let him see”.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why was the Syrian army searching for Elisha?
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Ben-Hadad thought there was a traitor. He thought it was one of his generals.