And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to focus on the spectacular power of Elisha's prayer, but notice the specific request: "blindness." This wasn't a prayer for annihilation, but for a temporary, disorienting lack of sight, a way to neutralize the threat without resorting to violence himself. It highlights how God can answer prayers for protection in ways that preserve humanity, even when facing serious danger.
And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elisha and his servant are trapped in the city of Dothan, surrounded by the Aramean army sent to capture them. After Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened to see God's protective angelic army, Elisha now prays for the physical soldiers before them. God answers Elisha's prayer, temporarily blinding the entire enemy army, allowing Elisha to then lead them away from danger.
When enemies surround us, our first instinct might be panic. But Elisha shows us a different path – one that relies on something far greater than human strategy.
Elisha was in a serious bind. The Syrian army had surrounded the city of Dothan, intending to capture him. His servant, seeing the overwhelming military force, was terrified (2 Kings 6:15). Elisha, however, had a radical response: he prayed.
The Power of Direct Petition
Notice Elisha doesn't just hope for deliverance; he asks for it. His prayer is bold and specific: "Please strike this people with blindness." This isn't a general plea for help but a targeted request that reflects his deep understanding of God's power and willingness to act.
God's Immediate Response
The text emphasizes that God acted precisely as Elisha prayed. This wasn't a suggestion or a mild nudge; it was a direct, supernatural intervention that rendered the enemy incapable of seeing their target. It highlights that when we pray according to God's will and character, He hears and acts, often in ways that transcend our natural understanding.
What seems like a disadvantage—being struck blind—was actually a divine protection. It reveals how God can turn our perceived weaknesses into strategic strengths.
The Syrian army was a physical threat, armed and ready to conquer. But their blindness wasn't just a physical impediment; it was a divine shield for Elisha and the city.
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A Different Kind of Warfare
Elisha understood that the real battle wasn't just against flesh and blood. By blinding the enemy, God prevented an immediate physical assault. This granted Elisha the time and opportunity to guide the disoriented Syrian soldiers, leading them not to their intended capture, but to the very king of Israel they sought to harm (2 Kings 6:19-20). This act ultimately led to a peace treaty, demonstrating God's power to bring resolution through seemingly strange means.
Spiritual Sight Over Physical
Understand the original words
bassannwērîm · Hebrew Noun
A sensory, physical, or spiritual inability to see; biblically, it can refer to physical lack of sight or a divine judgment that hinders spiritual perception or reality.
This event highlights God's direct intervention and protection of His people through His prophet, even when facing overwhelming military odds and a ruthless enemy like Hazael.
c. 848 BC
Hazael Becomes King of Aram-Damascus
Hazael, a commander in the Aramean army, murders his predecessor Ben-Hadad II and seizes the throne. He becomes a formidable enemy of Israel throughout his reign.
c. 845-841 BC
Aramean Raids on Israel
Hazael launches aggressive campaigns against Israel and Judah, seeking to expand Aramean dominance and plunder. These raids create a climate of fear and instability.
c. 840 BC
Elisha Anoints Hazael
The prophet Elisha, acting on God's command, anoints Hazael as king over Aram-Damascus, signifying God's sovereignty even over Israel's enemies.
c. 836 BC— this verse
Aramean Siege of Samaria
King Hazael of Aram besieges the capital city of Samaria. The city faces severe famine and desperation during the prolonged siege.
c. 835 BC
Elisha's Prayer for Blindness
As Aramean forces surround the city, the prophet Elisha prays for divine intervention, asking God to strike the enemy soldiers with blindness.
c. 835 BC
Divine Intervention and Relief
God answers Elisha's prayer, causing the Aramean army to become blind. This miraculous event allows the Israelites to capture the enemy soldiers and brings relief to the besieged city.
David spares Saul's life when he has the chance, showing mercy rather than striking down an enemy when they are vulnerable.
Acts 9:8Saul (who later became Paul) is struck blind after an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, illustrating a divine act of temporary incapacitation.
Luke 18:41Jesus asks the blind man what he wants, and the man asks to receive his sight, highlighting the theme of sight and blindness as a spiritual or physical state.
John 9:39Jesus states that he came for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind, drawing a parallel between physical and spiritual blindness.
It's easy to focus on the spectacular power of Elisha's prayer, but notice the specific request: "blindness." This wasn't a prayer for annihilation, but for a temporary, disorienting lack of sight, a way to neutralize the threat without resorting to violence himself. It highlights how God can answer prayers for protection in ways that preserve humanity, even when facing serious danger.
Elisha and his servant are trapped in the city of Dothan, surrounded by the Aramean army sent to capture them. After Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened to see God's protective angelic army, Elisha now prays for the physical soldiers before them. God answers Elisha's prayer, temporarily blinding the entire enemy army, allowing Elisha to then lead them away from danger.
Elisha and his servant are trapped in the city of Dothan, surrounded by the Aramean army sent to capture them. After Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened to see God's protective angelic army, Elisha now prays for the physical soldiers before them. God answers Elisha's prayer, temporarily blinding the entire enemy army, allowing Elisha to then lead them away from danger.
"And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha." — It's easy to focus on the spectacular power of Elisha's prayer, but notice the specific request: "blindness." This wasn't a prayer for annihilation, but for a temporary, disorienting lack of sight,…
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Last reviewed October 2026