he hid a hundred of them, and had borrowed money for their
maintenance, and that, after her husband's death, she and her children
were carried away to be made slaves by the creditors; and she desired
of him to have mercy upon her on account of what her husband did, and
afford her some assistance. And when he asked her what she had in the
house, she said, "Nothing but a very small quantity of oil in a cruse."
So the prophet bid her go away, and borrow a great many empty vessels of
her neighbors, and when she had shut her chamber door, to pour the oil
into them all; for that God would fill them full. And when the woman had
done what she was commanded to do, and bade her children bring every one
of the vessels, and all were filled, and not one left empty, she came to
the prophet, and told him that they were all full; upon which he advised
her to go away, and sell the oil, and pay the creditors what was owing
them, for that there would be some surplus of the price of the oil,
which she might make use of for the maintenance of her children. And
thus did Elisha discharge the woman's debts, and free her from the
vexation of her creditors.

3. Elisha also sent a hasty message to Joram, [8] and exhorted him to
take care of that place, for that therein were some Syrians lying in
ambush to kill him. So the king did as the prophet exhorted him, and
avoided his going a hunting. And when Benhadad missed of the success of
his lying in ambush, he was wroth with his own servants, as if they had
betrayed his ambushment to Joram; and he sent for them, and said they
were the betrayers of his secret counsels; and he threatened that he
would put them to death, since such their practice was evident, because
he had intrusted this secret to none but them, and yet it was made known
to his enemy. And one that was present said that he should not mistake
himself, nor suspect that they had discovered to his enemy his sending
men to kill him, but that he ought to know that it was Elisha the
prophet who discovered all to him, and laid open all his counsels. So
he gave order that they should send some to learn in what city Elisha
dwelt. Accordingly those that were sent brought word that he was in
Dothan; wherefore Benhadad sent to that city a great army, with horses
and chariots, to take Elisha: so they encompassed the city round about
by night, and kept him therein confined; but when the prophet's servant
in the morning perceived this, and that his en