emies sought to take
Elisha, he came running, and crying out after a disordered manner to
him, and told him of it; but he encouraged him, and bid him not be
afraid, and to despise the enemy, and trust in the assistance of God,
and was himself without fear; and he besought God to make manifest to
his servant his power and presence, so far as was possible, in order
to the inspiring him with hope and courage. Accordingly God heard the
prayer of the prophet, and made the servant see a multitude of chariots
and horses encompassing Elisha, till he laid aside his fear, and his
courage revived at the sight of what he supposed was come to their
assistance. After this Elisha did further entreat God, that he would
dim the eyes of their enemies, and cast a mist before them, whereby they
might not discern him. When this was done, he went into the midst of his
enemies, and asked them who it was that they came to seek; and when they
replied, "The prophet Elisha," he promised he would deliver him to them,
if they would follow him to the city where he was. So these men were so
darkened by God in their sight and in their mind, that they followed him
very diligently; and when Elisha had brought them to Samaria, he ordered
Joram the king to shut the gates, and to place his own army round about
them; and prayed to God to clear the eyes of these their enemies, and
take the mist from before them. Accordingly, when they were freed from
the obscurity they had been in, they saw themselves in the midst of
their enemies; and as the Syrians were strangely amazed and distressed,
as was but reasonable, at an action so Divine and surprising, and as
king Joram asked the prophet if he would give him leave to shoot at
them, Elisha forbade him so to do; and said, that "it is just to kill
those that are taken in battle, but that these men had done the country
no harm, but, without knowing it, were come thither by the Divine
Power:"--so that his counsel was to treat them in a hospitable manner at
his table, and then send them away without hurting them. [9] Wherefore
Joram obeyed the prophet; and when he had feasted the Syrians in a
splendid and magnificent manner, he let them go to Benhadad their king.

4. Now when these men were come back, and had showed Benhadad how
strange an accident had befallen them, and what an appearance and power
they had experienced of the God of Israel, he wondered at it, as also at
that prophet with whom God was so evidently pres