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?

2 KINGS 6:15KJV
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2 Kings 6:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 6:15 mean?

2 Kings 6:15 describes how the servant of Elisha, the man of God, woke up early and saw that the city was surrounded by a large army with horses and chariots. Alarmed by this threatening sight, the servant cried out to Elisha in fear, asking what they should do.

In this verse, the focus is on the servant’s reaction to a sudden and overwhelming danger. The servant, likely Gehazi, speaks directly to Elisha after seeing the enemy forces encircling the city of Dothan. The verse sets up the dramatic tension for what follows, highlighting the servant’s fear and sense of helplessness in the face of a powerful enemy army.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 6:15

  • The word for “host” is חַיִל (ḥayil, transliterated as "ḥayil"), which often means a force or army, emphasizing the military strength and seriousness of the threat surrounding the city.
  • The word for “compassed” is סָבַב (savav, transliterated as "savav"), meaning to surround or encircle, which paints a picture of the city being completely enclosed by enemy forces, leaving no apparent way out.
  • The exclamation “Alas” is אֲהָהּ (ahah, transliterated as "ahah"), a word expressing deep distress or fear, showing the servant’s emotional response to the danger.

Why 2 Kings 6:15 matters

  • This verse highlights the human tendency to react with fear when faced with overwhelming odds, setting the stage for the lesson about faith and unseen realities that follows in the next verses.
  • The detail about the city being surrounded underscores how desperate the situation appears from a human perspective, making Elisha’s calm response and the following miracle even more striking.
  • Understanding the servant’s fear helps readers appreciate the contrast between his limited viewpoint and Elisha’s spiritual insight, which is a key theme in this part of 2 Kings.

Where else these words appear

“Alas” Hebrew H162 · used in 15 verses

  • Joshua 7:7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
  • 2 Kings 6:5 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.
  • Ezekiel 4:14 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.

“early” Hebrew H7925 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
  • Judges 6:38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

“servant” Hebrew H8334 · used in 92 verses

  • Genesis 39:4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
  • 1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
  • Esther 1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

“chariots” Hebrew H7393 · used in 104 verses

  • Genesis 50:9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
  • 1 Kings 10:26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
  • 2 Chronicles 12:3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.