which had sunk to the bottom was set in motion, made to float, probably, by some sudden rush of water. Beyond this

we cannot go in our attempts to explain the manner in which this miraculous result may have been brought about.

But in another direction we can go much further. We recall what has previously been stated about the extraordinary

character of the mission of Elijah and of Elisha, which accounts for a series of miracles in their history, unparalleled in

the Old Testament, and, indeed, quite exceptional, being connected with what may be described as the decisive crisis in

the religious history of the kingdom of Israel. If there was to be direct Divine interposition in order to recall Israel to

their allegiance to Jehovah, it is evident that the religious state of the people, ripening for a judgment which history has

shown to be irrevocable, would render necessary means that were extraordinary, even in the miraculous history of the

Old Testament. And if the mission of the prophets was in itself an extraordinary means, chiefly necessitated by the

condition of the people, these means now required to be intensified. Accordingly Elijah and Elisha were to be prophets

of the prophets - if we may use the expression - in order that this great truth, which alone could have s aved the people,

might be presented in a concrete and most vivid manner; that Jehovah was the living and the true God, ever-present

with His own, whether for blessing or in judgment. And this must be always kept in view when studying this history.

Nay, is it not the great truth which should always be present to our minds, alike as the outcome of all history, the lesson

of our experience, and the guide in our acting?  221

From this point of view much additional light is thrown on this particular event. Elisha, summoned to be among these

poor, simple -hearted workers for God, could not have been deaf to their appeal, nor appeared helpless in presence of

their felt need, however humble. Its very humbleness was only an additional reason for the Divine help. It would have

been a contradiction in this special history, nay, in the history of Elisha generally, who seemed to embody the eternal

presence of the living God among them. And as the man received back the lost ax-head - really to him a new ax-head,

now to be used with a new ax-handle, it would teach him many lessons, not the least of them the constant care and

provision of the God Whose messenger and representative the prophet was, and which extended as far as our need,

however small and humble it might be.

Of this very truth, both Israel, as a nation, and their enemies, were presently to receive evidence, and that on a much

larger scale. And this explains the next recorded event, without requiring us to regard it as having followed in strict

chronological order on that just commented upon. The sacred text informs us that "the king of Syria was warring

against Israel" - indicating rather a state of chronic warfare and marauding expeditions, such as are common in the East,

than a regular campaign. In his consultation with his "servants" what place to occupy, there seems to have been a

scheme to lay an ambush for the capture of the king of Israel, whether, as Josephus suggests (Ant. 9:4, 3), when Joram

was on a hunting expedition, or else when he passed from one pala ce to another. But each time the prophet sent timely

warning, and the king was wise enough to avoid the locality indicated, and, instead of passing that way, to send and

obtain confirmation of what had been foretold him. 222 As this happened repeatedly, the king of Syria suspected a traitor

among his counselors, probably the more readily, that information of the king of Israel's projected movements must in

every case have come to the Syrians from some confederate at the Israelitish court.

This explains how one of the servants of Ben-hadad - probably, one of those by whom these secret communications

were carried on - could so readily point out that the information was conveyed by Elisha, whose prophetic knowledge

compassed the inmost secrets of Syria's council-chamber.  223

It also explains how the residence of Elisha could be so readily ascertained, and an expedition planned and hastily

carried out with the view of making him a prisoner. We have no difficulty in identifying the Dothan which was now the

temporary residence of Elisha, and the object of Ben-Hades' attack. The spot still bears the old designation of Tell (hill)

Dothan. The "twin wells" which gave it that name, are north and east of it. The place itself - about twelve miles north of

Samaria, and a lit tle to the south -west of Engannim - stands on a green hill, or enclosed upland basin,224 overlooking

(to the north) one of the richest pasture -lands, the oblong plain of Dothan.

Here Joseph's brethren could find sufficient sustenance for their flocks when they had exhausted for a time the wider

plain of Shechem (Genesis 37:17). Just below it, to the south, is the great caravan-route from Gilead to Sharon, and

thence to Egypt, where those Midianites passed to whom Joseph was sold by his brethren. Dothan is surrounded by an

amphitheater of hills; but northwards it looks out over the plain towards those defiles through which the Syrian host

advanced that was to capture Elisha.