2 Kings 6:8-23
SUMMARY
Sometimes God’s prophets catch more (human) flies with honey than with vinegar.
ANALYSIS
This story exemplifies much of what we traditionally think of as prophecyProphecy is the gift, inspired by God, of speaking and interpreting the divine will. Prophets such as Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel spoke words of judgment and comfort to the people of Israel on behalf of God. More. The “man of God” (ElishaMiracle working prophet who succeeded Elijah. More the prophet) has mysterious access to information beyond his ken. He controls powerful, divine forces, and the situation at hand is always more than it seems. God responds to horses and mortal-made chariots with divine steeds and chariots of fire. It is a classic larger-than-life tale.
The story’s ending, however, is unexpected. In a story so fraught with military tension, we expect the ending to be one of death and destruction. We are in the Old Testament, after all. Yet a curious shift occurs just before the proverbial hammer strikes. Instead of reaching out with a hand of violence, Elisha uses a different tactic. Praying for their vision to be obscured, Elisha leads the Aramean troops from their point of relative safety deep into his own (and their enemy’s) territory. When they can see again, they are terrified. With the king of Israel, we the readers expect that now is the time when God will allow the enemy to be cut down. Instead, Elisha advises an altogether different approach: feed them, and send them home. The text goes on to note that the Aramean raids into Israel thereafter ceased.
Moral of the story: just as one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar, sometimes a prophet conquers more soldiers with banquets than with battles.
