Samaria, the city on the hill, is a picture of the believer once dead in sins but alive unto God and seated in heavenly places in Christ. Until they got to the hill, they were blind. The natural man cannot understand the things of God at all. The believer needs to learn of his new position "in Christ" so that the eyes of his understanding may be opened to understand the "mystery"
"And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria." Verse 20.
In their new position on the hill, the eyes of these men who had been enemies were opened. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Rom. 5:10. If the death of the Lord Jesus has brought so much blessing, what will His life as a man (our new position in Christ) bring to us who have believed? The "mystery," Eph. 1:8-23 and 3:8, brings us the full life and blessings forever with the Lord Jesus, the Bridegroom, as He takes His place with His bride, the Church, that we may live with Him in His Father's house.
"And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master." Verses 21,22.
The king of Israel had in his hand the host of Syria, his enemies, but they were not to be destroyed. Christ has brought in grace for those who, as ourselves, were enemies and were not deserving of any of the least of His mercies. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17. What a Savior! We shall praise Him forever for this.
But there's more! Instead of being smitten as they deserved to be, he set bread and water before them. Not only did the Lord Jesus provide eternal sustenance, but He set us free.
"And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel." Verse 23.
What would grace do? Set before them the necessities of life only? No! "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8:2. The great provision was the "mystery" laid up since before the foundations of the world, now brought to us through the ministry of Paul and the New Testament prophets.
Why return to their master and his land? They were now at liberty-set free. The believer is sent into the world, where his former master is, to be a witness of the Lord's goodness and mercy to lost sinners. This is our mission until the Lord comes for us.