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Monthly Question Page
Q. Was the city of Dothan in Israel, and if so why wasn’t it guarded in 2 Kings 6?
A. Dothan was in Israel and within the boundary of the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh. It was the pasture-ground where Joseph found his brethren watching their flocks, and where, at the suggestion of his brother Judah, they sold him to the merchants. (Genesis 37:17, 26-27).
It was also the residence of Elisha, and the scene of a remarkable vision of chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain on which the city stood. (2 Kings 6:13-18).
As to why it wasn’t better guarded and protected, we can only say that there was much weakness and many things spiritually lacking among God’s people at the time. However, God in His amazing grace and mercy caused a great deliverance and victory, and proved that He, as the Lord of Hosts, was greater than the enemy. Elisha encouraged his frightened servant by saying: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” The result was, “And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).
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