Bible Strands
2 Kings 6:11
For this reason the king of Aram became enraged and called his servants to demand of them, “Tell me, which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The king of Aram addresses his own court officials immediately after learning that Elisha has repeatedly foiled his military plans by warning the Israelite king. He demands they identify which of his own servants is secretly leaking his private counsel to Israel.
The words — וַ/יִּסָּעֵר (va/i.yi.sa.'Er) describes a violent stirring of anger directed at the matter (הַ/דָּבָ֖ר) at hand. וַ/יִּקְרָ֤א (va/i.yik.Ra') records his immediate call to his servants to investigate the breach of security.
The thread — This pattern of royal paranoia and internal betrayal appears in 1 Samuel 22:8, where Saul suspects his court of conspiracy, and 1 Samuel 28:21, where Saul’s distress mirrors his loss of divine guidance. Job 18:7 notes how such schemes ultimately trap the conspirator.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human intelligence networks cannot override divine revelation. It asks the reader to acknowledge that secrecy before God is impossible and that political power rests on obedience to His word, not on courtly espionage.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 22:8 Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
- 1 Samuel 28:21 When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me.
- Job 18:7 His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.
- Psalms 48:4 For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.
- Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck.
- Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.