July 9, 2026

In 2 Kings we see the phrase "the sons of prophets" appear frequently. These were not literal, direct sons of prophets (discounting their lineage through the prophet patriarchs), but rather a spiritual reformist group in the Northern Kingdom of Israel who preached and worshipped Jehovah. Remember that Israel was in a major apostasy, led by kings implementing idolatry since Jeroboam and the splitting of the kingdoms. Ahab and Jezebel had killed many of the prophets, and paganism was the state religion. I like the title they used for this guild of disciples, which must have been especially potent in light of the recent execution of the prophets. It feels like a statement that the wicked kings may have killed the prophets, but they did not cut off their fruit. In this case, not literally the fruit of their loins, but the fruit of their works. The prophets are dead, but what they taught, Jehovah will not die.

The first miracle in 2 Kings 6, the recovery of the axe head, is another potent symbol of baptism, but with a more direct Atonement add6on than we normally see.

Lost axe head: while the man did not "sin", his actions caused the axe head to fall off and be lost. We know that our sin is what separates us from God, causing spiritual death. Death is also represented during baptism when someone is submerged, I.e. going into the grave.

The axe was borrowed: like the axe, the agency, body, and everything we are was given to us by our heavenly parents. Through our sin, we lose that which was given us. Agency especially stands out as "borrowed" since it an invaluable gift from God and the only real thing we can give back to Him.

The branch: this is where the symbolism turns towards the Atonement of Christ and the reason baptism has any power to cleanse. First, remember that this miracle took place in the Jordan River. The branch sinking into the river is almost as literal as a symbol can be in that the Savior himself would submerge in this very river to be baptized. Since the immersion process of baptism represents death, as the stick sinks, the axe head comes back out of the water, so through Christ's death and Atonement are we resurrected and given the opportunity for eternal life. As one goes down into the grave, the other is brought back to life. "With his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). This miracle also reminds us of the branch Moses cast into the river Mara (meaning "bitter" - also the name that Naomi gave herself after her husband and sons died) to make the water sweet. This is exactly what our Savior does for us. Whether it's comforting us in times of bitterness, from simple, daily letdown, to catastrophic loss and death, all the way to overcoming the bitterness of our own spiritual death and guaranteed damnation, Christ makes life sweet through His love and sacrifice for us.

Syria camps to go to war against Israel and Elisha tells the king of Israel where they are so he does not go and get himself captured. Because of this, the king of Syria, Ben-hadad, assumes there is a spy among his people, but they tell him it's the prophet Elisha who is betraying them through prophesy. Because of this, he sends a just to kill Elisha. When they arrive, Elisha's argent is scared, but Elisha tells him "they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (verse 16) and prays his servants eyes open to see the hosts of heaven.

Here's where we start to see an incredible example of mercy. He prays the Lord will smite them with temporary blindness. He could have called down fire to consume them, but he only led them away in their blindness to the king of Israel. The mercy continues when the king asks if he should kill them and Elisha says to feed them and send them back to their master. This foreshadows the mercy of Christ - "forgive them, for they know not what they do".

This story takes an unfortunate turn for Israel when Syria later besieges them, causing food to be scarce, prices to soar, and mothers turning to familiar cannibalism. The king is angry with Elisha for this, but this punishment was foretold and brought upon them through their wickedness and abandonment of Jehovah. In Deuteronomy 28 we read that if Israel is wicked, they will be cursed and eat their own children (verses 52-53). And in even more recent history Ahab captured the king of Syria and let him go, contrary to the command of God (1 Kings 20). This is a stark and sad example that the curses of God are always truly sorrows we've sowed ourselves. That said, we know that God is merciful to those who will turn to Him.