“Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
The full verse · 2 Kings 6:11 · KJV
Therefore the of the of was sore for this ; and he his , and unto them, Will ye not me which of us is for the of ?
Asked by
Asked to
Servants.. The king addresses his military officers and advisors who would have knowledge of court personnel and their activities.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThe king uses the question format to expose suspected treason by forcing his court to confront the accusation publicly, creating pressure for the traitor to reveal himself or for loyalists to identify the betrayer.
The Response
What Scripture recordsOne of the king’s servants answered that Elisha the prophet in Israel was revealing the king’s plans, even words spoken in his bedroom, to Israel’s king (2 Kings 6:12).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThe king’s question reveals his spiritual blindness. He knows someone is ‘for the king of Israel’ but cannot conceive of prophetic revelation as the source. The Hebrew phrase ‘mi mimmenu’ (who of us) assumes the informant sits within his inner circle. The negative interrogative ‘halo’ (will you not) adds accusatory force, demanding rather than requesting information. The king asks rather than commands because he genuinely does not know whom to arrest. This question exposes how naturalistic thinking blinds leaders to spiritual realities. The king’s strategic mind, trained to detect human treachery, proves useless against divine intervention. His inability to recognize God’s hand at work leads him to waste energy hunting phantoms while the true ‘opponent’ operates beyond his comprehension.
When circumstances betray you, check whether you’re fighting against God. The Syrian king assumed human betrayal when facing divine opposition. We often blame people or circumstances when God Himself may be blocking our path. Before accusing others of sabotage, ask whether your plans align with God’s purposes. Joseph’s brothers thought they faced human revenge when they encountered divine providence (Genesis 50:20). Sometimes the ‘traitor’ in your plans is God redirecting you toward His better way, and resistance only prolongs the struggle.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow?”
“Who is on my side?”
“Where fell it?”
“How shall we do?”