86. What did Elisha
follow but virtue, when he brought the army of Syria who had come to
take him as captive into Samaria, after having covered their eyes with
blindness? Then he said: “O Lord, open their eyes
that they may see.” 2 [4] Kings
vi. 20. And they
saw. But when the king of Israel wished to slay those that had
entered and asked the prophet to give him leave to do so, he answered
that they whose captivity was not brought about by strength of hand or
weapons of war must not be slain, but that rather he should help them
by supplying food. Then they were refreshed with plenty of
food. And after that those Syrian robbers thought they must never
again return to the land of Israel.