Elisha answered,
Elisha, the prophet and successor of Elijah, is a central figure in the narrative of 2 Kings. Known for his miracles and deep relationship with God, Elisha's response is rooted in his spiritual insight and confidence in God's power. His role as a prophet is to convey God's messages and demonstrate His power, often through miraculous acts. Elisha's life and ministry are a testament to God's ongoing work through His chosen servants.

“for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
This statement reveals a spiritual reality unseen by the physical eye. Elisha refers to the heavenly host, God's angelic army, which outnumbers the physical forces of the Arameans. This concept is supported by other biblical passages, such as Psalm 34:7, which speaks of the angel of the Lord encamping around those who fear Him. Theologically, this underscores the theme of divine protection and the presence of God's unseen forces in spiritual warfare. It also prefigures the New Testament assurance found in Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" This phrase encourages believers to trust in God's omnipotence and the reality of His spiritual support, even when circumstances seem dire.

Elisha’s very first words go straight to the most common human response: fear. Scripture repeats this command because fear blinds us to God’s presence.

• Isaiah 41:10 says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God”, grounding courage in God’s nearness.

• Joshua heard the same charge in Joshua 1:9, reminding him that the LORD would be with him wherever he went.

• Paul assures believers in 2 Timothy 1:7 that “God has not given us a spirit of fear.”

When we feel surrounded—as Elisha’s servant literally was in 2 Kings 6:15—God’s repeated “Do not be afraid” calls us to shift our gaze from visible threats to the invisible yet greater reality of His protection.

The prophet doesn’t panic or even pause. His calm reply flows from a life trained to see beyond the obvious.

• In 2 Kings 2:11–15 Elisha watched Elijah taken up and immediately grasped the fallen mantle; he had seen God’s power up close before.

• Proverbs 15:23 observes, “How good is a timely word!” and Elisha’s word is perfectly timed to steady a trembling heart.

• Like Moses in Exodus 14:13 who told Israel, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring,” Elisha speaks faith before any change in circumstance is visible.

God often chooses a steady voice to break the spell of fear and call His people back to trust.

The prophet points to unseen allies.

• Psalm 34:7 declares, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them”.

• Psalm 91:11 promises, “He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

• Jesus reminded Peter in Matthew 26:53 that more than twelve legions of angels stood ready.

• Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”

Elisha knew that God’s presence, His angelic host, and His covenant commitment were already on the scene. What the servant thought was just two men was actually a company backed by heaven.

The issue is not who is louder or more visible but who outnumbers whom in the realm that matters most.

• Hezekiah used almost identical words centuries later: “With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us” (2 Chronicles 32:7–8).

• Romans 8:31 asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

• 1 John 4:4 reassures, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

• John’s vision in Revelation 5:11 counts “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” of angels around God’s throne.

The math is always in the believer’s favor. God plus one of His servants is a majority over any earthly army.

2 Kings 6:16 calls us to replace fear with faith, listen to God’s steadying voice, remember the unseen host that surrounds us, and rest in the truth that the spiritual forces on our side far outnumber anything arrayed against us.