Definition: And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened [it]. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed [them].

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Kings 13:17. It’s a really important passage about God’s plan to deliver Israel from Assyria! Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is telling Elisha (who was already helping the Israelites) to open a window in Aphek – a city in Syria – and then to shoot an arrow at the Syrians there. Let’s unpack that a little more: “And he said, Open the window eastward.” This is God instructing Elisha to do something . He's giving him a specific task. “And he opened [it].” This means Elisha actually did open the window. It’s like a door opening revealing something. “Then Elisha said, Shoot.” This is where it gets powerful. Elisha is giving the command to act . “And he shot.” This describes the action Elisha took – he fired an arrow. It’s a symbolic representation of God's power and judgment. “And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed [them].” This is the core message. "The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance..." – This refers to God's power to deliver his people. "...and the arrow of deliverance from Syria:" - This specifically means he’s going to strike the Syrians in Aphek, who were a powerful and threatening army in Syria. “for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek…” – "Thou shalt" is a command, meaning "you must." It's a strong directive from God. "...until thou have consumed [them]." - This means Elisha needs to completely defeat and destroy the Syrian army. He needs to make them so weak that they can’t continue to fight. What’s the big takeaway? This verse describes a pivotal moment in history: God’s intervention to protect Israel from a great enemy – Assyria, who was a powerful empire at the time. It's a promise of a victory and a clear indication that God is actively working to deliver his people. It sets the stage for a significant battle and ultimately leads to Israel’s freedom. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail with an analogy? Discuss the historical context of this event (why was Assyria so dangerous)? Explore the significance of Aphek as a location?