MERCY TOWARD ENEMIES

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 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?" He answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master." So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
2 Kings 6:21‭-23

¶Having taken the Syrian army captive, Elisha advised the king of Israel to release them back to their own country, from whence they never raided Israel again. Unlike Israel's past programs of mass slaughter of enemies, this sounds more like a former-day Marshall plan. I would attribute this to a culture of honor that shames the gift-recipient if he does not respond in kind. It honors self, not God, and therefore is unreliable.

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