מלכים ב, פרק ו׳, פסוק י״ד

The King of Aram launches a massive and secret military operation with a single objective: to capture the prophet Elisha. To achieve this, he dispatches an enormous force to the city of Dothan, where the prophet is staying. This army includes horses, chariots, and a vast, heavily armed military presence [מצודת ציון]. The primary mission of these troops is to kidnap Elisha and deliver him to the Aramean king [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

To ensure the success of the mission, the army advances under the cover of darkness. Arriving at night provides a crucial element of surprise, preventing the prophet from learning of their approach and gathering people to come to his rescue [רלב״ג]. Once they reach Dothan, the soldiers completely encircle the city from all directions [מצודת ציון]. This tactic creates an absolute siege, blocking anyone from leaving and guaranteeing that the prophet has no possible route of escape [אברבנאל].