2 Kings 6 · a question people ask
What were the horses and chariots of fire?
The chapter says what the young man saw when the LORD opened his eyes: "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha" (6:17). It doesn't call them angels, doesn't say who led them, and doesn't say they fought. It says they were "around Elisha" (6:17), and it gives Elisha's words before the servant saw them: "those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (6:16). When the army came down, the LORD struck it with blindness at Elisha's prayer (6:18); the chapter says nothing more of the horses and chariots. Elisha had seen horses of fire once before: when Elijah was taken, "a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them" (2:11). The chapter doesn't explain either sight, and these notes don't go beyond what it says.
The verses
“He answered, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, please open his eyes, that he may see.” the LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha. When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s word.”
“As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”