2 Kings 6:22

Thou shalt not smite them. Joram was forbidden to smite the captives, since the object of the miracle was not to have the Syrians put to death but in part, at least, to open their eyes to the fact that it was utterly vain to attempt anything against a prophet of God. Through the captive Hebrew maid in the service of Naaman, the Syrians had had an opportunity to become acquainted with the Lord’s mercy and power. God desired to bring to them further lessons concerning His love and irresistible might. Unless the captive Syrians had now returned to their homeland and told their countrymen what had taken place, the Lord’s object in this miracle would not have been realized.

Wouldest thou smite? It would have been an inexcusable crime for the king of Israel to slay in cold blood prisoners whom he had taken captive in war. Elisha is making clear to Joram that these men are prisoners of war and have every right to be treated as such. Even under normal circumstances it would have been a crime for the king to put to death prisoners taken with his own hand. Under the present circumstances the crime would have been all the more reprehensible, and would have put Israel and its God in an utterly wrong light before the people of Syria.

Set bread and water. That is, treat them not as prisoners but as guests. The Syrians were to be given an object lesson of the power of the Israelite religion in making men merciful and kind (see Prov. 25:21, 22; Matt. 5:44).