“So we cooked my son and ate him . . .”: 2 Kings 6:24–7:20 as symbol of desperation and despair within city walls

Abstract

The narrative of 2 Kgs 6:24–7:20 illustrates the desperation and despair experienced by people doubly surrounded by city walls which are surrounded by enemy soldiers. In this Elisha narrative, the army of Ben-hadad, the Aramean king, besieges the capital of Samaria. While ancient cities had walls to protect people, the same walls could also be death-dealing places as residents were trapped inside. The story illustrates how truly desperate circumstances came to the point that those trapped inside had to resort to cannibalism to survive. The king, also confined within the city wall, passes a death sentence on Elisha but the prophet predicts a happy ending. The crisis is resolved through divine intervention that essentially dismantles the death-delivering wall of the Aramean army. The dismantling of this military border leads to the liberation of the people, the provision of sustenance, and the maintenance of life. The article examines the historical context of the text, the meaning of borders and boundaries in antiquity, the drama of the text, the resolution of the crisis, and implications for today’s marginalized communities within various borders.