2 Kings 6:24-7:20
SUMMARY
Siege warfare in the ancient Near East was a brutal and devastating reality.
ANALYSIS
In the ancient Near East, cities were usually built upon a hill, either a natural rise or the consequence of cities building up (literally) over time. Large cities were walled and protected as well. Thus, in battle, they were difficult to conquer. An invading army had to either use catapults – which were expensive to both create and move – or rely on siege warfare.
Before a siege began, a city would typically swell both with people and with food. Ancient armies moved slowly enough to be seen on the horizon. Rural and village populations, upon realizing the situation, fled into the larger, walled cities. With them, they brought their cattle, grain, and whatever else they could carry to outlast the siege. The goal of siege warfare was to outlast one’s opponent, to not be the first to run out of food and water. Initially in the besieged city, there would be food a-plenty. With both cattle and people using grain as their primary food source, however, the grain supply would dwindle quickly. Then the cattle would be slaughtered and eaten. Next, the grain supply would be used up. After that, there are accounts, like this one, that hint at resorting to cannibalism to withstand the siege (2 Kings 6:26-29).
Sieges typically ended by coming to an agreement; the invading army would take some loot and leave. (Whenever an invading king was offering these kinds of terms, the text describes them as “the king spoke ‘friendly words’ to them.”) Sometimes, another nation’s army would swoop in and save the besieged city. This text, like the chapter before, offers another account of the miraculous power of God’s army to finish a fight without lifting a sword.
