The Siege of Samaria: The Aramean threat has been hanging over Israel for some time. The uneasy peace of 2 Kings 5 gave way in chapter 6 to sporadic Aramean raids into Israelite territory—themselves curtailed because of the events of 6:18ff. There has been an accumulating tension; it is no surprise to read of full-blown invasion, as the king of Aram, long anxious for a fight (5:7), encamps his army at the very gates of Samaria. Our only question is how long Elisha will continue to help doomed Jehoram. It is perfectly clear by this stage that Jehoram cannot help himself (5:7; 6:8–10). Is this siege, then, to be the context in which the house of Ahab finally meets its allotted end (1 Kgs. 21:21–24)? Or are we to wait yet longer for Elijah’s prophecy about the end to be fulfilled?

6:24–33  The…