Puns in 2 Kings 7

Iain Provan points to two entertaining puns in the story of the siege of Samaria in 2 Kings 6-7. The first puns on “lepers” (Heb. MISORAIM) and “Egypt” (Heb. MIZRAIM): The Arameans become frightened by the sound of an army, thinkin that Egyptians are attacking; it’s only lepers, though, scrounging for food. God makes the Arameans panic at the dropping of a leaf.

There is also a pun on “windows” (Heb. ARRUBOT) and “four” (Heb. ARABA). The skeptical royal official does not believe Elisha’s prophecy could come true even if Yahweh dropped grain through the windows of heaven, but ultimately four lepers bring the good news that there is food available in abundance. The lepers, we might say, are the windows of heaven through which Yahweh delivers bread to His people.